<p>Points:
1. I should have made it clearer. I'm interested in linguistic theory as well the languages themselves. In fact, part of the reason I like studying languages is that I like to see the comparsions and contrasts between them, the culture impacts, the methodology of learning them, etc.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I didn't make the point that my schedule is particularly difficult, just particularly rigid. Some required coourses I'm not taking because I AP'ed out of them, but I can''t yet take upper level Bio courses because I would have to take Bio II first--which is only offered in the Spring (the courses are very, very sequential). Also, there are time conflicts galore.</p></li>
<li><p>Honors courses are credited and run by the Honors college. They cannot be AP'ed out of and must be taken through the college.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Languagegirl
I just saw a news report here in NY today about a crisis in hospitals and the need for translators for patients.Would a career like that interest you at all?
Many many years ago, a cousin of mine had majored in Russian and worked as a simultaneous translator at the UN (ala Nicole Kidman in that recent movie).
I think there are many things you can do with a language major,or a linguistics major.</p>
<p>Someone who chooses the screen name "languagegirl" should seriously consider a career in languages.</p>
<p>Obviously, the need to understand others is growing daily. There will be places, places in the sun, for people who are good at languages. Study what you love, and have confidence in yourself--confidence that you will find such places. :)</p>
<p>I'm a lot like you, except only a rising high school senior. I love language so much that I almost wish I could skip school altogether and spend my life in a room (or preferably, the foreign city in question) learning languages. However, I also love linguistics, and it's more practical than just learning languages... so right now I plan to major in that. </p>
<p>But, as JHS said, I would urge you not to mistake "language" and "linguistics" for being the same subject. They aren't, necessarily. With linguistics you analyze a language - it can even get to the stage where you use mathematical formulas with languages. It's by no means simple. Try googling some linguistic papers. Do you want to learn to write THAT kind of stuff? If that seems exciting, good! Maybe it really is right for you.</p>
<p>Anyway. My advice to you: if you haven't taken an intro to ling course yet, take one. If you still like it, take more. Only then will you be able to know if linguistics is what you want. And as for the job market - I've heard you can go into business with linguistics, become an editor, do something related to computer science, etc. The job options aren't totally limited.</p>
<p>quote]But, as JHS said, I would urge you not to mistake "language" and "linguistics" for being the same subject. They aren't, necessarily. With linguistics you analyze a language - it can even get to the stage where you use mathematical formulas with languages. It's by no means simple. Try googling some linguistic papers. Do you want to learn to write THAT kind of stuff? If that seems exciting, good! Maybe it really is right for you.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Thanks for the input. I actually took your advice and looked at a few papers.</p>
<p>Overall, it was fun. I didn't love everying, of course, and some stuff was beyond my grasp, but with more training, I could definitely see myself doing that. It confirmed to me that linguistics should know a variety of languages as well.</p>
<p>The thing about language is that it's always sort of come relatively easy to me. For example, I've never taken Spanish, but my mom does and I can read a far amount of the stuff her teachers emails here through cognates, staff I've picked up, etc. I'm not trying to sound arrogant or anything, but like some kids are good at math, language (foreign and English) seems to by my "thing." And thus, I'm interesting in linguistics simply because I like the "whys" of language. I'm just not sure if I want to spend my whole life doing it.</p>
<p>Don't worry about "spending your whole life" doing anything! Careers are not forever; they can be changed. In fact, most adults I know have changed careers at least once (and many of them have nothing to do with their college major). I've changed careers 3 times, from a research science, to law, to computers. And who knows, I may change it again.</p>
<p>So concentrate on the short(er) term - maybe 5 to 10 years out. And if you don't like it, then do something else. Nothing you learn is ever wasted, no matter what your ultimate "career".</p>
<p>I got a Bachelor's in psychology and a Master's in Epidemiology & Genetics. Then I went to law school, practiced for a while, and got a Certificate in Client/Server Development. I'm now a business analyst implementing software packages for a legal department.</p>
<p>I was going to suggest the interface between linguistics and cognitive science, but idad beat me to it. If you enjoy learning new languages, consider a science field that will take you overseas. For example, epidemiology is good for this; the CDC's EIS unit goes to many outbreaks throughout the globe, and a solid grounding in the appropriate language(s) is quite useful. There's no reason you can't study what you love and be practical at the same time. My own area of interest is paleontology (a tiny field indeed!), so I'm getting a solid background in biology and geology so I don't have too much trouble finding a job. The articles below may be helpful. </p>
<p>There's a science fiction story about two people who crash land on a planet - one a xeno-linguist and one an engineer. The engineer, who sets to work assisting them in technological advances, becomes much more popular with the locals, even though the xeno-linguist acquires the language quickly. The story ends with the punch line is "You have to have something to say!" Do both - your chosen areas of specialization are complementary.</p>
<p>As you know, there is more financial aid available for graduate study - you can plan to do two MAs or two PhDs over time. But if, as an undergrad, you concentrated on one in-demand language, you'd be well set up to launch into a first job. Another path you could consider while an undergrad is to do intensive summer school in the language(s) or in linguistics - for instance UMD has summer sessions that include these courses (but you would be very tired at the end of four years).</p>
<p>
[quote]
concentrated on one in-demand language
[/quote]
Besides, Arabic, what would be an in-demand language? The ones that interest me are Russian, Japanese, Farsi, and Turkish. Would any of those qualify?</p>
<p>
[quote]
My own area of interest is paleontology (a tiny field indeed!)
[/quote]
A very good family friend of mine works in paleontology. PM me if you have any questions about it, and I'll see what I can do.</p>
<p>Thanks for the articles BTW, they were very useful.</p>
<p>I loved reading all of the articles about linguistics---what a fascinating field! </p>
<p>One question for all the posters who suggest a linguistics or specific language major: </p>
<p>What about languagegirl's neuroscience dreams? Do you think doing either of those majors will rule those out? Or would there be another route back to neuroscience?</p>
<p>"What are your plans nodnard? (Sounds like a good route!)"</p>
<p>Planning to do a double-major in Math/Econ (well, I love math...not so much econ, but I do need something practical...and I've still got plenty of electives in which to take English/Philosophy and more math) and go into i-banking (what else?), trading, or consulting.</p>