Double, double toil – and payoff

Jennifer Wu, a third-year biology and English student planning a double major, leads a busy life.

In addition to taking 20 units a quarter, she is the recruitment chair of the Phi Sigma Rho sorority. Her busiest weeks consist of two midterms, two quizzes, readings, an essay and several sorority events.

But she said she is content with her decision to pursue a double major.

“Twenty-four hours in the day is enough to get everything done,” said Wu as she headed off to a meeting.

After entering UCLA as a biology student, Wu decided to also major in English when she realized she missed reading literature and writing essays.

She said time management was important in balancing her studies and activities.

“If you put your mind to it, it comes together pretty well,” Wu said.

Nazita Lajevardi, a fourth-year French and political science student, said she eliminates distractions by maintaining a balance between her studies and social life.

“I can’t study past 8 in the evening, so I prioritize time to be able to go out,” said Lajevardi. “I try to do a lot of my work over the weekend.”

In total, she said she spends about half her weekend on homework. She is proud not to have pulled a single all-nighter but values a coffee break between essays.

Lajevardi said she chose to major in French because she grew up speaking the language and political science had always been an interest.

In 2007, she got an internship with the American organization Opportunity Green, whose mission is to improve the sustainability of companies.

This experience motivated Lajevardi to study political economy and human rights law.

Upon graduation, she hopes to go to law school.

She said is not pressured by the workload. Lajevardi said that double majoring helps her stay interested and keeps her focused.

“Once I get tired of political science homework, I can read French literature.”

Achieving balance in college is important for any student at UCLA. Fourth-year art and cognitive science student Matt Weiden said he, too, uses his two curriculums to balance and focus on his studies.

“Art and cognitive science are at opposite ends of the same spectrum. Cognitive science is reductive, while art tries to expand,” he said.

The similarities give Weiden the ability to switch to studying cognitive science after a long art studio session. Switching between studies keeps him engaged in both topics.

Because most students pursuing double majors are taking courses in two different departments, they often have difficulty fitting all of their required classes into one schedule.

“Some biology classes are only offered once a year, but there’s always an English class to take that will fulfill a requirement,” Wu said.

She said if she does not carefully plan out her schedule and ends up missing a course, her graduation could possibly be delayed.

While planning their schedules, they consider whether or not they are going to study abroad.

Last summer, Lajevardi went to France and immersed herself in French culture.

While Weiden decided not to study abroad, Wu plans on going to England next summer to study Shakespeare.

“I can’t go to another country and learn another language. I just don’t have time,” she said.

As each of these students approach their unit caps, they look forward to graduation and back on what they have accomplished.

“You can graduate in three years, but to have another subject to study makes you so well-rounded,” Lajevardi said.

Weiden and Wu do not have any regrets about pursuing double majors, either.

“I wouldn’t discourage any one who likes what they do, but just examine it from all angles,” Weiden suggested.

Wu summed up the three students’ recommendations to students considering double majors.

“Go for it! You are never in your life going to have an opportunity to study what you love, so if you aren’t doing it, you should,” Wu said.

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