More often than not, when college students are choosing their electives, they go for the classes that would give them an easy A. And no one could judge them for that, not really. We can’t fault a pre-med college student for wanting to take some easy classes. They may be overwhelmed with their lab work and exams. So it’s okay for them to take classes that can ease off some of the tension on their shoulders.
But electives are there to allow students to have a more holistic education. They may be specializing in their majors. But it’s always good to learn about other things as well. It broadens their knowledge and skills.
So, as a college student, you can make proper use of your electives by looking for classes that would be useful to you in the future. Such classes are related to adulting. In these classes, you’ll learn about the basic knowledge and skills that will help you face the next stage of your life after college.
Finance, Economics, and Insurance
Settling your taxes is one of the most grueling tasks that every adult in the United States does. Yes, you can hire an accountant to worry about tax-filing for you. But, as a young professional, it’s possible that you wouldn’t be able to afford to hire an accountant just yet. So you’ll have to learn how to file your taxes. You can do this by attending classes in the finance and accounting department of your university.
It would be good as well if you take classes where you learn about the basics of finance. Learn how to balance a checkbook, keep track of your expenses, understand the charges on your utility bills, and properly use a credit card.
You would also need to learn about insurance. It’s one of the things all adults must have to secure their assets and their lives in general. By taking insurance courses, you will learn how to get insurance for your home, car, health, and various other things.
Home Economics
You might think that taking classes on home economics would just be a waste of time. It’s one of the classes in high school that we avoided or didn’t care about at all. But, as a budding adult, you would start to understand the importance of such classes.
Once you move out of your dorm and parents’ house, you would really start to become an adult. You’re responsible for keeping your house clean and organized. You would need to learn how to use a washing machine. As a working professional, you’d outgrow ramen noodles for dinner. So instead of buying takeout every night, you would need to learn how to cook.
By taking home economic classes now, you would be prepared to actually live your day-to-day life as a functional adult.
Job Application
This may be the most useful class that you can take in college. No matter what major you’re in, nothing would matter if you can’t get a job. By taking classes on job applications, you will learn how to create a resume or a curriculum vitae (CV). If you’re an arts and humanities major, you’d also need to know how to build a portfolio that would present the breadth of your work.
In these classes, you will also learn how to properly present yourself during job interviews. The classes would cover your posture, language, and tone, and even clothing.
You might think that these things would just come to you naturally. But that’s not always the case. Some budding adults need guidance and training to present themselves into the world as a first-time professional.
You might have the major classes that are teaching you about the intricacies of your future work field or industry. You’d be set to build the necessary skills and experience to become a prominent professional–whether that’s a doctor, teacher, or other careers. But no matter where you end up, you need to know how to manage your finances, maintain your home’s upkeep, and secure a job. Such skills will make you successful not just in your work but in life as well.
