<p>Hey guys, I am a fluent Russian speaker. I currently attend a community college with a GPA of 3.75 and have never taken my SAT's in HS. I have ~40 credits and this semester I am taking the leap in life that will affect the rest of my life.</p>
<p>I have a DEEP interest in Linguistics, I speak, read and write fluent Russian, and I always try to improve my English, the best I can. I am possibly looking to study more languages such as Spanish, French, Latin.. Anything really, I love languages and this is where I currently stand:</p>
<p>I want to apply to University of Hawaii @ Manoa and study Russian as my bachelors. I am absolutely drawn to the climate and for "undergrad" I am ready to make the move, except for the following two things that never slip my mind and give me constant headaches and lack of sleep.</p>
<p>1) I have no $, everything has to go through F.Aid & Loans. I need this, I am certain of what I am doing and taking loans is NOT an issue, but is Hawaii really the place to study Russian? There's very few students(good, more time with Prof), and I heard a huge budget which means scholarships, but will it be the education I am seeking, compared to lets say.. schools in Washington? I understand its undergrad and my main focus will be getting into an Ivy league out of undergrad but I just want someone to reassure me that maybe I'm making a mistake? I just really don't want to end up in debt and with a "wrong" degree. I'm seriously scared for my life as I only have ONE shot.</p>
<p>2) My MAIN interest is "International Relations" or Interpretation/translation. I want to work for either CIA, UN or possibly work my way up the ladder through public courtrooms & be the guy you hear on the TV. (ex: Egypt's President's speech.) </p>
<p>The question is, studying "Russian" as my bachelors? Will I be able to reroute myself to the career I am really seeking with the redirection of the professors? I don't want to end up in Hawaii with a degree in Russian that has NOTHING to do with what I am looking to do for the rest of my life. I am not looking for a PhD, I want to do international work in language. (Russian->English or vise versa.) I'm not looking to teach, I love to talk to people, I really find myself good at it. Am I on the right path? </p>
<p>Should I stop worrying let everything go and follow my dreams, apply to Hawaii and get on that Russian program? Everybody says I can change my major, but is Hawaii an adequate choice to follow my career? I know they're known for Sciences and their linguistic department is mostly Western oriented, but there's just something about that place that draws me to it, I'm just scared that bachelors in Russian will not lead me to doing what I want to do in question #2 *or that I will end up isolated and not meet anyone who can help me climb the pyramid to success.</p>
<p>If anyone can just please help me out, I really need an advice and I don't have anyone to ask.</p>