Smart Scheduling 101: Navigate College Courses Like a Pro!
College is about many things … handling life on your own, meeting new and different people, exploring different interests and passions … but most importantly you are still there to take classes and to learn! Unlike high school where your requirements were mostly dictated and you may have been able to choose from a few dozen electives, in college there are hundreds of classes to choose from.
Choosing wisely can mean the difference between finding a new passion or dreading (and maybe even failing) an 8 am chemistry lab. Even freshmen with no idea of what they are going to major in can still optimize their schedule with some early planning and thoughtfulness.
Here are the top 5 scheduling tips from our coaches:
1. Know What You Need
Choosing college classes takes some strategy and research. Get familiar with the sections of your school’s website that deal with class registration and degree requirements. If you don’t know your major, focus on taking your general education or foundational requirements (every school has their own term, but they are the basics that fulfill minimum requirements that everyone must take). If you’re enrolled in the school of arts and sciences at your university (sometimes called “the college” or “general studies”), then you probably have several required classes you must take in various disciplines. If you are in an engineering or business program, you may have more structured choices. Now is the time to see whether any of your AP or International Baccalaureate (IB) tests will get you out of those requirements, or satisfy a prerequisite.
If you do know what you plan to major in, and especially if you hope to double major or add minors, taking the time to make a 4 year plan now may save you from headaches (and extra semesters!) down the road. Dig deep into the website sections for each major - often they will include typical 4 year plans that you can use as a guideline.
2. Pick Some Favorites - and Several Backups!
Once you know, for example, that you need to take a physical science class to fulfill a requirement, you can start reading the course descriptions available, making notes of when classes meet and how you will be evaluated (if you prefer writing papers to taking tests, look for classes where papers count for more of your grade). Check out sites like Rate My Professors and similar ones specific to your school. The chances you will do well in a class often increase exponentially if you’re interested in the subject and have a great professor. Be honest with yourself and when you are successful - if you can’t get out of bed for an 8 am class, then taking “Surviving the Coming Zombie Apocalypse—Disasters, Catastrophes, and Human Behavior” may not be the best choice no matter how fascinated you are by zombies. Remember that you may not get your first, second or even third choices, so add backups in each category.
3. Create a Plan of Action
Check and see if your school’s website has a block calendar function where you can start planning out your week, and if not, make a simple one for yourself using Excel or Google Sheets. Use this to block out your schedule, making sure you have time to get from one class to another with ease. Think about how you would like to build out your week. If you do better with structured blocks of time (and most people do!) then loading up all of your classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays may mean wasted Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. When possible, a schedule that allows for a few classes each day is ideal, and more likely to lead to better use of your time.
4. Don’t Wait Till the Last Minute!
Many schools have some sort of pre-registration or shopping cart function where you can upload your favorites and your backups to the registration portal in advance. Then you can just click “register” when the time comes and save valuable seconds, which could make the difference between getting your first or last choice. If your school has this option, take advantage of the opportunity to fill your shopping cart with all of your top choices and back ups ahead of time, including any sections or labs that may be required. You may get super lucky with your registration slot, and get all of your top picks. But even if your registration slot is not ideal, being prepared in advance will allow you to quickly pivot to your second and third choices and still create a schedule that works well for you. And if you know you really, really want to take a certain class, emailing the professor in advance of registration and telling them you are excited and plan on enrolling in their class may help you get off a waitlist down the road if you don’t get in the class on the first try.
5. Meet Your Advisor
One of the best resources available to you as you plan your schedule is your college advisor. Whether it’s during a campus visit or on a Zoom call, advisors can help determine what credits you may be eligible for (and what prerequisites you may not need) based on your AP or IB tests, which classes will count towards several of your potential major choices, and much more. Before you meet, make sure to take a look at our 5 Key Strategies for Making the Most of Your Advising Appointment for some great tips.
At College Success Plan we help students with ALL things college, enabling them to get the most out of their own education. We help with registration, college transition, and much more, in our individualized, one-on-one coaching programs. Think your student could benefit from working with a college coach? Schedule a free consultation with us today!