Choosing Classes

Choosing college classes correctly can prevent overwhelming semester and can even get you some easier semesters. It is therefore very important that you learn to schedule them.

Here are a few tips:

  1. Review your program’s required courses. Clearly, prerequisites need to come before certain classes.
  2. Balance your courses. When you are starting off, try not to jump into several difficult classes at once. Try to incorporate an elective into your first and second semesters. Once you understand how difficult your program is, you may want to complete all required courses early on and keep some electives for your final semesters. Go at a pace that will keep you from failing. Often, major programs will provide you with a sample schedule for the four years, take advantage of it. You can either follow it, or switch some classes around to obtain your schedule. Some classes which are listed at the beginning of your program may be postponed and replaced by major classes, allowing for an easier semester later on. (Make sure your university will not force you to graduate once you have finished the required credits, even if it is early. McGill has been known to force students to take on 6 classes one semester so that they finish and graduate a year early when they were planning on staying another year and taking electives and their final major course.)
  3. If you have earned credits from IB, AP, or any other high school course, consider whether or not you want to keep it. If you do want to use this credit to reduce your courseload, remember to sign up for the next logical course and do not take the course you have gotten credit for again. If you are not keeping the credit, sign up for the course as it should be easier for you.
  4. Take advantage of students which are a year to two ahead of you as they will be able to answer questions you may have.
  5. If needed, go see a departmental or faculty advisor, they should also be able to help you.
  6. If you find yourself overwhelmed, consider whether or not you can take summer courses to help lighten your load during the year. If you do not mind staying in college over four years, take an extra semester, if possible.
  7. Choose the correct professor.
  8. If you have chosen a class which is not required and you are still not interested in it, drop it. You are less likely to do well in a class you do not care about and there is no use in wasting your money and time on it.
  9. Make sure you know when the add/drop period is. Also be aware of the date for dropping a class without refund and the date where dropping a class results in a “withdrawal” on your transcript.
  10. Do not overload your semester unless you are absolutely sure you can handle it, try to stay around the average number of credits or hours.
  11. Obviously, avoid class conflicts.
For more tips, check out this eHow article.