I think one of the reasons I’m having a hard time making up my mind about where I want to go to college is that I can’t decide exactly what I want to do. I know that, at seventeen, I don’t need to know precisely what’s going to happen for the rest of my life, but I haven’t even firmly decided on a college major. Again, I know that’s common, but I’d like to post about it anyway.

My problem is that I’m interested in too many things. Some of my interest, like English and psychology, are not likely to become college majors. Others, though, like math, computer science, and neuroscience, are. Whenever I try to pick one thing, I feel like I’m abandoning the others. With unlimited money and time, I’d like to spend more than four years on my undergraduate degree and double or triple major with lots and lots of electives. I just want to take too many courses. Lots of liberal arts classes are good because they teach you how to think and live, but I want to major in something very technical- and take as many courses in that as possible.

Actually, here’s what it comes down to. I want to do a major in computer science with some sort of concentration in artificial intelligence. Also, I want to minor/double major in math, and take enough math courses so that I can study topology and geometry, along with number theory. That can be managed. But here’s the problem- I also want to devote a fairly considerable amount of time to the liberal arts. Other science courses, like physics and biology, would be nice, too. As far as I can see, I can’t get a really good education in two fields without sacrificing somewhere else. Alas! Four years is too short.

Keep in mind, though, the above plan is only valid for the next little while. I could change my mind any time. For right now though, top two choices are Carnegie Mellon University and University of Chicago. The plan mentioned above is more tailored to CMU, though- I’m not sure what I’d do if I went to UChicago.

I’ll be glad when I’ve picked a college and sent in my deposit.