Senior Student Elective Course Advice

Although it sometimes seems unreal, I am approaching my senior year at Purdue. With several years of Purdue student experience, I have come to recognize the importance and worth of elective courses while in college. Unfortunately, the worth of these courses was not something I recognized until my third year. Being proactive about education can lead to unexpected opportunities and feeling better prepared when heading into interviews, further educational environments, and the workplace. Here are three reasons elective courses are more important than the average student realizes:

1. Elective courses serve a purpose other than credit hours to fill your full-time student enrollment status. Plans of study reflect what courses a student must take, however these do not reflect what a student may need to take to fully take advantage of their career at the student’s university. Ask your advisor to point out courses relevant to your major from your elective course list.
2. Elective courses do not only help students “round out” their skills and provide the opportunity to learn (and gain) new perspectives, these courses help students identify their passions. Too often students forget that their degree does not limit them to a set-in-stone profession post graduation. Interests lead to possibilities!
3. Elective courses can help students move forward with their career goals. Sometimes introductory knowledge to a certain topics or experience with certain programs that are available in courses that are not required in order to graduate may prove to be marketable come time for to convey you eligibility for a position in interviews and/or application processes.