College Advice needed. T_T

[Legend]

Allright, so here's the deal. There's a new class offered at my school this summer-- and likely only this summer for reasons that will be disclosed below. This will probably be the only chance I have to do something like this, so please keep that in mind while you advise me.

It's called "Mythology of Harry Potter". Don't laugh, i'm serious. This is a senior level class. The teacher of the class (my advisor, as a point of fact) is writing a Harry Potter Encyclopedia. I will get my name on the published product if I participate in the class. It doesn't seem like much, but to me, it is. I want to be published, someday, and it'll be a foot in the door and it will look good on a resume.

The problem is that it's going to be a -lot- of work. The syllabus alone is literally 19 pages and unfinished.

In order to graduate in the Spring of 2008 I have to take at -least- three, if not four classes during the summer. If I take this, the chances are I'll only have time for one-- possibly two if my internship isn't that difficult.

As it is, I'll have to take six classes a semester (the maximum allowed) in order to keep on schedule. I really want to take this class, though. It would mean adding another semester to my graduation schedule...which is a big deal for me for several reasons...but I want to do it, and it would take some pressure off of other semesters where I may or may not be able to get the classes I need, or may be pushing it with a number of classes I might not be able to handle.

Advice? Thoughts? I'm bringing this up with Shino-sama tonight if he doesn't see it before then, and I am going to talk with my parents as well, but I do want other opinions as well. You guys might just have some insight I could use.

Thank you so much!

[FawkesFyre]

How well do you know this professor? Have you taken one of their classes before?

If the end goal is for the professor (not you) to produce an encyclopedia, it sounds like the prof is trying to recruit students to help do all the work. I've been in a smaller-scale situation like this before. You have to stop and think about what you'll be getting out of this once all is said and done.

Your name gets added for credit to the book...where? the cover? Doubtful. You and any others would maybe get an acknowlegement somewhere...and that's only if the book gets published.

It honestly sounds like you'll be a research assistant for the prof. It may be for a subject you enjoy but, what else are YOU going to get out of it?

How in the world are you taking 6 classes per semester?! My college had an 18 hour max w/o department override.

[Ming]

Fawkes makes some good points, and I've heard of things like that happening before. So just make sure you are completely certain that you can trust the professor and that the students taking the class aren't being exploited for something, because then it would just suck.

That said, if you feel that this is a class that you would really LOVE the opportunity to take (and it sounds like you feel that way) then I think you should go for it. So what if it's a lot of work? I'm SURE that you can get it done, and remember that the subject matter of said work will be on a subject which you enjoy. Often times, work done regarding something you really and truly enjoy doesn't feel like work at all, so keep that in mind. And taking a class about something you feel passionate about is an extremely rewarding experience.

Just make sure that, should you have to alter your semesters, that you go into everything with a clear set plan in mind, so that you don't end up scrambling at the last minute to try to pick up classes and credits here and there so that you can graduate. And remember, college is not a race. A large percentage of people do not graduate in 4 years, so I don't see the trouble in delaying it one extra semester.

Hope that helps!

[FawkesFyre]

4.5 Years due to class offering times.

Be careful that you don't get trapped by that in the end. You may know what classes you need, but that doesn't mean the school will 1) offer it when you need it or 2) offer it at the right time to take it...scheduling conflicts were always a problem.


I'm going kinda neutral on the whole thing. I recently saw how one of my old profs (who I didn't like) takes full credit for projects that I know all the work was done by students. I was still there when one of her websites went live. Her grad student did all the work for it and got no credit at all.

[Blackmage]

You know, if you take this and it puts you back a semester that means you can take the load off your other semesters. To me graduated a semester late is the best of both worlds. You get to do this HP thing (whoopdedoo :p) as well as not having to take 6 classes every semester and burning yourself out.

[Legend]

Six classes -is- eighteen hours, Fawkes. At least, the classes I take are three hours each. ^_^

I suppose it's possible, however...I don't know. I trust this teacher-- he's been published before, so this isn't just some random idea to get published. He's also incredibly nice and has a really good reputation at the school.

Even if it is..eh. I'll still have a blast with all the things he has planned and I'll get credit for the class. Plus, the information I put together can go into a portfolio.

And I agree. I'm really leaning towards giving it another semester for that. I don't like the idea of taking three writing intensive courses (which I'm signed up for next semester) and I don't like the idea of six classes a semester for the fall and spring as well. If I had to, though, I would face it.

Shino's on board with this, so I will be approaching my parents on Monday with the idea that I may be in another semester.

As a sidenote, I've already been in college for four years now, and I'm looking at making it a six year investment. *sigh* but, it'll be done eventually and then I can be happy again. ^_-

[Blackmage]

Eh, tell your parents I'm behind the idea see what they say, heh.

[oxxyjoe]

I say get the damn degree and then read all u want about the silly potter kid afterward.

What if you die before you finish school? Then they won't let you in heaven.

[Shurikane]

Heh!

Back to serious matters: I hold the belief that every class in a school should have a useful purpose... And I don't see how Harry Potter would give weight to a CV. I'm sure there are other classes in the curriculum that are just as fun and will make better use of your time.

[Silver Adept]

Well, the Potter class should hopefully be good. That said, an encyclopedic work would have to wait until book seven arrives, wouldn't it?