Some of us are short on clIcks. 
Can you please summarize?
Basically, it claims that double major is a fad, based on student belief that a second major helps them in the credential-for-employment arms race.
More articles on double majors:
https://www.chronicle.com/blogs/next/2012/10/11/the-worrying-rise-of-double-majors/
http://theconversation.com/does-it-pay-to-get-a-double-major-in-college-74420
http://nation.time.com/2013/01/31/should-colleges-ban-double-majors/
At least one university has found that double majors have been declining over the longer term:
https://www.stanforddaily.com/2012/11/05/double-majoring-sees-downward-trend-since-1980/
It also talks about “credentials races”…
“We should also reframe extracurricular activities. Applications for college have as many as 10 spaces for students to fill out with activities outside of class. How about three? Let’s say to students: ‘Share 1 to 3 things you are devoted to outside your classwork. If you want to do more than three things outside of class, that’s great, but not to get into college.’
“The College Board needs to say a similar thing about taking A.P. courses. We have data that taking up to five A.P. courses over the course of high school helps students complete college on time. But there is no evidence that excessively cramming your schedule with A.P. classes advances you. Let us say to students, ‘If you would like to take more than 5 A.P. courses because you love the class, do so, but not to get into college.’
No analysis included in that piece. Meh
I totally do agree with credentials races. There’s really good data on students doing well in some base number of APs and being very prepared to be successful in rigorous college settings.
But I don’t agree on the double major advice. In general I think we should be more about kids finding their own path and less about competition with each other. For some students, a double degree or major is a very natural choice. I have a BS in math and a BS in comp sci. I think the combo brings depth to both areas. My senior is looking at double major/degree programs. Some students do better with more rigor. Some students take a bunch of AP or DE classes without breaking a sweat and still have time for extra curriculars and a social life and really aren’t stressed. It’s when things become one size fits all or that you have to keep up with someone else that it becomes problematic.
What I do think would be interesting is cost analysis data on the income impact on getting a masters vs a 2nd major. I suspect financially people would be better off getting the masters. Especially at a well funded grad program. But that’s speculation.
As a retired engineering manager, I hired many a college grad. I always asked for a college transcript and went thru each class the applicant took that related to the job I was offering (and noted their grades). Didn’t matter to me what the major was. So, from that perspective, double majoring meant nothing to me. In some cases it would hurt the student as it would require classes that weren’t related to the job.
You can say that college is about “finding” one’s self and exploring different areas. All nice thoughts. But the reality is that employers are looking for the best prepared and smartest applicants.
An engineering major will typically have about a quarter of their required classes to be outside science and engineering; i.e. “humanities” requirements. That, in my mind, should provide enough opportunities to explore. If not, then clubs and other activities outside the classroom, both while in college and after college, can fill those gaps. After all, one will still want to explore and enrich themselves well after their college years are over.