At some point in their Washington University career, every undergraduate student will be required to fulfill a natural sciences (or natural sciences and mathematics, if you’re in the College of Arts and Sciences or Sam Fox School) requirement. Unfortunately for many, including myself, the process of finding the right class (and getting through it) is arduous and stressful.

As one of its selling points on tours to prospective students, Wash. U. espouses how easy it is for undergraduates to take classes across schools and even earn dual degrees if so inclined. What Wash. U. neglects to tell those students is that, if they are in the College of Arts & Sciences, earning that second degree or major will consume any time you may have had for electives.

Last week, course listings for the Spring 2012 semester came out. There was a wide variety of responses to this momentous occasion. Some were excited to see what was being offered; some were worried about what classes they would be taking. After that initial wave, everyone’s reactions boiled down to the same general one: How am I best going to plan out my life?