One thing to note is that if you are late to a regular class you can select take notes during the class or maybe follow up with a prof after, but if you are late to the final exam you are toast as those options are not available. My sim who took the elective was almost a level 8 prior and only got up to a level 8 after, so I suppose his time was not wasted. I find it very interesting that the choice of electives is different for each time a sim enrolls, and I love all the possibilities. My last sim took 3 classes and still managed to hang onto his job in politics. This can't be done with the jobs that are not work from home. He had no time for campus activities and lived at home plus he set his lot trait to Study Spot.