Julie Steinberg | Electing for what's interesting

Scrolling through the Penn Registrar is a depressing task for this graduating senior. Knowing I won't be here next semester to take advantage of "Cinema of the Balkans" or Turkish I makes course examination a slowly sapping exercise, but I can't help torturing myself. At least I can look forward to returning as an 89-year-old senior associate and imitating the one who screamed in my HIST 451: "What do you know, professor? I was there!"

But I digress. Advance registration began yesterday and it's just about time to disregard most of the advice you'll receive. Well-meaning parents will nudge you toward econ classes, confident that you will be one of the lucky few to score a finance job in this economy (you won't). Your roommate will suggest "Sociology of Media and Pop Culture" as an easy way to fulfill a requirement. But don't buy it - apparently the prof realized that writing about your experience at Time absinthe bar doesn't constitute coursework and made the class infinitely harder.

So how to navigate the labyrinth of courses without losing your sanity? By adhering to three basic principles: It doesn't matter what you take; it doesn't matter what you major in; and it certainly doesn't matter how many majors you have.

There's a preconceived notion that it's necessary to double-major in pairs of topics that reflect your academic orientation: international relations and econ, English and creative writing, etc. While double-majoring might seem ambitious, a) no one cares b) it drastically restricts your ability to fulfill your other interests and c) mixing it up can actually enhance your attractiveness as a job candidate (this is Penn, after all).

My good friend is a pre-med film buff majoring in English. When she interviewed at a medical school this semester, her interviewer was more interested in her opinion on Batman than on botulism. Similarly, at a job interview in Washington, I answered more questions about comparative literature than political science.

The key here is to maximize your intellectual curiosity, which will naturally add dimension to your character (and applications). If gazing at Mary Cassatt gets you excited, take ARTH 285. Don't fall prey to the misperception that you need only take courses that satisfy requirements. You have four years to digest the most interesting classes you'll never be able to take again - it's an incredible opportunity to move away from stuff you already know.

With that advice in mind, check out the brief list of courses I've earmarked from my time at Penn. Striving toward being an excellent conversationalist at a dinner party, I've suggested courses that will festoon you with nuggets of wisdom to contribute.

"Energy, Oil and Global Warming," Kenneth Lande: Even if global warming is as real to you as AIG Chief Edward Liddy's conscience (which is to say, nonexistent), Lande's class is refreshingly apolitical (despite my best attempts to bring up current events). You don't need a math or science background to appreciate the course. More than anything, Lande wants you to understand some of the most pressing crises that the planet is facing.

"The Devil's Pact," Simon Richter: Drawing on literature, film and music, this class examines the history and place of the devil in society. Expanding beyond the traditional good/bad dichotomy, Richter focuses on self-reflexivity and the empowerment knowledge offers. Not a bad metaphor for the college experience, and Richter's enthusiasm will make you want to go to class.

"History of the Symphony," Lawrence Bernstein: It's not just for the musically inclined or talented - even if you can't tell an oboe from a clarinet, Berstein's hysterical anecdotes are distracting enough to make you forget you're examining binary forms and the mathematical composition of music. A treat for those who can't get to the Kimmel Center to hear the Philly orchestra as often as they'd like.

There are many more courses worth your time, and this is just an initial sample to whet your appetite. The important thing to remember is that grad schools and employers care that your schedule was academically rigorous, not what its content looked like. And if you find you're still craving more in 50 years, I'll save you a spot in the second row. Just don't get mad if the prof doesn't call on you.

Julie Steinberg is a College senior from Boca Raton, Fla. That's What She Said appears on alternating Tuesdays. Her email address is steinberg@dailypennsylvanian.com.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.