06-25-2008 at 01:22 AM
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#1
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Electives Strategy
First off, this thread isn't for "bird courses"-we already have enough of those.
I hope to get some advice from upper year students on the best way to use my electives, do/have any of you had a particular strategt and if so why? I am thinking in terms of per year/level, and how many I should allot myself.
The following is what I am currently thinking, as a Combined Honours Social Science and Humanities student:
2nd year: 6/18 units of electives
3rd year: 0-3/18 units of electives
4th year: 9-12/18 units of electives
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06-25-2008 at 06:25 AM
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#2
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MacInsiders VP
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Use as many of your electives in fourth year as possible.
Not only are you more likely to get the ones you want, but it will help even out your course load with your seminars. (especially if you have four...which sucks...a lot...)
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McMaster Combined Honours Cultural Studies & Critical Theory and Anthropology: 2008
McMaster Honours English with a minor in Indigenous Studies: 2010
Carleton University Masters of Arts in Canadian Studies: 2012 (expected)
We are people of this generation, bred in at least modest comfort, housed in universities, looking uncomfortably into the world we inherit. -- Port Huron Statement
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06-25-2008 at 08:31 AM
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#3
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Also, take electives that are relevant to your degree. So if you're in say... history, don't take a class on the water cycle or geography of Japan. Yes, it may boost your average but gradschools and the like will know that it's simply a mark booster and may not even take it into consideration.
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Sabrina Bradey
Hon. Classical History and English Language and Literature
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07-07-2009 at 08:56 PM
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#4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kokosas
Also, take electives that are relevant to your degree. So if you're in say... history, don't take a class on the water cycle or geography of Japan. Yes, it may boost your average but gradschools and the like will know that it's simply a mark booster and may not even take it into consideration.
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Really? But how can they judge something like that? What if I was sincerely interested in learning about the geography of Japan? (  lol) |
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07-07-2009 at 10:14 PM
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#5
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MSU VP Education 2012-2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Goce
First off, this thread isn't for "bird courses"-we already have enough of those.
I hope to get some advice from upper year students on the best way to use my electives, do/have any of you had a particular strategt and if so why? I am thinking in terms of per year/level, and how many I should allot myself.
The following is what I am currently thinking, as a Combined Honours Social Science and Humanities student:
2nd year: 6/18 units of electives
3rd year: 0-3/18 units of electives
4th year: 9-12/18 units of electives
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Umm that's wierd! I'm in Econ and Sociology double Major and I only have a single elective spot in my second year! :(
That IS even AFTER taking one of the five required 2nd year econ courses in first year and delaying one another till Summer School 2010!
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Huzaifa Saeed
BA Hon, Political Science & Sociology, Class of 2013
MSU Vice President Education '12/13
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07-07-2009 at 10:17 PM
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#6
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MSU VP Education 2012-2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mcinside
Really? But how can they judge something like that? What if I was sincerely interested in learning about the geography of Japan? ( lol) |
Are you interested in Gemstones? Natural Disasters? Alot of people take them to boost their marks! If I was a grad school admissions member I wouldn't consider them if say my subject was majoring in Philosophy and Polisci! I would rate higher Economics and History and Sociology and Anthro courses. Though at the same time an alternative argument could be that some people like myself have immense interest in a certain field(mine is astrophysics) and if I can explain why I took courses in that unrelevant field it could help me! But How would I explain Gemstones?
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Huzaifa Saeed
BA Hon, Political Science & Sociology, Class of 2013
MSU Vice President Education '12/13
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07-07-2009 at 10:33 PM
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#7
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Most of my electives are required for my minor =p. Also, according to my degree audit Math 1AA3 is an elective ... not bird-like at all.
I stacked most of my required/heavy courses in 2nd/3rd year to give myself a break during 4th year.
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07-07-2009 at 10:41 PM
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#8
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Zetsubou Sensei
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Quote:
Originally Posted by huzaifa47
Umm that's wierd! I'm in Econ and Sociology double Major and I only have a single elective spot in my second year! :(
That IS even AFTER taking one of the five required 2nd year econ courses in first year and delaying one another till Summer School 2010!
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Man, I feel your pain. By default, we don't even get Electives in 2nd year Mechanical & Management, and I had to course overload just to get the 6 units in order take my language courses (I really want to take an alternative language heh). FML
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07-07-2009 at 11:33 PM
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#9
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It's true that you should take related subjects, but doesn't taking interesting subjects make you seem more well-rounded for grad schools. As in, you have other interests BESIDES that one subject?
Personally if I was a member of the admissions committee, I would see it as a positive aspect.
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Mary Keyes CA 2013-2014
Hons. Biology and Pharmacology V
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07-08-2009 at 12:16 AM
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#10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ~*Sara*~
It's true that you should take related subjects, but doesn't taking interesting subjects make you seem more well-rounded for grad schools. As in, you have other interests BESIDES that one subject?
Personally if I was a member of the admissions committee, I would see it as a positive aspect.
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I don't think grad schools look at what courses you've taken, except for the required courses.
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Jeremy Han
McMaster Alumni - Honours Molecular Biology and Genetics
Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University Third Year - Doctor of Optometry
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07-08-2009 at 12:20 AM
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#11
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I'm pretty sure they do though, they see all the courses that contribute to the GPA. At the very least, they look at it.
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Mary Keyes CA 2013-2014
Hons. Biology and Pharmacology V
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07-08-2009 at 12:31 AM
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#12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ~*Sara*~
I'm pretty sure they do though, they see all the courses that contribute to the GPA. At the very least, they look at it.
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Yeah, but with the myriads of applicants they probably don't look at each individual course. They probably look to see if you have completed the requirements and then average all your courses.
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Jeremy Han
McMaster Alumni - Honours Molecular Biology and Genetics
Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University Third Year - Doctor of Optometry
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07-08-2009 at 01:46 AM
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#13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jhan523
Yeah, but with the myriads of applicants they probably don't look at each individual course. They probably look to see if you have completed the requirements and then average all your courses.
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Good point, and there's always the volunteer experience and such which is looked upon highly .
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Mary Keyes CA 2013-2014
Hons. Biology and Pharmacology V
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07-08-2009 at 03:24 AM
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#14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ~*Sara*~
Good point, and there's always the volunteer experience and such which is looked upon highly .
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For sure, I would definitively consider volunteering and all those other non-academic prerequisites as MUCH more important than the variety of course taken.
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Jeremy Han
McMaster Alumni - Honours Molecular Biology and Genetics
Pennsylvania College of Optometry at Salus University Third Year - Doctor of Optometry
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07-08-2009 at 06:02 AM
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#15
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Trolling ain't easy
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RoyK
Man, I feel your pain. By default, we don't even get Electives in 2nd year Mechanical & Management, and I had to course overload just to get the 6 units in order take my language courses (I really want to take an alternative language heh). FML
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Heh, I had to do the same. Which language(s) did you end up taking?
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Dillon Dixon
Alumni
Software Engineering and Embedded Systems
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