<p>I'm in undergrad right now and I am an econ/poli sci major at Univ. of South Carolina Honors college and I want to go to law school eventually (I'm a freshman but sophomore in hours). I'm learning German now and plan to be fluent when I graduate and I am thinking about combining my econ/polisci/german/law into going into Internation Banking/Business Law. Does anyone know what schools would be good for this? I'm at a 3.3 right now (all B's and B+'s) but I pledged a fraternity so that is partially why. I should have a 4.0 or close to it next semester. Thanks.</p>
<p>"I'm learning German now and plan to be fluent when I graduate"</p>
<p>Being fluent in a second language is such a relative term. I see way too many people thinking they can just become fluent in a language by studying, or in a few years. Wrong.</p>
<p>Sorry about the opinionated comment, but I had to.</p>
<p>"I am thinking about combining my econ/polisci/german/law into going into Internation Banking/Business Law"</p>
<p>One major would be enough; study abroad would probably be more beneficial in terms of selling your "international" background for admissions.</p>
<p>"Does anyone know what schools would be good for this?"</p>
<p>Most schools in NY are a good fit for Int'l law; CA and WA would be OK too (for the pacific rim, though.) Columbia and NYU are probably the two most prominent programs. </p>
<p>"I'm at a 3.3 right now (all B's and B+'s) but I pledged a fraternity so that is partially why. I should have a 4.0 or close to it next semester." </p>
<p>Nobody can tell you how to live your life, but keep in mind that the decisions you make now will greatly impact your future. Messing with your GPA right now may close future doors for grad school and LS.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>
[quote]
Being fluent in a second language is such a relative term. I see way too many people thinking they can just become fluent in a language by studying, or in a few years. Wrong.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Once one has passed the "windows" of first and second-language acquisition, becoming fluent in a language is rare; however, near-fluency is always possible, especially if one does a language-immersion program at Middlebury.</p>
<p>"especially if one does a language-immersion program at Middlebury"</p>
<p>lol...I have heard great things about that program.</p>
<p>
[quote]
lol...I have heard great things about that program.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Indeed, a student with no prior instruction in German took the summer program and subsequently placed to the highest level here at Georgetown.</p>
<p>Wow. That's remarkable. </p>
<p>Are you planning to pick up a language there? Do you already speak other languages? Just curious.</p>
<p>Personally, I have thought about doing a summer there.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, the point still stands that gaining fluency, as defined by "native" fluency, takes many years of continuous immersion in the chosen language; not an undergraduate degree or vague coursework during one's undergraduate years. Language acquisition is a rather complex and challenging process. Also, we are assuming the individual has the intellectual capacity and affinity to learn, and subsequently master, another language.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Are you planning to pick up a language there? Do you already speak other languages? Just curious.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I am pondering doing German during the summer of my senior year, but I have yet to firmly decide.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Nevertheless, the point still stands that gaining fluency, as defined by "native" fluency, takes many years of continuous immersion in the chosen language
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Sorry, I should have qualified my statement. By 'native fluency' I refer to the term as defined in linguistics; 'near fluency' is when one is capable of speaking fluently with the exception of a few mispronunciations or misapplications of grammatical rules.</p>
<p>
[quote]
not an undergraduate degree or vague coursework during one's undergraduate years.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>You would be surprised. Some language programs are good enough such that the student attains near-fluency upon graduating. I know Georgetown has a govermentally-funded Arabic program for just this purpose.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Also, we are assuming the individual has the intellectual capacity and affinity to learn, and subsequently master, another language.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Though a large part of learning a language requires motivation on the part of the learner, one's intellectual capacities are rarely involved. To be sure, the language-acquisition faculties are located in the left-side of the brain: the Wernicke's regiion, Broca's region, and so on. Williams syndrome is one in which sufferers who exhibit superb linguistic skills, but are subpar in other areas, such as mathematics.</p>
<p>
[quote]
There are some intellectual areas (such as speech, long term memory, and social skills) in which performance is quite strong, while other intellectual areas (such as fine motor and spatial relations) are significantly deficient
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Heck, Phineas Gage had a rod lodged in his head, and he still spoke English quite fluently:</p>
<p>He did, however, suffer from intimacy problems, if I am not mistaken.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses. I of course know that I can never become completely fluent in German through basically anything I do but I am planning on taking 4 years during undergrad, spending one or two summers there and possibly a whole year so I will have a very good conversation German skill and possibly eventual near fluency after I am immersed enough. What I was hinting at was that I plan on using this skill to help in a career. Also I only have one major - Economics. I am a poli sci minor (it is required to have a minor at my school) although with the AP credit I brought in it will probably turn into a second major. And my GPA is not a worry to me. Pledging a fraternity was right for me and although my GPA suffered somewhat, I was also taking junior level honors classes as a first semester freshman so it is understandable. Maintaining a good social life and balance is as important to me as grades.</p>
<p>Sounds like you got it. Good luck!</p>