<p>I'm trying to create my short list of places I'm applying this year, and I'm still unsure of whether Columbia will make the final cut. I'm seriously considering double-majoring in physics and economics, and I'm worried that Columbia's legendary Core requirements will make this difficult at best. How justified is this fear?</p>
<p>if i’m correct, the core takes up about a third of your academic class space. i’ve heard of people double majoring without issues, though it probably isn’t necessarily easy. </p>
<p>that being said, are you familiar with their major/concentration system? a concentration is basically a minor. BUT, the minimum declaration required for graduation is a concentration. in other words, you don’t HAVE to major in anything; you can do only a concentration. so if you feel that double-majoring is too intense, you could double-concentrate, or just have a major and concentration.</p>
<p>not sure if that actually helped at all…</p>
<p>^ agreed plus</p>
<p>I personally don’t think double majoring is a good idea at all, since it gives you little room to expand on anything else. esp for columbia, where the core takes away even more of the “leeway.” even at places like brown (open curriculum) double majoring is pretty intense.</p>
<p>I specifically asked my interviewer (professor of american history) about double majoring in american history and poli sci, and the above is what he told me lol…so hes like yeah get a major, then either minor in something if you want or do the concentration thing</p>
<p>collegeftw hits it on the head-</p>
<p>double majoring is hard, not because of the requirements, but because of the intensity of studying two subject matter. the folks that can fully do a double in econ/physics are geniuses. and though most folks who go to columbia are smart, most of us are not geniuses. only 30% or so of the student body double majors or concentrates (or some combination of the two) of some kind, it is not everyone, but not impossible. i did a major and a concentration, the concentration was more just purely out of chance after i realized i had finished all my requirements senior year, and was two classes away from a concentration.</p>
<p>but then you have to ask - why do you want to double major? what is the pedagogical purpose? and you have to also open yourself up to the possibility that when you enter into whatever school you might want to change what you study - which is also where the core is a very good resource. by pushing you to take courses, think about issues and engage with students from various academic disciplines, you end up a) realizing that a double major is not as important as having a firm grasp of fundamentals therefore taking courses is preferable to having a major, b) thinking interdisciplinarily is something that is highly encouraged by columbia, probably moreso than at most universities i am familiar with, and this is surely an advantage of columbia regardless of double majoring.</p>
<p>i agree and disagree with this piece by helfand (chair of the astronomy department), but i think it is great reading for anyone who feels consumed by the question of what’s in a major and what to do. [Picking</a> a major? Just say no.](<a href=“http://www.columbiaspectator.com/2010/09/30/picking-major-just-say-no]Picking”>Picking a major? Just say no. - Columbia Spectator)</p>
<p>you’re graduating from columbia university, one of the most rigorous intellectual experiences around, with networking opportunities up the wazoo, and placement in graduate schools that are envied by most universities. apply to columbia on the merits of columbia - whether or not you end up double majoring. though if that is the hang up, yes you can double major (or major concentrate, or double concentrate).</p>
<p>Double majoring in physics and econ at any rigorous school will be painful. In order to fulfill distribution requirements at most schools, you will probably have to plan out your entire curriculum for the next 4 years. That’s certainly the case at Columbia, since you’ll have to fulfill all the Core reqs. As adgeek says, though, this should not prevent you from applying to Columbia, since it’s likely that your academic interests will change once you get to college Maybe you’ll end up concentrating in econ and majoring in physics, or maybe you’ll fall in love with History after taking a global core class. It’s certainly possible to double major at Columbia, but it’s generally not easy. Of course, it depends t some degree on what subject you choose. Double-majoring in history and anthropology, for instance, is not as tough as double-majoring in physics and econ.</p>