The courses that count

So, it’s two weeks down and one week until midterms begin (gotta love the quarter system — you fall asleep in the Bender Room and all of a sudden your final paper is due tomorrow at 9 a.m.). By now, the a capella-table gauntlet has left White Plaza, the succulent dishes at Stern dining have begun reinventing themselves in bi-weekly fashion (turkey dinner becomes turkey meatloaf becomes spaghetti with turkey meatballs) and the course lists have, hopefully, been whittled down to the few, the proud, the conveniently-scheduled and the light in reading.

However, despite the fact that the Axess deadline stroke of midnight looms in the very near future, I am willing to bet that more than a few of you are still debating between four or five different classes. For them, as well as for my fellow neurotics who have begun plotting our next quarter/next year/next degree, I present the highly subjective Pearls of Wisdom Course Guide, featuring courses you are guaranteed to enjoy now and remember for the rest of your life.

1. Athletics classes

From tennis to horsemanship to sailing, the Athletic Department offers an obscene number of courses for the Future Country Clubbers of America. Before you write these courses off as frivolous, self-serving endeavors, let me introduce you to a good friend of mine. In his five years at Stanford, my friend scheduled no less than one activity course per quarter (and no, he didn’t take that many athletics courses; in yet another brilliant move in his “take advantage of all that Stanford has to offer” master plan, he cotermed). By the time he received his B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering, he could sail, golf, play polo and tennis and barbecue a mean steak.

Although the latter skill was not honed in Roble Gym, he claims that his culinary habits owe primarily to the need to replenish his energy supply following his extensive workouts. The icing on the petit four: he currently “works” for a tech company in Palo Alto that allows/requires him to golf with the president on Fridays, come in late on Mondays and take time off to go to Hawaii, Vegas and LA — in the same month.

More important than the potential impact athletics classes may have on your future career, however, is their direct impact on the here-and-now: in the overscheduled world of Stanford ducklings, a morning yoga class may be the only time you have to sit still without being required to take notes.

2. Activity classes

Similar in many ways to the athletic classes above, activities courses can be found practically everywhere — from the art department to the Bridge to the language houses. Many activities courses, like Social Dance, are extremely popular. Some, such as Viticulture (aka the wine tasting class offered at the French House), even have titles that look respectable on a transcript. All of them offer a break from the often intense world of Stanford academics.

One warning: some activities courses, namely Photo 1, are just as much, if not more, work than a “regular” class. If you’re expecting to get four units for simply showing up, take EDGE.

3. Real World Courses

Theoretically, a college education is supposed to prepare you for life outside the ivory tower. Realistically, however, most of the skills you acquire while reading hundreds of pages a week and reproducing correct codes for computer programs are of little help when it comes to paying rent, buying groceries, handling an insane boss and working with less-than-savory colleagues.

From a fiscal standpoint, Econ 1, Stats 60 and the Financial Literacy course are very wise investments. Your checkbook and future spouse will thank you.

From a social and professional standpoint, the most valuable real-world tool you can acquire at Stanford is proficiency in a foreign language. I know, I know, even the sun would rather be asleep at 9 a.m., but an hour or two of shuteye is a small price to pay for what you gain. Think of it as cultural capital, if you will. Whether your plans include corporate America, grad school or non-profit work, learning a second (or a third or fourth) language will make you even more of a priceless commodity.

4. The Real Real World Course

Cheaper than therapy, more personal than psychology and more intensely revealing than most, if not all, Stanford courses, the fiction- and poetry-writing classes offered by the Creative Writing program are flat-out amazing. Taught by the future best-selling authors of America (also known as current Stegner Fellows), these courses are full of interesting people, great (and short) contemporary reading and frequently mind-blowing discussions. Forget IHUM: workshopping 15 peers’ short stories (including your own raw self-creation) raises more questions about the human experience than any textbook or ancient work ever could. If that’s not the point of college, I’m not sure what is.

If the above list is entirely too fuzzy for your tastes, blame it on Margaret Jacks. Lisa is currently a Master’s student in English — because the first four years weren’t nearly enough. Additions to the list? Email lisame@stanford.edu.