Illustration by Vi-An Nguyen / North by NorthwesternWhen I was a little kid and someone asked me, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I had many answers: coroner (don’t ask), mommy, doctor, nun. It seemed that the well of inspiration and ideas never ran dry. But now that I actually have to make a choice, it’s hard to come up with a convincing answer.
For freshmen (myself included), this can be a daunting proposition–especially with Winter registration right around the corner.
In high school we still clutched to the childhood frame of mind with wary delusion; we had the opportunity to take all different kinds of courses with limited liability. Just because we took Chemistry or AP Literature didn’t mean we were destined to become doctors or English professors. Rather, we used this as a litmus test for our futures. If we found ourselves in over our heads (cough, cough), the solution was simple: wait it out, cross it off and move on. At worst, our GPA was tugged down, but we surely didn’t waste vast amounts of money (at least not in proportion to that of a class here).
But now, from picking classes to joining clubs to attending lectures, it seems that life at Northwestern is tied to the question we once found so easy to answer. How is one supposed to make a sound investment without any clue of their academic direction? As little kids, we could change our minds every day if we wanted to, but that simple approach to life–along with the Easter bunny and Santa–has faded with the stinging reality of this thing we call adulthood (it’s still scary to say that word). There is, after all, a lot more at stake. We fulfill prerequisites, take major-related classes, and study within one specialized school: There is an emphasis on making our choices early, and sticking with them.
Yes, the labyrinth that is CAESAR can appear intimidating for all–regardless of decisiveness in major–but the convoluted registration system may not be as useless as it appears, even if your registration time falls after the sun sets. In fact, it can actually be a blessing in disguise for undecided students.
The problem is that the “good,” popular classes are known to fill up fast. This leaves late-registration students, particularly freshmen who aren’t even able to preregister within their major, out of luck. However, this doesn’t necessarily have to mean an end to your future. Take a breath, maybe chew it over with a Twix, and return to your computer.
Take, for instance, the registration experience of one of my cross country teammates. She ended up in a history class that, at the beginning, she wasn’t too thrilled with (to say the least). Let’s just say that Medieval Japanese History was a far cry from what the pre-med student thought she should be looking for. It took her a few classes to actually get into the rhythm of it, but not only has it become her favorite class, it is something she wants to study more in the future. Look at that! From a potential “drop class,” a genuine interest had emerged.
My teammate’s story can be comforting to undecided students: even if you end up in classes that you’re not excited about initially, exposure to things you’d otherwise avoid can lead to discoveries of your own unknown passions, helping turn “undecided” into “decided”. At the same time, if you do end up in classes that are truly heinous, you’ll know what to avoid next time. Either way, registration can steer you in the right direction toward a declaration of major or even career choice.
At $50,000 a ticket, the Northwestern experience is still not something to play around with. However, when you have a blank slate in front of you, there is no danger in some eclectic sampling. Immersed in lab reports and numbers all day, my teammate found solace in the folktales and history of the Japanese people. A late registration time might seem like a death sentence, but I refuse to allow people believe that an unwanted class means that all hope is lost.