Rosetta Stone

[nightseas.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping to take Russian language classes at the University of Toronto, but they're all filled this year and I was a late applicant (I'm number 217 on the wait list, ouch).

My plan is to become an interpreter or bilingual social worker (I have a background in social work, but most of the positions in Toronto require a second language). I also plan to travel to Russia (the 4th year of the U of T program can be taken at St. Petersburg State University, which I plan to do).

My question: would it be worthwhile to invest in Rosetta Stone? I've been trying to learn online and out of a workbook that I bought, but it's proving to be ridiculous for me. I've heard great things about the program for some other languages but also terrible things for others (such as German).

If anyone has any experience or anything, would it help me greatly to use Rosetta Stone for a year before taking formal classes?

Thanks!