Most useful class(es) you've taken (college, middle school, computers, techniques)

[prospectheightsresident]

What are the most useful classes you've taken, whether in high school, college, or graduate school? When I mention usefulness, I'm referring to applicability in your everyday life.

For me, high school keyboard/typewriting class is definitely high on the list. The ability to speedily and properly type is a skill that I use every single day. Other courses that I've taken through graduate school taught me some valuable things, but nothing that I rely on daily; my job requires on-your-feet thinking and good, commonsense analytical skills.

[krug]

Keyboarding is high on the list. I loved my college physiology class, just learning how the body truly works as a machine. A difficult course but I enjoyed it and learned much.

[prospectheightsresident]

Sadly, keyboarding seems to be dying out as a class in high school. At least at the NYC area high schools that I'm familiar with. Funny thing is that I hated the course initially

Physiology does sound like a great class and one that I could see benefiting me regularly.

[IndyDancer]

I took accounting in college as part of my business minor. It has helped tremendously at my job (not an accountant), but also IRL since I track all my expenses and account balances - it has helped to organize/analyze my finances.

[TabulaRasa]

High school typing/keyboarding. Easily. It was 1991, before everyone learned to hunt and peck with a fingertip on handheld devices. Invaluable skill.

High school anatomy and physiology has been very useful and practical, as well.

I also still use basic cooking techniques I learned in 7th grade home ec, which at the time was required of all middle schoolers...one semester each year of home arts, one of industrial arts. Both good classes, though less personally practical value in industrial arts, for me, personally. Shop class was fun, but, what can i say? I cook more than I operate band saws.

[tnff]

Has to be typing. Learned years ago on a manual and use that everyday at work. Computers just make us type a whole lot more so it's been the single most useful.

[JustMike77]

Probably Geometry, I use it all the time. As an appraiser, I often have to measure complex homes which are full of angles, round sections, etc. Once I did a perfectly round home and the old "Pi X R Squared" formula came in handy for calculating the square footage.

[TabulaRasa]

My dad is a carpenter, and always commented that he used algebra and geometry endlessly every day, whenever somebody would play the "When am I ever gonna use this?" card WRT functional math.

[lkb0714]

Statistics for research was the most useful class outside of my major.

[MinivanDriver]

Public speaking. Without the shadow of a doubt. I took it 9th grade and thought it was going to be an easy A. It was not. I had a tough teacher.

Don't get me wrong. I am good at my profession. But quite often, the ability to present, speak convincingly, and remain composed is the difference between professional success and falling short. And I've learned that a mediocre idea well-presented will very often beat out a superb idea poorly presented.

Public speaking teaches you bearing, how to craft a convincing argument, how to keep the attention of your audience, and how to enhance your credibility.

Every time I present to a prospect or a client, and every time I speak to an audience, I give my speech teacher silent thanks. I was fortunate to encounter her last year at the funeral of a mutual friend and told her so. Now retired, she was really grateful to hear the impact she had on my professional life.