Let’s face it – picking classes in high school was pretty anti-climactic. Maybe you could decide to take AP Bio instead of AP Chem, but the rest was quite predictable. Can we say boring? You’ll be happy to know that choosing classes in college is anything but boring. Sure you have some core classes to take, but your schedule is up to you (for the most part)! So much freedom is exciting, liberating, and (be honest) a little nerve-wracking. Not to stress you out, but creating your first collegiette schedule is just around the corner. Usually, incoming freshmen will choose their courses during orientation or a few days before school starts. Before you have a pre-collegiette panic attack, check out our tips and tricks for choosing classes.
So many options, so little time
Whether your future alma mater mailed you a course guide over the summer or you’re perusing your school’s website, you love how many different types of classes are available. Well, love and sort of hate it at the same time—how are you supposed to narrow it down?
Talk to a college advisor
Some call them guardian angels, we call them college advisors. If you’re completely lost when it comes to creating your schedule, talk to an academic counselor. “A quick 15-minute appointment with an advisor can set you on the right track for the semester and beyond,” says Micha Sabovik, the Assistant Dean at Boston University’s College of Communciation. Whether you find their email online or make an appointment as soon as you step on campus (okay, maybe after you unpack), meeting with an advisor is a great way to narrow down your choices.
Check your Gen Ed Requirements
Most schools – not to mention colleges within a university – have general education (AKA gen ed) requirements every student must finish. Translation? Before you graduate, you have to take a certain number of math, science, writing, history (you get the picture, right?) classes. Don’t let this put a damper on your scheduling spree; usually, you can pick what type of gen ed classes you can take. For example, you don’t have to suffer through algebra when statistics is a viable option! “If you have an idea of what your major is going to be, try to find the academic worksheets for it online,” says Michelle Lewis, a senior at UNC-Chapel Hill and HC’s Life Editor. “A lot of gen eds can also count toward your major, so it’s good to know what you’ll need to take in the future.”
