<p>Hey guys, let’s say there is a course that you really wanted to take (that would tremendously help you in the graduate school application process) but it conflicts with another major-mandatory course. What would you do? Swallow the disappointment and take the major-mandatory course, or try to find some way to take the other course?</p>
<p>You haven’t provided enough information!
What classes are these? What do you want to do? Would you have to take an extra semester if you took the other class? Are there other important factors?</p>
<p>Mike</p>
<p>It really depends on the courses.</p>
<p>I had to choose between taking a literature class with Chinua Achebe or Arabic 202. I want to go to grad school for comparative literature, for which you need to know four languages, so I decided to go with Arabic. Course conflicts are difficult, but if you think them through there’s usually more of a reason to take one over the other.</p>
<p>Course conflicts happen, but it’s not like you can’t find another semester or summer session to take one of the courses.</p>
<p>I was there too. You could see if you can do an independent study for one of the courses. If not available, then go with the major mandatory and just swallow it. Tell the prof of the other course how disappointed you were about having to drop it- s/he might have some suggestions in finding opportunities to take that eventually. That’s how I felt better- the prof assured me that he’d offer it again before I graduate for sure.</p>
<p>The best option is to take gen eds over the summer, or take one of your cake courses when your load is a bit lighter. I will be adding two extra psych courses over the course of my three remaining years so I can get a minor in it. They offer one of those courses over the summer, so I’ll be taking that sometime. For the other, I’ll simply swap out a history or geography and take the psych during the regular year with the gen ed in the summer. I might try to get both out of the way next summer if at all possible.</p>
<p>If you’re a teacher, I’d imagine you could take a night course during your student teaching semester. If I find I’m one course away from an extra certification (special ed) or that psych minor I’d just take it then.</p>