It’s registration time, and that means it’s a time of sadness as you watch your preferred classes’ seats fill up with upperclassmen before you get the chance to register. Now it’s time to rely on alternate plans and change your mind if that schedule isn’t looking so great anymore. We’ve all been there, so we have some suggestions for spring courses that we have enjoyed in the past:

Zach Kram: Introduction to Linguistics

There isn’t a better breakfast than word trees with a side of phonetic transcriptions. Take Introduction to Linguistics with professor Brett Hyde—not only does he make class entertaining, but he isn’t reluctant to introduce his students to more advanced topics if they master the linguistic basics.

Derek Shyr: MedPrep Program-Experience in Life Sciences

Are you a pre-med student? Unsure whether medicine is absolutely the right field for you? Take MedPrep I with Dr. Gregory Polites and you will get an honest perspective of what life is like as a doctor. The class will provide you with helpful tips about the medical school application, and there are no exams and outside coursework.

John Schmidt: Introduction to Social Psychology

Stanford Prison Experiment, Stanley Milgrim, life before IRBs, oh my! Introduction to Social Psychology dives into and expands on the elements of social psychology highlighted in Introduction to Psychology. Learn about the dynamics behind close relationships, social norms and classic psych experiments.

Emily Sybrant: Color Systems

Though it might seem like something you learn in preschool, color is actually a complex concept. What is color? How does it get there? How does it influence our thinking? This class will provide you with a more extensive look at color than you’ve ever had before and cause you to look at everything around you in a new way.

Sarah Hands: Shakespeare

People say that “Romeo and Juliet” sucks. Take Shakespeare so you can get slapped in the face with 500 million reasons that opinion is wrong. People say that there are 50 different interpretations of “Hamlet.” Take Shakespeare so you can learn about 51 different interpretations. People say that William Shakespeare may not have actually existed. Take Shakespeare to learn about Shakespeare-related things that actually matter (hint: that is not one of them).

Kayla Hollenbaugh: Freshman Seminar: Mr. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang: James Bond in Film, Literature and Popular Culture

I know I’m limiting the playing field here with a freshman seminar, but speaking as a senior, this class is still one of the most enjoyable (and surprisingly educational) classes I have taken here at Wash. U. This class not only forces you watch a different James Bond movie each week (tough work), but it also eases you into the terms of concepts of film studies, whether you’ve taken the introductory class or not. Through studying the films, novels and multiple other medias that the Bond phenomenon has spread into, you learn about 007’s cultural roots and significance, and you have a great time doing it. It’s one of those “only at Wash. U.” classes and you’d be crazy not to fight your way to spot in it while you’re still a freshman.

Nick Kauzlarich: Introduction to Macroeconomics

Looking to impress your relatives at the dinner table with fancy talk about the economy? Then take this course taught by Dr. Bandyopadhyay (or Bandy, as she is called by her students) to learn about the exciting world of inflation, recessions, and monetary and fiscal policy.

Alex Leichenger: Imagining Interdisciplinary

If you are an underclassman with interest in American Culture Studies, take Imagining Interdisciplinary. It’s a one-credit seminar in which four seniors in AMCS (including me!), plus some graduate students and faculty, introduce our areas of research and methodological approaches. Learn about everything from education in American society to the superhero novel and other engaging topics.