Scheduling college classes, especially for the first time, can be difficult and stressful. Here a few tips to make sure that your schedule process is both comforting and fulfilling. Your schedule is important to the quality of your college experience, so be sure to spend time making it right. Follow these 10 tips to get a head start:
1. Check locations! Give yourself enough time to get across campus for classes
20 minutes to get from one place to another may seem like a lot of time at first. However, on a campus as big as MSU, getting around isn’t always that easy. Make sure you check the locations of each class and account for the amount of time it will take you to get from one place to another.
2. Use Koofers as a reference, but don’t live by it
Looking for good professors is always a good idea, and getting those evaluations from a site like Koofers is great. However, those evaluations are personal opinions, so don’t take those ratings as set in stone. You may love a teacher that someone else hated, you never know.
3. Flip through the course catalog, especially for Gen Eds
Take things that interest you early on, it is normal to change your major a few times. Start with Gen Ed’s before committing fully to major requirements
4. Know the requirements for your major, and plan accordingly
You don’t want to get stuck with a bunch of requirements senior year!
5. Meet with your advisor… Actually, meet with multiple advisors
You might have to meet with multiple advisors to really make your schedule perfect, don’t be afraid to schedule lots of appointments.
6. Know whether or not you want to study abroad
Do a study abroad search applicable to you, and evaluate the types of courses that are offered in those programs. You want to save those courses for studying abroad, enroll in things that aren't commonly done abroad.
7. Don’t stress yourself out
You don’t want to overschedule yourself and be miserable. However, make sure you challenge yourself to get the most out of your degree.
8. Mix it up
Schedule a variety of subjects each semester so you don’t get overwhelmed.
9. Don’t be afraid to take 8 AMs, but be aware of whether or not you’re a morning person
If you know for a fact you won’t be able to focus early in the morning, account for that. However, getting an early start to your day can be good for you. Don’t avoid morning classes like the plague.
10. Be EXCITED
You want to LOOK FORWARD to the classes you’re taking, not dread them. Sure, you’ll have some required core courses that you HAVE to take. However, you should have an open mind about every course and be INTERESTED in what you’re studying. If not, you will have a poor college experience. Major in what you are PASSIONATE about, only YOU can decide what you want to do with your life, NO ONE ELSE can determine what you truly want to do.
