<p>So, I can be a bit on the shy side sometimes, until I feel comfortable enough to open up at least. In class, I usually don't speak up. I prefer to just listen and soak in the information that way. I know that seminars are more discussion based, and I was just wondering what that's like for shy people like me. Is it intimidating, and are you sort of forced to open up and voice your opinions on what you're learning, or could I still sorta just quietly learn by listening?</p>
<p>It depends on the class, but in most of the smaller classes I took discussion and participation were a major part of the grade and you had to speak up-- but it was political science and literature, so that’s kind of to be expected. </p>
<p>I found it to be really unpleasant, but I was able to take mostly bigger lecture style classes. Even most of them had a discussion section, but it’s a smaller portion of the grade and as you start to take more advanced classes I think the discussions get better and you are going to want to participate anyway. I am the queen of loathing small classes and I took a 12 person seminar my last semester and loved it.</p>
<p>So, in short, yeah you’re probably going to have to talk more than you’d like to. But it won’t be that bad, and will get better as you progress through your program.</p>