<p>Looking at the course catalog, the autumn quarter course selection simply isn’t as good as the winter quarter’s. In order to complete my degree requirements by the end of the autumn quarter, there are only 3 possible classes I can take, and I have to enroll in all 3 of them. I already know that one of them doesn’t interest me, another looks too mathematically intense for my background, and the last is a repeat of a class I already took in college, same textbook and all. Every other course offered by my dept this quarter is either an elective, or a class I had already taken last year.</p>
<p>Whereas if I wait until winter, I can choose 3 classes from among 5 options, without the potential for overlap. I also know that at least one of the classes will interest me and be more relevant to my career goals.</p>
<p>The problem is that I don’t have anything lined up for this quarter: very few places offer internships outside of the summer (and believe me: I tried.) Continuing through autumn is also not an option at the place I did my summer internship. And traveling is too expensive.</p>
<p>If I had an infinite supply of money, I’d have no issue with exploring other departments to find other academic passions. However, I’ve already racked up five figures’ worth of student debt and I’ve grown wary about spending any more money on “unnecessary” educational expenses. For example, If I wanted to take a developmental psych class (which I’m genuinely interested in as a subject but not as a career), I can do it at a community college for 1-2% of the tuition cost.</p>
<p>So what’s your advice? Thanks in advance.</p>