<p>I am considering applying to Chicago, and I was wondering how difficult it would be to double major (especially considering computer science and linguistics).</p>
<p>Double-majoring is doable. It's not easy, but not impossible. According to the college, about 10% of students are enrolled in two majors (keep in mind that that data considers all first-years-- 25% as undecided, so there are probably more prospective dual majors that will complete both majors than that 10% figure shows).</p>
<p>The CS major is 14 courses; the linguistics major is 13 courses; the linguistics minor is 7 courses. About 10-12 courses will be core courses (core requirements will double-count with major requirements in both instances). You will take probably either 11 or 12 courses a year... you'd be able to graduate on time just fine, but you'll have to be mindful of the few electives you have.</p>
<p>College catalog for CS and linguistics:
<a href="http://collegecatalog.uchicago.edu/pdf_08/CMSC.pdf%5B/url%5D">http://collegecatalog.uchicago.edu/pdf_08/CMSC.pdf</a>
undergraduate</a> program</p>
<p>You can do it as long as you plan your schedule thoughtfully. It's a nice combination. </p>
<p>I mean, what double majoring really means is that instead of taking a bunch of electives you take a bunch of classes in a second area. It may mean that you don't get to take all of the electives that you want to take, and it may mean that if you want to study abroad you'll need to make sure you're fulfilling a requirement at the same time (such as civilizations). </p>
<p>People usually don't have a very hard time getting into the classes they want, so that shouldn't be an issue. I'd say as long as you keep your eye on the core and your major requirements for each subject and plan ahead, you'll be fine.</p>
<p>I think that combination is very doable.There were actually quite a few people in one of my language classes who were doubling in computer science and linguistics. I know a few people who triple majored as well (they were crazy). It's not easy, as unalove said, but it is definitely possible, particularly if some of the classes overlap. </p>
<p>I'm also double majoring and have found that most of the electives I want to take fall into one of my two majors. It's not too bad especially given that I went into the school knowing exactly what I wanted to do (as you seem to). Your advisor will also help you plan your schedule so everything fits.</p>
<p>keep in mind that cs might be the most difficult major at the U of C. If I were hiring/reading grad school apps, a cs major with a fairly good gpa would probably be better than a double or triple major in most other majors.</p>
<p>Your counselor and CAPS will just tell you that a double-major, while nice, isn't a substitute for a good GPA in a single major and then additional coursework in another field without the major, which you can list on your resume anyway. Or, minor in one field or the other. Double-majoring is possible, but you sacrifice so many electives and you're not necessarily increasing any of your chances for jobs/grad school so many people end up deciding against it.</p>
<p>jack and cesare are right...you need a good gpa if you are considering graduate school or post-graduation job opportunities. </p>
<p>Also, don't double major simply for the sake of double majoring, make sure you are very interested in/love both of the subjects in question. Quite a number of people in my economics classes are incredibly unhappy because they are only majoring in economics so they can get jobs after graduation or their parents want them to major in it. They're the only people I know who are truly unhappy and they tend not to do as well in economics. If you're geniunely interested in both subjects then you will probably be just fine (although I am not sure because I don't know very much about the computer science major here). I know that personally, I would not be able to pick one of my majors because I love both of them so much but they also overlap which makes it easier to fit into my schedule.</p>
<p>Computer science / linguistics is a very popular tandem right now. My sister-in-law is chair of the linguistics department at a large research university, and says that the influx of computer science people has really invigorated her department.</p>
<p>I also have a cousin who is in a graduate program in computational linguistics, coming out of an Applied Math major as an undergraduate.</p>