How to Create your Dream Schedule

The classes you take can make or break your semester. Here are some helpful tips on how to make your dream schedule (and still graduate on time).

Know your Requirements
When making a schedule one of the first things you should do is figure out what requirements you have completed and what you have left to do. The vast majority of students at UNH are on the “Discovery Program”, these are the core curriculum requirements that you need in order to graduate.

Here is a list of courses at UNH and what requirements they fulfill

Know What Times you’re Productive
It is very important to know what times during the day you’re most productive. Don’t sign up for morning classes if you’re not going to go because you’re too tired, or if you’re going to be sleeping during the class. Also keep in mind how annoying night classes are (especially if they are three hours long) and how you might not be focused on school after dinner.

Space your Classes Out if you Can
It might seem like a really good idea to make all your classes on Mondays and Wednesdays, or Tuesdays and Thursdays but in reality it’s really stressful. Keep in mind that if you create this type of schedule all your papers, projects, and test will consistently be falling on the same day. My ideal schedule would be two or three classes a day (four days a week).

Friday Classes
Eventually you will have to take a Friday class and if you never do I’m envious. When picking a Friday class, try and see if they offer any that are later in the day (in case you’re brave enough to still go out Thursday nights). 

Don’t make your Schedule too Hard or too Easy
When making a schedule you should try to balance 2-3 hard classes with 1-2 easy classes. Try to estimate the work load for each class, and if it seems like it might be too much it probably is.  Try and balance your Major and Minor requirements with Discoveries and electives.

‘Easy Classes’ aka ‘GPA Boosters’
There are several classes on campus that are seen as easy or ‘GPA Boosters’ such as…

• ‘Making Babies’ (NURS 450)
  Fulfills: Environment, Technology and Society Discovery Requirement
  Meets: Twice a week (1 hour and 20 minutes)
• ‘Theater and Dance’ (THDA 463)
  Fulfills: Fine & Preforming Arts Discovery Requirement
  Meets: Twice a week (1 hour and 20 minutes) plus a lab
• Energy in the Environment (CHE 410)
  Fulfills: Physical Science Discovery Requirement
  Meets: Twice a week (1 hour and 20 minutes)
• Germs 101 (BMS 407)
  Fulfills: Biological Science Discovery Requirement
  Meets: Twice a week (1 hour and 20 minutes)
• Stressed out (OT 513)
  Fulfills: Biological Science Discovery Requirement [with lab]
  Meets: Twice a week (1 hour and 20 minutes) plus a lab

Realize that in order to fulfill your discover requirements one of your sciences (physical or biological) need to have a lab. Keep in mind that if you don’t attend these ‘easy’ classes regularly, or pay attention in these classes they can have the opposite effect on your GPA.

Take Classes you Enjoy
If you’re forced to take classes for a Discovery requirement take a classes that interest you! Nothing is worse than doing readings for a class that you don’t care about. Also if you have extra space in your schedule try and find classes that will better yourself for career instead of ‘GPA Boosters’. Did you know that if you take a class that isn’t fulfilling a Discovery requirement and that doesn’t count towards your Major or Minor, you can make the class pass/fail? All you have to do is fill out a pass/fail form and let the teacher know before the add/drop time period is over in the beginning of the semester. This makes it so you can take classes that might be a little harder (but actually interest you), without it affecting your GPA. Instead of taking easy classes that might be boring and have nothing to do with what you’re interested in.

Don’t Stress about RAC-Times
Your RAC time is not something you should stress over. Bad RAC times just mean you have to work a little harder to get your dream schedule. Sign up for as many of the classes as you can during your registration period, and for all the classes you didn’t get into E-MAIL THE PROFESSOR! Teacher’s make list of students that are trying to get into their class, if you really want to take a class e-mail the professor right away and let them know that you’re interested. As people drop the class, the teacher will let you know you can join. I am queen of going around at the beginning of the school year adding and dropping my classes until I get the schedule I originally wanted. (UNH’s Add/Drop Form)

Talk to Other Students in your Major about Classes
My Sophomore year I reached out to a Senior in my major that was extremely helpful to me. I was able to ask her about what classes she took, and what she liked/didn’t like about them. She was very honest, and gave me a list of classes to take (she stressed that some were hard but worth taking), as well as a list of classes she recommended not taking (whether it was the topic, or the teacher- she found it a waste of time). I think peer advice is more helpful than any advisors because your peers actually took the class and had to complete all the homework for it.

I hope my advice was helpful, and wish you all the best of luck when creating your schedule!