After my first time DART-ing, I took a step back and looked over what my next semester would look like... I had some of my requrements, all of my absolutely necessary classes, and most of the times I wanted. One thing still stood out...

 I remembered signing up for the class, not like a Oh-I-really-want-this-class-I-hope-I-get-it class, but more like a no-no-no-no-my-schedule-is-falling-apart-find-a-class class. Regardless, if I wanted my schedule to stay intact this was the class I would be taking. At first I was disappointed because I, like most first years, hoped to double count my seminar as another requirement. I had already taken Introduction to Psychology (which fulfills the social science requirement) so I was stuck. "Religion and Policy in the United States" didn't seem like the most exciting class and it didn't help that on the first day I realized that almost everyone else in the class had a background in political science. I had a hard time at first, but by the first paper and first debate, I had really begun to enjoy what I was learning. With the exception of the "Constitution Week" in American History during high school, I had never done anything even remotely involving political science.

 I was out of my element and very hesitant at first, but I really believe that I better understand the electorate and the influences of politicians because of this class. Religion and Politics in the United States may not have anything to do with neuroscience, but the elective has made me a more informed voter!