general update

Many things going on right now (and it's hasn't even been a full week of classes yet!).

I've had all of my courses at least once except for my Independent Study in Philosophy, which is tonight.

( Below are my initial thoughts by class. )

This semester will be spent doing lots and lots of reading for all of these classes. Each class also has at least one paper to write (more if I'm able to do my upper-level intensive writing with the Independent Study), though thankfully they aren't all due at the same time. Still, I can already tell that I'll be extremely busy.

I officially changed my major today. Yes, yes, I know I said that a little over a week ago and I did fill out the online application, but apparently someone at the undergraduate office still has review the applications themselves and they're very backed up. When I visited their office today, the secretary explained the situation and then filled out my request since I had come personally.

As soon as I got back to the dorms, I checked my transcript and was pleasantly surprised to find that I only need two more classes (not including the ones I'm taking this semester) to complete my Philosophy major. I had no idea I was that close. What's even better is that both of the classes I have left are electives, giving me practically free range in class choice.

For an East Asian Studies major, I have four classes left, which places me in another awkward situation. If I had remained a Japanese major, I would have needed the same number of classes as Philosophy -- two. However, I would have to take Japanese 302.

I only need three more classes after this semester to have enough credits to graduate; I could easily complete the last of my Philosophy classes next semester, study abroad or not, and then graduate in December of this year. Question: would it be feasible to complete both majors with another semester of 18 credits for Fall 2007, even with study abroad? It would be possible to only go part-time for Spring 2008 to finish up East Asian Studies and possibly take another class in the Classics Department, but I'm not very inclined to do so. If only the Classics Department wasn't so ill-managed, I'd have liked to have minored in it, too. Also, I have a feeling the East Asian Studies Department would be very disappointed to say the least if I dropped them to a minor.

My intention is to meet with someone from the East Asian Studies Department to discuss all this next week. I'll also be applying for a passport soon; they have a passport day on campus 7 February.

Now to read Descartes' Second Meditation for P.D.'s class tomorrow . . .