[okie01]

Today, education majors are the bottom of the academic barrel.

There is competition at the bottom of the barrel. Journalism majors are down there, too.

[samtheman]

There is competition at the bottom of the barrel.

The barrel is shaped like an upside-down funnel. The bottom is broad and crowded. The top is narrow and sparsely populated.

Most academics are at the bottom, including most professors.