Although many undergraduates see their classes as the ticket to future employment, current University policy presents what many see as a hitch in the system.
Professors may penalize students for missing classes for recruiting events or job interviews and are not required to reschedule exams missed for similar reasons. Though this does not often present problems, some students are frustrated by what they perceive as misplaced priorities.
"My teacher would not let me reschedule my midterm, and since [the company] could not change the date, I had to miss the interview," College senior Anthony Giuliano said, expressing frustration at the current policy.
Career Services Associate Director Barbara Hewitt said that no policy is in place because students are "here for academics," and that while the job interview process can be very stressful for students, the University needs to support its academic mission.
According to Kent Peterman, director of Academic Affairs in the College of Arts and Sciences, such problems are rare and usually conflicts can be resolved on a case-by-case basis with each individual instructor.
"In the end, it is based on the willingness of the professor to see the excuse as legitimate," Peterman said.
When faced with the tough situation of deciding between taking a midterm and going for a job interview, many students look at their futures as a reason for their decision.
"I definitely think that in a conflict, getting a job is more important than taking a test," said Wharton senior Casey Zeman, a student who experienced a situation similar to that of Giuliano.
Teachers often try to accommodate their students' needs and the importance of their interviews.
"I have found that teachers are generally pretty understanding about students missing classes for job interviews," College senior Rachel Dein said. "Teachers seem to make a decent effort to help."
College senior Noam Vander Walde shared similar opinions on the matter.
"My experience with my professors and TAs with regards to missing classes for medical school interviews ... have been amazing," Vander Walde said. "My experience has been that professors and graduate students understand and want to help."
Yet some students are troubled by the fact that often teachers are more willing to accept excused absences from athletes than to accept students leaving for an interview.
Hewitt stated that this is often the case because "professors get a lot of notice for athletic scheduling."
According to Peterman, athletes bring letters to professors in the beginning of the semester, making them aware of their schedules. This then gives the professors ample time to come up with alternatives agreeable to the students.
"In the interview process, it is a lot harder because often students do not have as much notice," Hewitt said. "This might appear to professors that they are not planning as well, even though this is not the case."
