I have a friend who attends The University of Virginia as a media studies major. Despite the difference in name, their class load tends to be pretty similar to mine, as writing studies major, the main difference is the addition of classes that delve into films or literature respectively. But we each have a number of classes devoted to fiction analysis, a number of creative writing workshops, and a lot of opportunities for philosophical and creative discussion in between. 

I know UVA is considered pretty prestigious, so I wasn’t entirely surprised by the shock on my friend’s face when I told them I didn’t have to apply for any of my workshop classes. I’ve been around enough UVA students to understand that you either live on one of two extremes there; the student trying desperately to balance way too many classes and extracurriculars for one person, or the student who somehow still manages to get all of it done and hit the frat houses on the weekends. I’d say my friend is more the former than the latter, and when they explained that entrance into certain classes is a much heavier process than what I have gone through here at EMU, I felt a little jealous. Over the course of my college career here, I have been subjected to a number of classes that have been overwhelmingly overpopulated by students simply needing to fill their schedule or pick up an elective here and there to slap another credit onto their transcript.

To an extent, this is fine. Obviously students should participate in elective credits as a means of branching outside their norm, and if they find a class that sparks a new passion in them, all the better. But when classes become weighed down by the sheer number of students who would rather sit on their phones than participate in discussions, it starts to hurt everyone else’s class experience. My Intro to Theology course sophomore year would have been much more fulfilling had the half of the class who sat silent on Zoom during group discussions never showed up. Half the literature classes I’ve taken here were used as a study hall by other majors. I’ve loved my creative writing workshops here, but there is no class designed purely for writing students to engage with each other on a deeper level.

I’m not saying that majors should be exclusive from one another. Again, branching out is important, and when that branching out leads to students thinking critically in ways they might never have, that’s hugely beneficial to their overall education. But it makes it more difficult to show up for a class if you know nobody wants to be there, even if the professor themselves is engaging. Otherwise I just feel like I’m repeating high school all over again.