Senior Year Plans

Once again, it’s the time in my term when I think about the courses I will take next term. In the spring, though, I get the chance to think not only about the next term, but about all the classes I will take next year. The only outstanding graduation requirement I still have is the final course required for the physics major, Contemporary Experimental Physics, which I will take next spring. Other than that, I can take any classes that I want!

For the fall, I am certain only about two classes. Even though I only have one more required physics course, both of these fall-term classes are 300-level physics classes. Thermodynamics is considered very important for graduate school, which I am still considering pursuing after Carleton. The other course, Advanced Classical Mechanics, is an advanced version of my favorite class that I have taken. It is also taught by my advisor, who is one of my favorite professors. These courses will be difficult, but both cover topics that interest me, so hopefully I will enjoy them.

I am still looking for a third class that will balance well with these two courses. Most of the classes that I am interested in meet at the same times as the classes I have already decided to take. My current idea is to take a course titled American Environmental History. I want to pursue something related to the environment post-Carleton, so contextualizing current environmental issues will be both relevant and interesting.

As for the rest of the year, I only have a couple courses lined up. In the winter, I will be taking 6 credits associated with my Comps, a process that I wrote about a couple weeks ago. I also plan to take Hydrology, an upper-level geology course. In the spring, I will take the last physics course that I mentioned above, and likely one or two more classes that will make my senior spring a relaxed and fun term. I can’t wait to see what next year has in store, and I will make sure to update my blog when I finalize those plans!

Jacob is a junior physics major interested in environmental science. At Carleton, Jacob enjoys going on outings with CANOE, the outdoors club, and playing ultimate frisbee with the Gods of Plastic, Carleton’s Division III men’s ultimate team.