How to Choose Your Courses for Next Semester
Registering for the upcoming semester can often feel overwhelming, especially if it is still at the beginning of your student's college career. Setting up a course schedule that is manageable and practical is a science and there are many ways to do it correctly. Following the steps below will help guide your student through the process of choosing what the next semester will entail. If you feel that your student could benefit from a support system outside of their school or family, consider partnering with College Success Plan. Our team specializes in helping your student see success during the academic school year and beyond. Click here to get started.
1. Take Stock of Last Semester
One of the most important things your student can do is pause and reflect on the semester they are just finishing. What worked well? Did they have courses that they loved and want to explore deeper? If so, encourage them to seek out which courses will explore that subject at a higher level. Were there things that did not go well? Did your student find themselves missing morning classes because they aren’t a morning person? Encourage them to register for afternoon or evening classes that better align with their ability to focus. Maybe your student loved their smaller seminar courses versus large lectures. Taking the time to reflect on the previous semester is a great way to make a plan for the semester ahead.
2. Visit Their Advisor
Involving an advisor is the best way to ensure that your student is on the right track to finishing college on time with all the right courses under their belt. Encourage them to email or set up a meeting with their advisor to go over a few classes they are interested in if a similar appointment is not already created for them. Your student should also ask their advisor what courses students their year usually take and how they can best prepare for the course load. Advisors will have the information your student needs about their courses pertaining to their set major. They can also encourage them to take general education classes that could help them determine what major direction they may want to choose if they aren’t sure just yet. If your student doesn’t seem to be clicking with their advisor and seems in need of more hands-on support, click here to connect with our team to see if one of our college coaches might be the right fit for your student.
3. Talk with Classmates & Older Students in Their Major
Hearing from other students about their experiences with certain classes will help your child better understand what to expect when signing up for courses. Information is always an ally and having more knowledge before making a decision can help your student determine specific details, like which professor will be a good fit and what the course load and exam difficulty might look like. Encourage your student to find other classmates or older students within the major that can offer helpful advice as they prepare for the semester ahead.
4. Take Advantage of Online Resources
There are so many excellent online sites that allow previous students to rate and comment on professors and classes. Encourage your student to take advantage of this readily available information that might help them guide their course selection and choose a course and professor that helps them learn in a way that works best for them. Click here for more information on some websites you and your student can use for exactly this!
5. Check Required Classes Off Their List Early On
A tip you might hear from professors or advisors is to knock out required classes at the beginning of one's college career. This will allow your student to spend their junior and senior years focusing on more specialized, high-level courses. This is also an excellent strategy if a major has yet to be determined. Getting a taste of the variety of required classes at the start of their college career can help the student determine what they want to focus on in the later portion of their college experience, with study abroad programs or internship opportunities.
6. Balance Approachability with a Challenge
If your student has a comprehensive understanding of their strengths and weaknesses, this can be of great assistance when choosing their course load. Taking a class that comes more easily along with a class that might be more of a challenge is a nice way to give your brain a break and can help your student feel successful, rather than only experiencing difficult material and tests, which can lead to burnout. Help your student name their strengths and weaknesses so that they can create a balanced course schedule. Not sure where to start? Click here. We can help.
7. Know When They Focus Best
Encourage your student to take note of when they are able to focus best. Is your student definitely not a morning person? Make sure they don’t wind up in an 8 am chemistry lab. If your student has a hard time focusing in the afternoon but performs well in the evening, encourage them to seek out course times that begin later in the day. This is one of the most important strategies your student can put in place and will help them feel successful from the start.
8. Know Their Registration Time
Make sure your student is ready to go at their selected registration time. Missing this time can often mean not getting into their chosen class which can feel like a big defeat, especially after the time and consideration it takes to strategically plan for a successful semester. This might also mean that your student could get put on a waitlist which can be an added, unnecessary stressor. Being ready with your course list and backup choices in the event the classes they want to fill up is a great way to prepare before registration.
Planning for a successful semester starts with the courses that are the right fit for your student’s unique strengths. Don’t let your student go into it alone. Click here to get in touch with our team to see how we can support you and your family with the upcoming semester on the horizon.