To some, it might be ironic that LSA junior Xiaoxiao Liu calls himself a “risk-averse person.”

After all, the Beijing native is pursuing a triple concentration in actuarial mathematics, economics and statistics. According to data obtained from the Office of Student Academic Affairs, of the 16,162 LSA students registered for the winter 2011 semester, only 65 students are triple concentrators — less than 1 percent of the LSA students, and considerably less than the 1,922 double concentrators currently registered with LSA.

By the numbers, Liu is in sparse company. However, multiple concentration and dual-degree University students reap the benefits and withstand the difficulties inevitable to intense immersion in separate academic disciplines.

The triple threat

Liu transferred to the University after his freshman year at Michigan State University. Having already set his sights on concentrations in actuarial mathematics and economics, Liu decided to secure a statistics major in an effort to add to his intellectual skill set.

“I realized I actually need some more like statistical analysis skill and like some knowledge about it,” Liu said. “So I just decided to major in stats as well.”

Liu attests that course overlapping between the three departments help reduce the difficulty of his course load, which requires an average of 16 or 17 credits a semester in addition to spring classes.

Nonetheless, Liu admits to periods of duress and he laments the limited opportunity to take classes outside of his concentration areas.

“If I drop one major, it means like heaven to me because I can take psychology classes or I can take some other class I really enjoy doing,” Liu said. “But it happens to me a lot. But I mean, you need to be strong over yourself. It looks bad if you like, on transcripts say you’ve declared and then undeclared it.”

Given that his schedule affords little room to repeat a class — because some courses are not offered on a yearly basis — there is high pressure to earn satisfactory grades.

Despite its difficulties however, his triple concentration offers Liu numerous advantages. In particular, Liu believes it will result in numerous employment or educational options after graduation.

It also lends him a broad base of knowledge that he can leverage in interview settings. Liu, an aspiring actuarial analyst, notes with a good-humored caveat that prospective employers seem to appreciate his ability to efficiently manage three concentrations.

“They are all pretty impressed about it, but I don’t know if it really helps me to do anything good because … they probably don’t think I have a life with three majors,” Liu joked.

The Stage Economist

Many University students take advantage of Multiple Dependent Degree Programs, which allow them to pursue cross-college degrees.

Music, Theatre & Dance and LSA junior Emily Berman is one of 168 School of Music, Theatre & Dance students pursuing a degree in LSA. Berman came to the University as a prospective chemistry major, but switched to the theatre program after successfully auditioning for the department during the winter semester of her freshman year.

Berman, a performance BFA with a concentration in acting, said the small size of the Music, Theatre & Dance School — its population stands at about 1,050 students — has provided her with a more intimate interaction with advisors and eased the cross-college path.

“The advisor in the music school said I should probably chose the music school as the home school because they’re really good about taking care of dual-degree students, and I found that to be the case instantly,” Berman said. “It’s a smaller school. It’s easier to get on a first name basis with the registrar.”

As a sophomore, Berman decided to concentrate in economics.