Studying Languages/Linguistics at Middlebury

DeadHeadDad
Mon, 22 Feb 2021 22:10:36 +0000

Thanks for this. I will answer your last question first…

She would not do well socially at a big school. I have never in my life met someone so introverted. I have also never met anyone who has more trouble meeting friends. She probably would be ok academically because she has an incredibly strong curiosity for academic subjects, and because she is VERY confident in her abilities. Though, I expect the way she would survive in that kind of environment it to wall her self off socially. So, an LAC, where there is more explicit efforts by the school to build community seems like her best shot at finding a situation where she can fit in and find kids more like her.

The biggest school she is currently considering is William and Mary. We live in Virginia and that is the only State school she is considering. Even that (at roughly 6,000) seems too big to her. She will definitely apply though.

Your points on Linguistics are well taken. Over the next 12 months I want her to really explore this discipline to figure out if it is what she is after. I know that elements of it certainly have her interest. If, she decides to go that route, I think that a school like Swathmore that does have a major in Linguistics may shoot up her list. And from a cultural perspective, I think Swathmore is probably her closest match. Wellesley (which I don’t think would be a good social fit) is also on the list as they too have a Linguistics major.

One of her goals over the next 18 months is to take at least one class at UVA. If she does not come to some sort of conclusion about Linguistics before that point, I am going to strongly suggest she make that course a Linguistics class. If she has decided Linguistics is not for her by then it will probably be either something in Classics or Medieval Studies.

I am also not completely convinced that she would need to major in Linguistics as an undergrad to pursue it later in grad school.

Thanks,

DHD