Looking Beyond the Curriculum

Five classes they should have offered in college
So you've mastered how to write a 10-page research paper and you know exactly how to cram for a stats exam.  To top that, you actually even feel pretty comfortable entering into the real world with your resume that's packed with extracurriculars to compliment your major.  But as ready as you may think you are, certain aspects of the real world are going to smack you in the face just like your roommate did when you told her you wanted to get back with your ex-boyfriend.  Here are five classes that definitely should make their way onto the required course list at every institution of higher education because they will actually help you in the real world.  

1. Groceries for the Graduate.  Just because you landed that first real job which means a first real paycheck doesn't mean you have to turn into Rachel Ray.  Buying groceries at overpriced, organic supermarkets will drain your wallet a lot faster than you think.  Don't worry, you can still think of yourself as a "mature adult" if you buy cereal at Walmart or Kroger like everyone else.  Believe me, you'll thank us in the end. 

2. Real-World Hangovers 101. Unlike in your college days, you can’t throw on sweats, sleep through your two-hour lecture, then head back to bed after a night out on the town.  You have a real job now which means putting on that pencil skirt, grabbing coffee, and showing up ON TIME ready to impress your boss.  Having a class to enlighten you on the best hangover remedies and ensure you don’t throw up in your morning meeting might save you your job.

3.  Commuting for Beginners.  Chances are you are not going to live within walking distance to your place of employment like you did to your 9:30 class.  A course with a syllabus showing you how to calculate exactly what time to set that alarm so you maximize your sleep time, yet still can grab that coffee from Panera sounds like a good idea to me.

4.  Living at Home, Part 11.  You’ve been out of the house for four years but might be forced to move back in after graduation until you can get on your feet.  There’s nothing wrong with that, except the fact you might drive your Mom to drink, and vice versa.  Readjusting to domestic life with the ‘rents can be a tough one, and a class on the Do’s and Don’ts might help ease the experience.

5.  Graduate Level Facebook.  You’ve heard it a million times, but you really do need to clean up your facebook before you send those applications out to employers.  They will look, and if they find pictures of you drunkenly dancing on tables they won’t be impressed.  A class like this should be mandatory for any undergraduate actually looking to get a real world job.           

Posted By: Kayla Molczan