Fall Semester

Next semester I only need to take two classes, because I will have to spend more time working on my thesis (in the form of an independent study class). And also, because I'll be teaching. I'm scheduled to teach the math lab class for "Microeconomics and Policy Analysis" at the School of Social Work at Columbia. The professor who is teaching that is also teaching an international affairs version of that class, and wants me to teach the math lab class for that one too. I really (really really) want to, but I don't know that I'll have enough time for another class (and more office hours) in my schedule. I am trying desperately now to make it work.

So, as for my own classes: I'll be taking Programming (let's call this one - Yet More Programming in Java II). This class meets on Thursdays, from 6:50-9:10pm, which is a really miserable time for a class. I've been trying to find something to take in the 5-6:50 slot, but there's absolutely nothing that makes sense for me. So, either I'll have to find somebody to have an early dinner with every Thursday, or try to schedule my office hours for that time.

As for the second class, I am thinking of taking either "Technology and Human Development," which seems easy and interesting, or "Topics in Analysis," which seems difficult and interesting. The analysis class is taught by Professor Pollak, who is the best math professor I've ever had (Discrete Math, last semester). The problem is that I know very little about this area of mathematics, so I will need to spend a very substantial amount of time studying.

Any advice? I have two weeks to decide.

By the way, at the end of this semester, I'll officially have a master's degree. This means, 60 more credits to go, and a full-blown dissertation. So, while the M.A. is definitely a nice little reward, the glass is still 2/3 empty.