Help with linguistics major...

<p>First, a little background: I have been going to a community college for a while, and unfortunately I took two years off due to a personal/family crisis. On top of taking time off, I had/am having difficulty choosing a major, and didn't plan very well. I recently transferred to a university from my community college (finally!!!) and need to officially declare my major ASAP. Luckily, I landed in a linguistics class and everything just seemed to click for me. I enjoy it, I am good at it, but not so good that it is boring/too easy, it is just difficult enough that it keeps me interested. </p>

<p>Now the hard part:
Although I am definitely majoring in some aspect of linguistics, I can't decide if I want to do generalized or computational. Generalized would be easier as there are fewer requirements, and no math, etc., but it would also prove more difficult to find a job. The computational linguistics is obviously the opposite (more requirements which are more difficult, but more opportunities). So that is the first problem I am having, but right now I am leaning towards computational because I would be taking all the same classes as the gen. (aside from one) but would also get a nice computer science base as well. </p>

<p>The second problem is choosing a minor. If I were to choose gen. linguistics I would want to do either computer science (but because of the prereqs I would be forced to have an extra semester) or cognitive science (but would basically focus on philosphy and psychology due to their lack of prereqs). If I do computational linguistics I already have two years worth of classes, and obviously since I am already two years behind I would like to finish as soon as possible. If I were to have a minor I would want to do cognitive science, but that would add six more classes to my load. So, is a minor worth it? Will the minor actually pay off for me later, or should I just finish on time (without one)? </p>

<p>So, to sum it up: should I choose gen. linguistics, or computational, and if I choose computational should I have a minor? </p>

<p>Sorry this was so long.
I appreciate anyone's input!
THANK YOU!!!!!</p>

<p>I’d just say computational linguistics. Minors are pretty useless (to employers), they’re usually just out of personal interest. But I think if that interest costs you an extra semester, it’s not really worth it. You can always pick up psychology and philosophy books and read them in your spare time. It’s not as easy to do that with CS.</p>