How do colleges know if you're doing multiple degrees at the same time ?

[mednat]

The issue here is all that "most people", "most cases", etc. In some cases, a 2nd, 3rd, or 4th degree may be exactly what the student wants or needs. If the person is changing career fields and a degree in that field is required, not allowing it simply because they already have a degree or two in other fields is where the disservice comes in.

In the end, for me it just boils down to a general dislike of arbitrary restrictions like this. If the student wants a 3rd or 23rd degree, and can afford it, they should be allowed to pursue it. Their reasons are their own and should not be subject to approval by anyone else. If a particular school wants to fill slots in order of how many degrees the student already has, and this results in the many-degree-students that apply not getting accepted, that's fine.

I understand what you're saying, and I agree in principal, but most schools want about 30 additional credits for each additional degree. This is essentially a similar amount of credits for a graduate degree. Perhaps a few pre-req classes may be needed, but I see far more utility in the graduate degree. One can make the argument (and I have and currently do) that a CBE degree is significantly cheaper and not equal in cost to most graduate degrees.

I'm sure if a compelling reason were to be presented exemptions and waivers would be possible, however there are very few professions I've seen that require an undergraduate degree in a specific subject, because our undergraduate degrees are not mean't to prepare a student to be an expert in their field.

To each his own. I'm sure there are tons of schools that have no issue with issuing a 3rd/4th/5th undergrad, especially when you look globally. But to get annoyed at an institution for not encouraging this is a bit silly. The traditional american academic model is setup to advance a student from a broad understanding, to a specific understanding in a subject and finally to expand the understanding of a subject. In the UK system of more focused undergrad degrees I think you'll find schools have no issue with multiple degrees, because they are focused on a subject.