Aghhh
I spent much of Monday and Tuesday fretting because I was certain that I wouldn't get into any history seminars. Clearly, I was wrong. I got into two out of three seminars, and the third simply hasn't released its list yet (not that I definitely will get in--but, you know, I'm on a roll here). The trouble is, I can only take two of them--and I feel bad because I applied to all of them on the assumption that I would take them. (I already narrowed it down from four to three, it's the last cut I can't decide)
Which ones would you take?
The City in Preindustrial Europe
The changing role of cities in Europe and the emerging world economy before industrialization. Topics include what defines a city; town and country; urban elites and commoners; minorities; crime and social control; the Reformation; port-cities and global trade; cities, states, and empires; city maps and representations; and absolutism. Comparisons with Ottoman, East African, and Spanish American cities.
Pros: really cool topic, taught by awesome professor, good class chemistry
Cons: lots of reading that looks a bit boring, lots of expensive books
Work: several short papers, final paper
Republican China
The period of transition between the Chinese Empire and the People“s Republic of China. The roots of contemporary mainland China and Taiwan; modernity and changes to society and politics, economy and law, education and literature.
Pros: really interesting topic, cool reading list, all readings online, fairly good class chemistry, relevant to both my majors
Cons: time (Fridays from 1.30-3.30), instructor is post-doctoral fellow, not full-fledged professor
Work: several short papers, final paper
[Have not actually gotten into this one yet, but I have a fairly good chance, I think]
Women and Medicine in America from Colonial Times to the Present
American women from the colonial era to the present as midwives, patients, healers, reformers, revolutionaries, innovators, and entrepreneurs. Ways that women have shaped American health care and medical research.
Pros: really interesting topic, really cool reading, professor is way cool
Cons: sort of disturbed by taking a class with only 14 other girls (and female professor) and no guys
Work: several short papers, final paper
I'm really ambivalent about whether or not I get into Republican China--I'll feel slighted if I don't, but it will make my decision much easier, and if I do, I'll have to make that choice, and for the rest of the semester wonder if I made the right one. I made a bad choice last semester and it's really screwing me over now.
Anyway, my other classes:
Microeconomics: Ugh. The only reason I'm taking it is that I need a quantitative reasoning and the final is really early, so I can be out of there soon.
Human Evolution : This is for my science credit. It's a pretty cool class, but up a really fricking big hill and I get tired and cold walking up it.
Readings in Modern Chinese: Honestly, I'm not thrilled by the material for this class, but I need it for the major, I love the professor, and it's a pretty good gut class for me.
Classical Chinese Poetry: Also a seminar, this is with one of my favorite professors ever.
Standard class load is 5. I was planning on taking 6 to make up for last semester. Trouble is, as you can see, I would go up to 7 with all these seminars. I would have 3 finals (the Chinese final would probably be during reading week, so it doesn't count) and 3 final papers. If I go up to 3 history seminars, I'd have 4 final papers, and at about 3,000 words each, well, that won't be any fun.
I really like the Women in Medicine seminar, because it just looks like a lot of fun with a lively teacher and interesting reading, and I'm a pretty big fan of the City in Preindustrial Europe, because then I could write a paper on a cathedral town (I've always been freakishly interested in cathedrals). But Republican China is, well, culturally, historically, and personally relevant, so I think I would like it, but, you know, how can I be sure?
Anyway. I just don't know how much I'm physically capable. I'll be working 9-10 hours a week, as well, and there's my Yale Daily News and Connecticut Academic Decathlon commitments. I'm a girl who likes to sleep, and both Microeconomics and Human Evolution are going to be pretty difficult for me, with problem sets, labs, midterms, and other hard things. So, yeah, 7 classes would be a poor idea, but I'm sooo indecisive!
Which ones would you take?
The City in Preindustrial Europe
The changing role of cities in Europe and the emerging world economy before industrialization. Topics include what defines a city; town and country; urban elites and commoners; minorities; crime and social control; the Reformation; port-cities and global trade; cities, states, and empires; city maps and representations; and absolutism. Comparisons with Ottoman, East African, and Spanish American cities.
Pros: really cool topic, taught by awesome professor, good class chemistry
Cons: lots of reading that looks a bit boring, lots of expensive books
Work: several short papers, final paper
Republican China
The period of transition between the Chinese Empire and the People“s Republic of China. The roots of contemporary mainland China and Taiwan; modernity and changes to society and politics, economy and law, education and literature.
Pros: really interesting topic, cool reading list, all readings online, fairly good class chemistry, relevant to both my majors
Cons: time (Fridays from 1.30-3.30), instructor is post-doctoral fellow, not full-fledged professor
Work: several short papers, final paper
[Have not actually gotten into this one yet, but I have a fairly good chance, I think]
Women and Medicine in America from Colonial Times to the Present
American women from the colonial era to the present as midwives, patients, healers, reformers, revolutionaries, innovators, and entrepreneurs. Ways that women have shaped American health care and medical research.
Pros: really interesting topic, really cool reading, professor is way cool
Cons: sort of disturbed by taking a class with only 14 other girls (and female professor) and no guys
Work: several short papers, final paper
I'm really ambivalent about whether or not I get into Republican China--I'll feel slighted if I don't, but it will make my decision much easier, and if I do, I'll have to make that choice, and for the rest of the semester wonder if I made the right one. I made a bad choice last semester and it's really screwing me over now.
Anyway, my other classes:
Microeconomics: Ugh. The only reason I'm taking it is that I need a quantitative reasoning and the final is really early, so I can be out of there soon.
Human Evolution : This is for my science credit. It's a pretty cool class, but up a really fricking big hill and I get tired and cold walking up it.
Readings in Modern Chinese: Honestly, I'm not thrilled by the material for this class, but I need it for the major, I love the professor, and it's a pretty good gut class for me.
Classical Chinese Poetry: Also a seminar, this is with one of my favorite professors ever.
Standard class load is 5. I was planning on taking 6 to make up for last semester. Trouble is, as you can see, I would go up to 7 with all these seminars. I would have 3 finals (the Chinese final would probably be during reading week, so it doesn't count) and 3 final papers. If I go up to 3 history seminars, I'd have 4 final papers, and at about 3,000 words each, well, that won't be any fun.
I really like the Women in Medicine seminar, because it just looks like a lot of fun with a lively teacher and interesting reading, and I'm a pretty big fan of the City in Preindustrial Europe, because then I could write a paper on a cathedral town (I've always been freakishly interested in cathedrals). But Republican China is, well, culturally, historically, and personally relevant, so I think I would like it, but, you know, how can I be sure?
Anyway. I just don't know how much I'm physically capable. I'll be working 9-10 hours a week, as well, and there's my Yale Daily News and Connecticut Academic Decathlon commitments. I'm a girl who likes to sleep, and both Microeconomics and Human Evolution are going to be pretty difficult for me, with problem sets, labs, midterms, and other hard things. So, yeah, 7 classes would be a poor idea, but I'm sooo indecisive!