It’s hard to believe that the semester is half over! I feel like I only just started. But midterms are over, professors are talking about final projects, and Thanksgiving Break is approaching rapidly. Most excitingly, course selection time is coming up!
With most of my major, minor, and distribution requirements taken care of, I have a lot of freedom in selecting my spring semester classes–Wellesley’s big on encouraging people to learn in a broad, liberal arts-y way. Settling on a schedule has stirred up a surprising number of anxiety-inducing thoughts.
There are so many amazing options (pro-tip: you can check them out yourself). These will be the last classes I take at Wellesley (ahh). This will be my last opportunity to work with my amazing professors (ahhhhh). Also, likely my last opportunity to take in-depth, thoughtful, fascinating classes on topics that fascinate me (ahhhhhhhh). Plus, I’ll need to leave a lot of time to apply for jobs (AHHHHHHH).
Thinking about how these are the LAST CLASSES EVER and how I’ll NEVER SEE MY PROFESSORS AGAIN and THIS IS IT, MAN, is not particularly helpful, so I’ve been trying to stick to practical stuff. Wellesley offers credit for my thesis and I have plenty of extra credit from summer internships, so I can limit myself to three classes next semester. That takes care of the “time to apply for jobs” problem and narrows down the number of choices I need to make.
Outside of creative writing–and my creative writing thesis definitely checks that box–my primary area of interest is in the English novel. A Jane Austen-based seminar is an obvious choice. I’ve always felt a bit guilty for being an English major and never properly reading her work. Like most seminars, it only meets once a week, which I personally find makes my schedule more manageable. Wellesley makes seminars pretty easy to get into–anyone who’s taken more than a couple classes in the department is free to join.
I definitely need a fifth Psych class for my minor. I loved the small, discussion-based seminar I took this semester, so I definitely want to take another one of those. My first choice–”How We Choose,” a seminar on the processes that determine how people make decisions–is offered at the same time as the Jane Austen seminar. Oops. On closer look, my second choice–”Personality and Motivation”–is offered by Professor Norem, my minor advisor and one of my favorite Psych profs. It’s also offered only once a week. Perfect.
Just one to go. Final. Class. Ever. I’m an English major, so I’m headed back to the English department listings. “Novels of Romantic Mistakes” pops out. It’s a seminar on the marriage plot in the context of 19th and late 18th century novels–something that the Jane Austen seminar will no doubt have plenty to say about. Is two seminars on very similar topics too much? Never. Nonsense. There’s no such thing as too many Victorian novels. I’m not doubling up on classes, I’m developing a focus. I’m taking it.
And that’s it! Decisions made. Courses selected. Final professors picked. I’m envious of you guys–you have eight amazing semesters of possibilities ahead of you, give or take a semester or two abroad. I really do recommend looking at your options now. I did before going to Wellesley, and the incredible opportunities ahead of me definitely made me feel better about attending. Happy searching!