Though class registration is currently in full swing for UVa students, I'd bet my entire meal plan that many students are still struggling to decide on a final class to fill their schedule or a potential major towards which they should gear their classes. Instead of taking as many introductory classes as possible, undecided students should seek out well-regarded classes that would likely inspire them to declare a major in that or a related field. With that, here is a list of classes available to undeclared underclassmen that I believe are among the best representations of their respective fields.

1. Social Psychology

I'm taking this class right now, and it is by far the best psych class I've taken at UVa. Social psychology is all about understanding how the individual functions in a social context, which is useful in just about any business-related, political, or scientific field. I have gained an immense amount of useful knowledge about social institutions such as groups, conformity, attitudes, and interpersonal attraction, which I now often think about elsewhere in my life. I cannot recommend this class enough to anyone considering studying psychology.

2. Mass Media and American Politics

This is one of those "bucket list" classes at UVa for which students often spend several semesters frustratingly waitlisted, before finally being admitted. Though it is usually offered at 9 am, I can assure you that it is 100% worth getting up early for twice a week. Professor Freedman is an extremely engaging lecturer, and the class will make you think about news, politics, bias, and journalism in entirely new lights. It will also make you feel more knowledgable and informed about current events in politics, which I believe is part of the hallmarks of a successful university education.

3. Systems of Inequality

For any student remotely interested in sociology, politics, or public policy, this class should be a prerequisite. It tackles sociological theories of race, class, and gender inequality, among other issues, in the US today while also focusing on the individual's role in perpetuating and alleviating these issues. This class feeds right into many controversial issues that I hear students discussing every day, even around tables in dining halls, and offers an inspiring academic setting to learn more about important issues that make or break the livelihood of many Americans.

4. Econ 2010 with Professor Elzinga

For anyone needing Econ credits or seeking to further study Economics, Elzinga's intro Micro class is a must. He is certainly a pillar of the faculty here at UVa, and his lectures offer a unique, accessible way for students to truly internalize an economic way of thinking. Taking this particular Econ class will provide students with a solid foundation of economic knowledge that they could potentially apply to another major, or seek to enhance through further economic study.

5. Global Cultural Studies

This class, taught by Professor Levenson as both an English and a Global Development Studies class, is without a doubt my favorite class I've taken here at UVa. It exposes you to a plethora of global thinkers and writers concerned with colonization, gender inequality, geopolitical conflicts, and cultural movements, while also providing ample historical context for many important related issues. If you're considering a major in either English or Global Development Studies, or are interested in modern world history, or enjoy fantastic lectures, keep an eye out for this special class.

6. Acting 1

Many students take this class to fill their Fine Arts requirement or goof off with their friends for 75 minutes, but even if you think you're the least theater-inclined person possible, I guarantee there is a place for you in Acting 1. Even rudimentary acting training is extremely beneficial to academic studies, allowing students to improve their public speaking, quick-thinking, and presentation skills while also disciplining their memories. Acting is also, for many, cathartic and liberating. You just may find that your university path may take a few more stops in the Drama building than you first anticipated after taking Acting 1.

7. Commercial Law 1

For some students, myself included, the thought of studying law strikes either fear or boredom into their hearts. But fear not, for this class, taught by Sherri Moore, will make you excited about law and teach you about valuable aspects of the legal process that may come in handy one day. This class is required for Comm students, but should be more highly recommended to all students in the College as well as a useful set of skills and knowledge.

8. Public Policy Challenges of the 21st Century

Another class with valuable applicability to the world of politics and the Batten curriculum is this class, which as the name suggests focuses on contemporary issues in public policy such as clean energy, the wealth gap, and public higher education. This class features many fascinating guest lectures, including one recently from university president Teresa Sullivan herself. These add even more real-world context to a class that is greatly applicable to the news we hear ever day. Though this class is in the Batten school, any student can take it, which makes it a worthwhile investigation for students who want to change the world one day but don't quite know how.

9. American History to 1865

Shifting gears slightly, I do not want to neglect UVa's fantastic history department in this article, and this particular course is a wonderful survey in American history that gives students a peek in to the engaging world of the emerging U.S. While this class may sound rather derivative of your high school A.P. U.S. History curriculum, there is simply no comparison between a high school U.S. history course and a college U.S. history course, especially since UVa is a valuable piece of U.S. history itself that provides many artifacts worthy of study in a course such as this.

10. History of Architecture

Speaking of UVa artifacts that lend themselves well to course study, I was delighted to encounter pictures of the Rotunda when I took this class my first year, albeit while the Rotunda was still being renovated. This class satisfies a Fine Arts requirement and may not convince you to drop everything and transfer into the Architecture school, but it can certainly pique your interest in art and history. Studying the history of architecture is essentially studying world history through an architectural lens, and you learn about a variety of civilizations and cultures in this class. For someone who can't imagine taking any class resembling art history, this is a nice foot-in-the-door alternative.

It may sound obvious, but UVa truly has so many fantastic, intellectually stimulating classes that it's hard not to get excited over the possibility of taking as many of them as possible over your four years here. These classes will all make you enthusiastic about learning, thinking, and discovering interests you never knew you had. And surely, that is what college is all about.