As a graduate student, it is always hard to decide on subjects for each semester. My university has a strength of freedom, which means there are only a few mandatory classes. Although I thought I loved the flexibility for class registration because I am not very good at expressing myself when I’m not curious about courses and/or lecturers. However, when facing situations of registration, I always reminded myself about the result of the jam experience, which is a few choices sell well compared with multiple ones.
Before I explain my strategy for deciding my subjects, I would like to say my errors in my previous semesters.
Tries and Errors in my previous semesters
I have to memorize my tendencies but it is often difficult when I need to decide in a moment. I made mistakes and they developed a few theories I should have noticed.
First, I tend to take advanced classes. It is easy to imagine the relationship between academic topics and real ones when I try to take advanced courses. However, students for these courses need to take basic courses previously. Also, you have to master these basic topics. When students ask professors whether they could take their advanced classes, professors tend to say yes because they want their classes popular. For instance, I was new to finance fields but I took a corporate finance class. It was too hard for me.
Second, I should consider my relationship with lecturers. Although I like topics that lecturers treat, I should not choose their class when it is hard to understand what the lecturer says. Topics are the hook of classes. What I should emphasize is whether I can continue learning the topics of these classes. I should choose easier classes for me.
Third, English is my second language. I tried to understand topics as native speakers and I was always shocked about my lack of understanding. When I talked with other international students, they came to the US in their childhood. I heard lots of students tend to come to the US in their high school. I need not compare with them because I didn’t live in the English world so far.
Based on these lessons, I started thinking about my subjects.
Interests
1) Relationships with people from other countries
I was not fun with taking classes because I thought I needed to acquire skills. However, what I want to do is to make connections with people from other countries.
2) Quantitative and Business skills
I used qualitative analyses in my past career. I interviewed professionals and collected information. I noticed that I wanted to use numbers to increase my persuasiveness, not just rely on what professors say.
3) Outputs
I feel fun when I want to speak and write something.
Criteria
1) Level of classes – easier is better
2) Fun classes
3) Whether I think related topics when I take classes
Options
1) Soft skills – leadership or negotiation
2) Quantitative and business skills – Market research and/or product management
3) Outputs – international relations
I didn’t consider this point, but I started thinking about this point because I just absorbed new concepts. I want to expand and express my thoughts.
Therefore, I will take a class which treats international relations. Although I am not curious about professionals in these fields such as researchers and working in think tanks, I like to think about these vague topics as my hobbies.