<p>I am scheduling classes next semester and learned of a class being taught by my favorite professor - it is in a subject that I am strongly considering minoring in. I actually just met with him today and he said he was thrilled because he had been hoping that I was one of the students to contact him about the minor. </p>
<p>The class itself sounds incredibly interesting, not to mention it also addresses a general ed requirement I have; so even if I didn't minor in the subject, I'd still benefit from taking the class (both practically and meaningfully.) </p>
<p>However, the class is from 2:00pm - 3:30pm TuTh. That doesn't sound too bad to most people but I am a commuter and I try to schedule all of my classes 1) in the morning and 2) back to back. My schedule this semester is perfect and it does just that - it lets me get out at noon at the very latest, and I have no huge breaks in between where I'm struggling to find something to do. I wanted to do the same for next semester but this class, which I'd love to take, is throwing a wrench in my plans. My last prospective class on TuTh would end at around 11 (or 10:45) - which would leave me a three hour break in between. (My commute is over an hour each way, so going home is out of the question.) </p>
<p>Another issue is that there was a job I was hoping to get second semester (open only to second semester Freshman and up) which is in a very large financial firm in Boston, pays very well, and has a very respectable, professional atmosphere. (My parents are very opposed to the idea of me working in a fast food place or retail.) The hours are inflexible, and in order to qualify, I'd need to keep my afternoons free. If I take this class, I blow that chance of getting the job. </p>
<p>Do you think the class is worth it? There's no doubt in my mind that I'd enjoy the class. Plus this professor seems like someone I really want to keep in contact with, with regards to grad school recommendation letters, job recommendations, etc. </p>
<p>@ucbalumnus - Probably. The program is incredibly small. There’s only two professors, so there’s a 50% chance (or probably more like 100% chance) that the class will be offered again with him in the 2015-2016 academic year. </p>
<p>Don’t base anything off the job yet. If you do get the job then you could drop the class. I don’t think the break is too bad if you have enough homework and studying you could use to fill up the time and you could use an hour to get lunch and just play on the phone or computer</p>
<p>Yes, sign up for the course. Only if you get the job and its work hours cannot be worked around the course do you have to decide whether to keep the course or the job.</p>
<p>I’d recommend taking the class, and drop it if you get the job and can’t work around it, provided you have enough flexibility in your schedule to be able to drop the class.</p>
<p>There are plenty of things you can do during the break, while on campus. Eat lunch, study, do homework, read, go on the internet, etc. I even knew students who would take a nap in the library between classes. There’s plenty you can do, and if you do most of your studying during your break on campus, then you have more time to relax at home.</p>
<p>I would say to take the class. It’s nice that it’s at least on the same day! You can do a lot of homework between that time, and you’ll benefit a lot from having a great professor and potentially forming a good relationship with him.
I’m one who goes out of my way to schedule classes with good profesdors, and I’ve never regretted my decisions (I also have about an hour commute one way, and even though I have to drive to campus 5 days a week, it’s okay because my classes are worth it)</p>
<p>I know having a really good schedule is tempting, but it’s almost inevitable that something will come up and change. Just appreciate the good schedules when you have them and then chug through the less-than-ideal ones when they arise! </p>
<p>As a commuter, I love having classes back-to-back as well. My schedule sounds similar to yours; I am done around noon every day. However, if I knew for a fact that a good professor will be teaching a class, I would schedule that class than risk it with a not-so-great professor. </p>
<p>Sometimes, the ideal schedule is not always plausible. You will probably be happy that you decided to take the class, anyways. </p>
<p>I think commuters have to accept that some classes you want aren’t going to be at the best times (as do all students). If it is offered again, it could be in just as difficult a time slot. Regarding the job situation, it seems ridiculous to me that your parents look down on retail and fast food jobs. During the year, that is often what college freshman do, especially if they have not qualified for work study (a lot of jobs like lab jobs, working admissions, etc. go to ws students). If you need the money for school, then you probably have to take a job that fits your schedule. You are getting ahead of yourself as a freshman to take an office job that interferes with your class schedule, IMHO.</p>
<p>@intparent - It is not so much that they look down on retail and fast food jobs; it is that they know how the clientele behaves toward those employees. My parents didn’t want me working in an atmosphere where I’m not respected by the people I have to deal with. My parents both worked those types of jobs when they were younger (they’re both immigrants and night shifts at Burger King was how the rent got paid for many years) – they respect all forms of honest work. They just know what Burger King customers are usually like and they didn’t want me to have to deal with it.
Also, I do not need the money for school - I’m on a full scholarship and living at home. I wanted the office job as a means of building my resume and getting more “legitimate” work experience in the context of how grad schools define it. Also, most on-campus employment at my college is open to all students; all of my friends who work in admissions, student affairs, the Chancellor’s office, etc, are not work study students. </p>
<p>I put the course in my enrollment shopping cart - as it stands, my schedule is 9-11 MWF (as it is this semester, so no change) and 10-3 TTh; with one 1.5 hour break one day a week (Tuesdays) when I don’t have a secondary section of Calc. It isn’t awful; per se. It’ll just take some adjusting. </p>
<p>Ah… you can be treated like crap in an office job, too! I work as a consultant across industries, and I have seen worse behavior than you see in a fast food restaurant. </p>
<p>My kid has classes that run until 4:45 some days, and even had a couple of evening classes last year (some of them required core classes without alternative times). You have it cushy… but again, you really need to focus on your coursework over “resume building” at this stage. Use your summers for internships unless you need the money during the year, which it doesn’t sound like you do. </p>
<p>What would you be doing in this job? If you’re doing just general office work, I think you’re building it up to be way more than it is. There are likely many other jobs that can give you the same experience to put on your resume, while having a more flexible schedule. It’s not like you’re only options are this job or Burger King. There’s a lot of jobs in between those.</p>
<p>Is it something directly related to what you would like to do as a career? What graduate school are you interested in? If it’s not directly related to what you would like to do in a career or what you would like to study in graduate school AND you don’t need the money, then it’s not worth sacrificing your class schedule over.</p>
<p>And to be honest, I think everyone should have to work in a job where they have to deal with customers at least once. It would give people a lot more perspective, and there are some really valuable skills to be learned when dealing with challenging customers.</p>
<p>I say go for the retail jobs and skip the office work. You’re still in college. Enjoy it… you have the rest of your life to be a grown up working in an office.</p>