You wouldn't think that choosing a major would merit its own web page on this site, but in my case, I've changed it often enough that I have most of the school confused at this point. Fortunately, the Registrar knows the story, so my diploma will be correct (and they'll give it to me).
Timeline
Summer 1998 - Went to Dartmouth intending to be a Computer Science major.
September 1998 - My introduction to the CS department was not a happy experience, so I decided to try some different courses, and get some prerequisites out of the way.
Late Fall 1998 - Linguistics 1 was very enjoyable, so I chose that as my major (though Dartmouth students don't have to choose majors officially until their sophomore winter, which would be January-March 2000).
Winter 2000 - Still wanting to be a Linguistics major, so I filed as such.
Spring 2000 - Took CS 5 and Ling 24. The first was enjoyable (and the easiest course I've taken to date), the second was not such a wonderful experience. Decided that being a CS major might be worth looking into after all.
Summer 2000 - Took CS 37 (Computer Architecture). Also a very enjoyable class, and not all that challenging to me. I could get the hang of this, I think. Start mapping out a modified major between Linguistics and Computer Science since pulling off an unmodified CS major would be rather difficult at this point (five terms left, two classes out of about thirteen taken).
Fall 2000 - I've filed to be a Computer Science modified with Linguistics major. Took CS 18. Also a good class, incidentally with the same professor as CS 5. Feel better about the modified major.
Winter 2001 - Enter CS 21. This was not a happy experience. Between an error-filled pilot textbook, a lack of mathematical background, and an off-term (meaning that I couldn't ask the professor for help), I didn't stick with this course for more than a few weeks. Time to reconsider the major.
Spring 2001 - Did a Linguistics independent study on aspects of web site usability. This went pretty well, though it was an extremely independent study, and I decided to reverse my major to Linguistics modified with Computer Science.
Fall 2001 - Did a Computer Science reading course (equivalent to an independent study) on usability testing. This was also highly independent, but among my most favorite courses at Dartmouth.
Winter 2002 - Ultimately decided that I didn't want to take any more courses in the computer science department, and didn't want to write another "why I want to do a modified major" letter, so I switched back to a regular Linguistics major. Good choice, as the two Linguistics courses I took this term were among my best classes at Dartmouth.
People often wonder why I'm not a Computer Science major, given the amount of time I spend programming, as well as my general technological bent. I'm not, however, especially trained in mathematics, which is a considerable portion of a good computer science major, and at Dartmouth, a prerequisite.
Because of this, the CS major turned out to not be much of an
option. Instead, I've been working at giving myself as much CS
training as I can during my free time, so that I can at least pass as
a major-wannabe when necessary. :-)
Ultimately, I like my current major better. It's listed as simply "Linguistics", but has more computer-oriented courses than your typical major. I've created two independent study courses to research issues in usability which, I think, will be very valuable when I work on future projects (at a job, doing research, or whatever). It's a perspective that I never would have gotten had I not spent so much time going back and forth between the two departments.
