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In the US job market, your transcript is a marketing tool. Every class you take should be a brick in the wall of your future career.
Mapping courses directly to job descriptions
Before you pick a single class, go to LinkedIn or Indeed. Find three 'Dream Job' postings. Look at the 'Requirements' or 'Skills' section. If the jobs want 'Python,' 'Data Visualization,' or 'Financial Modeling,' you must find classes that teach exactly those things. Don't guess what skills are popular, let the employers tell you.
Avoiding 'theoretical traps' unless strategically useful
Some classes are purely academic. They focus on history, philosophy, or high-level theories. While these are interesting, they often don't give you a 'deliverable' to show an employer. Unless you want to be a researcher or a professor, limit these 'theoretical' classes. Every semester, ask yourself: 'Will this class help me build a portfolio piece?'
Picking classes with: Projects
Classes that end with a final project instead of a final exam are gold. You can put these projects on your Resume or GitHub. They prove you can solve real-world problems.
Picking classes with: Presentations
In the US, 'soft skills' are just as important as technical skills. Classes that force you to speak in front of others help you lose your fear. This makes you much better at interviewing later on.
Picking classes with: Team collaboration
Most US jobs happen in teams. Classes with group work teach you how to handle different personalities and deadlines. This is the #1 thing recruiters look for when they ask, 'Tell me about a time you had a conflict in a team.'
Front-loading hard courses vs interview season planning
Take your hardest, most time-consuming classes in your first year. Your second year (or final semesters) is when you will be busy with job interviews, networking events, and career fairs. Make your final semesters lighter so you can treat 'Job Hunting' like a full-time 3-credit course.