We’re heading towards the end of October, so you know what that means… midterms are over, everyone’s gearing up for Halloween, sweater weather is officially in full progress, and oh yeah, it’s time to sign up for next semester’s classes.

As a freshman, that’s a little bit of a horrifying prospect.

When you signed up for your first semester’s worth of classes, it’s likely that you did it while being watched over by an upperclassman, some other current students, and maybe even a professor. That meant that it was nearly impossible to pick the “wrong” classes. But now, save for a helpful email from your advisor, you’re on your own. Even so, you don’t have to panic. Here’s some things to keep in mind going into your next semester:

1. Don’t just forget everything from the first few weeks.

Yeah, that sounds pretty obvious. Don’t forget everything you learned--easy, right? Maybe not. But what’s really important when it comes to scheduling is how did you handle it? How were your early classes? Your late classes? What about that back-to-back lecture and lab that you scheduled in the middle of the week? If you wound up with a horrible schedule your first semester, now’s your time to look at it and learn from your mistakes.

2. Take the advice from that previously-mentioned advisor.

Have you stopped in to see your advisor yet? If not, now’s the time to do so. Your advisor is assigned based on your major, so they’re chock-full of knowledge that’ll help you out when you’re planning your schedule. Not only can they help you find classes to take, but they can also help you figure out what you really want to do, from studying abroad to internships.

Before you go visit your advisor, take a look on your school’s website and see what kind of classes you’re interested in taking, and how they’ll fit together into a primitive schedule. They don’t need to be set in stone, but it’ll be easier to talk to your advisor about your schedule if you already have a vague idea of what you want to take. Plus, it makes you look a lot more prepared in their eyes.

3. Dig out that list of required courses.

I know, I know. Required classes can be super boring. But it’s easier to get them out of the way now, rather than find yourself at the end of your junior freaking out because you still have entry-level courses to get through. Besides, professors are gonna like you a whole lot more if you’re not a senior taking a class that’s full of freshman. That doesn’t mean you need to fill your schedule with classes you’re not in love with--just try and get one or two required classes in there, balanced with classes that you’re really interested in. And don’t forget! A lot of graduation requirements just require you to take a class out of an entire group, so you’ve got quite a bit of freedom as to what you can take, so spend a while looking through them--you might find something really interesting!

4. Don’t do everything by yourself.

Just like your advisor, there are plenty of other people around campus that can help you plan your schedule in a way that’ll work for you. These people might be friends that are older than you, teachers, or even the upperclassman that led you around during Welcome Weekend. Regardless of who they are, they probably have some shred of advice to give you. Don’t be afraid to reach out and use your resources!

5. Get together with your friends.

This might seem like a no-brainer; after all, it’s what we all did when scheduling classes during high school. But in college, it’s even more essential: keep your friends close. This could mean making sure to grab lunch with them, spamming them with weird Snapchats, or forming an impromptu study group with them. However, it can also be really great to have classes with your friends, especially if it’s something you both enjoy. I’m not saying to plan your schedule solely so you can be around people you like, but it’s nice to have one or two classes to look forward to because your friends are in them with you.

Keep these in mind, and happy scheduling!