optimize choices in multiple if ---: statements

[ichabod801]

Put your code into data:

classNum = input()
 
while classNum not in classses:
    print('Please enter 17BE1, 17BE2, 17BE3 or 17BE4.')
    classNum = input()
pathsToExcel = ['/home/pedro/winter2018/17BE/17BEC1/', '/home/pedro/winter2018/17BE/17BEC2/', '/home/pedro/winter2018/17BE/17BEC3/', '/home/pedro/winter2018/17BE/17BEC4/']
resultFiles = ['17BE1W17results.xlsx', '17BE2W17results.xlsx', '17BE3W17results.xlsx', '17BE4W17results.xlsx']
classNums = ['17BE1', '17BE2', '17BE3', '17BE4']
pathXL = pathsToExcel[classNums.index(classNum)]
resultFile = resultFiles[classNums.index(classNum)]

Better yet, use string formatting, since you are just getting strings:

classNum = input()
 
while classNum not in classses:
    print('Please enter 17BE1, 17BE2, 17BE3 or 17BE4.')
    classNum = input()

pathXL = '/home/pedro/winter2018/17BE/{}/'.format(classNum)
resultFile = '{}W17results.xlsx'.format(classNum)