Plan Ahead
Knowing ahead of time what course you will be taking in future semesters can allow you to be more flexible while planning your upcoming semester. Get two pieces of paper. Draw a line down the middle of the front and the back, either horizontally or vertically. Title each section with the academic year and season of each semester (Fall 2016/Spring 2016). Refer to you list of major’s and minor’s required courses and fill out which class you will take each semester. If your school is a liberal arts school, fill in core classes as well. Just for memories, you can fill out your past semesters too. Look at the distribution of credit hours in upcoming semesters and decide at what time in your academic career you want to take the most credits and the least credits. Alter it accordingly. Keep these papers in a safe place so you can use them as a reference for scheduling next year.
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Know Your Learning Style
Do you learn better after noon? Do you get homework done more productively in the morning? Can you balance a full course load or would you rather have a life balance? How will your outside activities fit in? These are all questions to consider while planning the days of your college life. I have found that having my classes later in the day allows me to get up early, when I am most productive, and do homework. That way when I zone out in class, at least I will be prepared.
Get Organized
As soon as the course catalog is released, look at the different options offered for the courses you plan on taking. Make notes of courses that interest you and their times. Try to arrange it in a way that aligns best with your learning style. If you are torn between a few different courses, research the professors. If you are not taking a full course load, consider taking a class that is not required, but is about something that interests you.
Research Professors
Your ability to do well in a course does not only depend on your ability to learn. It also depends on how susceptible you are to your professor’s teaching style. Ask friends their opinions on professors and check out ratemyprofessors.com. This is a resourceful website in which teachers are ranked and reviewed. Is the professor’s course strictly lecture based, does he Put his PowerPoints online, how are his exams? These factors may vary your stress level and ability to succeed.
Take a Class that Interests You
I cannot emphasize the importance of this enough, explore yourself. You may have chosen your major over something you truly loved because it has better rate of job security or higher pay. But college is one of the only times you will have the opportunity to explore every aspect of knowledge. Take this time to learn something new, something unexpected, and something that brings you life. Have you always wanted to know why people act and think the way they do? Take a psychology course. Do you love to write and create stories? Take a writing fiction course.
Petition
Petitions can be confusing and misunderstood. They are not only used for courses taken outside of your university, but petitions are accepted for courses within too. Petitions are a great way to get credit for courses that may not be listed as the ones that you are required to take that interest you more. If the course descriptions closely align and are in the same level, don’t be afraid to petition. It would be wise to talk to your advisor about this because they can usually predict the likelihood of your petition being passed.
Meet With An Advisor
It is always wise to meet with an advisor within the department of your major and minor. They can double check your course selection and make sure you’re on the right track for graduation. An advisor can also guide you towards what semesters are best to take which classes. But, be conscious that you have the final say in what courses you take. You know yourself best. Do not let an advisor persuade you into taking economics and accounting in one semester unless you know you will be able to succeed.
Make Your Own Schedule
Do not let anyone persuade you into something you don’t think you will benefit from. I use the term "benefit" because you will have to take classes that are extremely hard and make you cry every week, but that’s all part of the degree. You need the hard courses to get to the inspiring courses. Parents or advisors may also try to persuade you to stay on track and finish in time, but don’t let them deter you from taking random, fun, exploratory courses. Do no take classes that will benefit you only for future financial reasons either. Classes should benefit you in the sense that they motivate you to learn. If you are passionate about what you are learning, you will be confident in your life after college, leading to a fulfilling career and stimulated mind.
