By Quinlan Cooke ’29
Staff Writer
With course registration quickly approaching, many are scrambling to find courses that fit their majors — or prospective majors — and that align time-wise. As a first year, it seems that because of my intended major, my options are quite limited.
ENGL-199: Introduction to the Study of Literature is one of the only English courses available to first years, and I am currently in it. As someone who is interested in taking more English courses, and who intends to major in English, I was looking forward to taking another course in this subject for the spring semester. Looking at the course information told me that the next course many English students take, Intro to Creative Writing, is limited to sophomores and above.
I understand that this gives upperclassmen a better chance to get the classes they need for their major requirements, but some first years might also want to get ahead. I feel that a solution to this would be adding more courses for all years.
For almost any class I would want to take, I would have to email for instructor permission. This can get really difficult to balance alongside advisor meetings and planning out backup classes. Instructors might also have further questions, or might not be able to respond to prospective students before advisor meetings. As a result, courses might have to be changed during the add/drop period, and some students might begin courses after the start of the semester, setting them behind on work.
Other classes open to first years and listed under a certain department might have prerequisites that are outside of that department, so there is still a delay when it comes to being able to take them.
For myself, I am starting my second semester with the classes from my first semester, alongside other college credits that I have previously accumulated under my belt. I will have to email several professors to forego prerequisite introductory level classes that I have already taken elsewhere, and I will have to request permission to take classes that other first years might not have the opportunity to.
Of course, these scenarios mentioned are the exception and not the rule – but, at a school that generally prides itself on rigorous academics, I would assume it would be more encouraged for students to try to challenge themselves when the opportunity arises. If a student wants a challenge, it should be encouraged, no matter their class year.
Another aspect of this is that advisor meetings were not required to register for first years’ first semester classes, but they are for the second semester. Perhaps first year students creating their schedules over the summer should be assigned a temporary counselor or advisor, so they become familiar with the concept of having help with their courses.
The Mount Holyoke College website says, “Whether it’s across disciplines or around the world, one thing’s for certain: You will achieve more than you thought possible. Along the way, you’ll be challenged. ” Perhaps part of the challenge is advocating for yourself, to prove that you belong in the classes that might challenge you academically, and to push for your own education in such a safe environment.
Cat McKenna ’28 contributed fact-checking.