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After you have considered your major options and you have met or at least talked with your advisor, you are almost ready to schedule your first classes. Notice I said “almost.” You should spend much more time preparing to register for classes than registering. Most schools offer online registration, so the actual time it takes to sign up is just a few clicks of a mouse. The hard part is not the actual registering but knowing what classes to register for. Your advisor can help you with this process, but there is still a ton of work you need to do to make sure you are getting the best class schedule possible.

Course Catalog

Your college’s course catalog is maybe as thick as your town’s telephone book. Do not get intimidated by the size of the book (if you are already scared, just wait until you start buying textbooks). Flip through the catalog to learn how it is organized and find where the lower-level freshman classes are listed. Find your college’s general education requirements. These classes are always a safe bet in your freshman year, since you will need them for any major. Find those classes and start looking through what your college offers. Look at the times they are offered and the semesters or the times of year your college offers them. Check out the prerequisites, if any, for classes you are interested in. At this point, just glance through to get familiar with what your college offers, and start thinking about what classes you would like to start your freshman year with.

Tips for Scheduling Classes

When you are ready to start creating mock schedules, which you will review with your advisor before you register, take note of the following key items:

• Know your life style: Are you a morning person or a night owl? If you cannot wake up before noon unless dragged out of bed by wild horses, do not schedule that 7 a.m. chemistry class. In some cases, you may get stuck with early morning or dinnertime classes, but if you have a choice, look for classes you know you will not be sleeping through every day.

• Register early: Register as soon as you can. Freshman-level classes can fill up quickly. Do not be stuck taking classes you did not want at times you did not want with professors you did not want, just because you procrastinated in your scheduling of classes.

• Know your graduation requirements: If you do not know your graduation requirements, how can you expect to graduate? That is four years away still, but do not forget that is the goal. Keep your goal in mind when scheduling your first classes.

• Plan ahead: Look beyond your first semester. Try scheduling for the entire year. Of course, your schedule may change, but looking ahead will help you to not miss out on classes that may be offered only at certain times of the year or have prerequisites that are offered only in the fall semester.

• Do not overload or under-load your schedule: It is your first year of school and your first semester at that. Do not try to take too many classes. Do not forget that you are not in high school anymore. You will need to adjust to college learning and an increase in homework and studying. Taking too many classes too soon will add more stress; you will have enough stress as it is. Conversely, do not take too few classes. Most colleges have requirements for class hours to be a full-time student. Meet that requirement the first semester, but do not try to impress anyone (including yourself) by taking more than what is required.

• Diversify your schedule: Mix up your classes so you are not overloaded with hard classes, with too many reading assignments, or with labs. Read the course descriptions to find out more about the classes and, if available, check out the syllabus ahead of time. If you can download course syllabi before you register, check out the due dates of major assignments and look at when finals are scheduled. Try not to schedule classes with the same exam dates; it will be overwhelming. Diversify your schedule by how hard you think the classes will be. If you are a math whiz and you know it, schedule a math class. Add to it an English class, even though you cannot write your way out of a paper bag. Schedule some comfortable classes along with ones you know will challenge you.

• Balance: Some students think class time is most important. For some, the professor makes the difference. Others say you should be most concerned with your level of interest in the class. So, what factor is most important in scheduling classes? The answer is all three. You should weigh all three factors and decide which one is most important to you. The answers will vary for every student. The ideal class would be one at a good time, like 2 p.m., with a professor who is both challenging and entertaining and covers a subject that you just cannot wait to learn more about. But how often is that going to happen? Chances are you will have boring professors, far too early class times and be stuck learning a subject you could not care less about. At least consider these factors so that you get classes closer to the ideal while you are registering for your tedious classes.

• Foreign language: Is a foreign language a graduation requirement for your college? If so, and if you took a foreign language in high school, it is a good idea to take the same language the first semester in college. Do not wait until you have forgotten all your “¿Cómo estás?” skills.

• Take physical education (PE): Gym was not cool in high school, but this is not high school. Colleges frequently offer some interesting PE classes, such as Tae Kwon Do and spelunking. These are not only good ways to give you a break from reading James Joyce, but they offer avenues to get exercise and meet people. With the freshman 15 looming over you, exercise will help ward off extra pounds, and it helps you cope with the stress of your chemistry class, too.

• Take a chance: Do not stick with just the classes you are comfortable with or that you know you will need to graduate. Of course, you want most of your classes to be those that are required, but you are not stuck to scheduling only those classes. If you are trying out different majors, pick a class in a major you think you might like, or pick one that just sounds interesting. If it is something too off the wall, you may want to ask around a bit beforehand, just to make sure you know what you are signing up for.

• Meet your professors before class and even before you register for classes. If you are able to visit your college before your first day of class, or if orientation occurs before class registration, try to meet the professors whose classes you are interested in taking. Tell them you are interested in signing up for their freshman scuba diving course and see what they say. If you find them boring already, you may want to consider another course instead, maybe water polo.

• Ask older students: If you know upperclassmen who have taken some of the classes you are interested in taking, ask them for advice. If you know they have taken a class by a professor who is teaching a class you are thinking of scheduling, ask them about the professor. Consider, though, that they are only offering their own opinions. You may disagree. You may love a professor they hated. A class someone tells you is boring may have been changed or may be taught by someone new and could be completely different than it used to be.

• Allow time in between classes: In high school, you took all your classes in a row, then went home and studied (maybe), and then woke up the next morning to do it all again. College is different. Classes are offered only two or three days a week. The classes are longer and require more work during and after class. Back-to-back classes can leave your head spinning in no time. Schedule your classes with good breaks in between. This break will allow you to clear your head, get in a little extra studying, or even knock out some homework while it is all still fresh in your mind.

• Do not overload your days: It might be tempting to schedule all your classes from Monday through Thursday and have a three-day weekend every week. It is not a good idea. Your week before Friday will be so intense that you may not be able to do anything on Friday except sleep. You will not have time to study in between classes during the week either. Opt for a schedule with Monday or Friday as a light day, but do not try to pack all your classes in a four-day week unless you have to.

• Take freshman orientation: I am not referring to your first-day orientation after you have moved in and your parents are still hanging around. Many colleges offer a class for freshmen. This class may be worth little or no credit, but it can provide a wealth of knowledge for freshmen. These classes help you transition into college, help you get to know your college, offer study tips, and let you meet a bunch of other freshmen all in one blow. They are by and large easy and have assignments such as writing your mission statement for college.

• Avoid the easy A: Do not pick classes just because you think they sound easy and you think will give you a GPA boost. Take classes to learn — that is the point of college. Easy-A classes are a waste of time (unless they happen to be part of your graduation requirements) and money. You should strive to take classes that will help you learn something and will result in a well-rounded education.

Case Study: Scheduling Classes

Alan Acosta, Residence Coordinator

University Housing, Florida State University

Alan Acosta said, first and foremost, freshmen should make sure that they are comfortable with their class schedule. Taking too many credit hours, particularly in that first term, could set freshmen up for failure because they might feel overwhelmed by the academic

load required. He also said students should take at least one purely fun class each term. Also, students should consult with an academic advisor while they are finalizing their schedule. By doing this, Acosta said students will ensure they are staying on target with their academic requirements and will graduate on time. They will have to live their class schedule, and they need to enjoy it.

Eric Booth, M.A., Director of Residence Life

Reinhardt College

Eric Booth said one beneficial thing for freshmen to bear in mind when scheduling classes is to create separation. Students should schedule time off between classes so as not to feel overwhelmed or to feel as if they have to rush to get to their next class.

Kelly R. Doel, Area Coordinator

University of Central Florida

Kelly Doel stressed that college freshmen should not overload themselves when creating their course schedule. She recommended that students take 12 to 15 credits while they acclimate themselves to college-level classes. Orientation leaders can be extremely helpful to new students in suggesting classes to register for in their first semester. The first year is an excellent opportunity to take general education courses in a variety of subject areas, Doel said. She also said it is important for students to register for classes at times that they know they will attend. Students who sign up for classes at 7:30 a.m. or 7 p.m. may not attend those classes regularly. In addition, she said freshmen may want to limit how many online classes they take so they can become accustomed to the full academic experience college has to offer.

Jay Goodman, Graduate

Pennsylvania State University

Jay Goodman warned that freshmen should not intentionally load up their Monday, Wednesday, Friday schedule and leave no classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, thinking that they will have “free” days. He said this schedule will haunt students in the long run. Students can end up convincing themselves they in actuality have a free day and neglect their studies.

Ashley Chittum, Sophomore

Tennessee Wesleyan College

Unlike some students, Ashley Chittum has classes Monday through Friday. She said that with labs, there was no other option. Her normal schedule is: wake up, go to classes, eat lunch, go to classes, shower, go to work, eat dinner, study, and then go to bed.

Carolynn S. Nath, Area Coordinator

University of Central Florida

Carolynn Nath said students first must evaluate if they are morning, afternoon, or evening people. Students who like to stay up late might not make the 6 a.m., 8 a.m., or even 9 a.m. classes. If students think they will take a nap in the afternoon, they should take a morning class, have the afternoon off for a few hours, and then have late-afternoon or evening classes.

Frederica Anderson, Sophomore

Savannah College of Art and Design

Frederica Anderson said students should schedule classes only at times they know they will be up and alert for class. She said that in her first quarter, she got stuck with all evening classes, and as a morning person, she did not enjoy her schedule. Since then, Anderson has made her classes early in the day.

Ryan Thompson, 2008 Graduate

Southern Polytechnic State University

The best way a freshman can plan a class schedule is to produce a time-management outline, see how much study time one can include in the schedule, and then gear the study availability toward the course that would involve more in-depth study time, according to Ryan Thompson. For instance, he said, students might determine they need to have much time to study for two or three hard courses, and then maybe they can add one or two courses that would not require as much study time.

Creating a Mock Schedule

After you have glanced through your college’s course catalog, know your graduation requirements, and have read through the scheduling tips, you are ready to create a mock schedule. Your advisor should help you with this step, but it is a good exercise to do before you meet with him or her. Knowing what classes you want ahead of time will only help the process flow more smoothly.

Pull out your course catalog again. Get a highlighter and start highlighting your top-pick classes. You should already have a good idea of what you are looking for in a course. Pick your top ten classes, and then rank them in order of your favorite ones. Use the course schedule worksheet in Appendix A to write in your choices. Start with your number one favorite class and write (in pencil) the class times and days this class is offered. Move through your list. When you have your top classes and their times listed on the worksheet, start arranging the classes into a weekly schedule. You may need to rearrange your schedule a few times before you get it right. After you have one mock schedule, make another. Vary the classes, class times, and days. Compare the two and pick your favorite of the two. Write the rank you gave the two class schedules on the top of the mock schedule worksheets.

Some schools offer online classes. Make sure that you check to see if the class you are registering for is an online class. Typically with online classes you do not meet in a classroom weekly and in some instances, you may never actually meet in a classroom. Correspondence with the professor and with classmates is usually done online. Students taking online classes must be highly self-motivated as they will not have a professor constantly reminding them when assignments are due. You should not be afraid to contact professors during their office hours if you have questions. Most professors of online classes make themselves available to students with questions at specific times each week. Online classes can free up time for working students, but you have to remember to stay on schedule as it is very easy to get behind in these classes.

Registering for Classes

Before you start inputting classes into your college’s registration form or online application, be sure to go over your mock schedule with your advisor. Make any changes you need before you make your final selections. Ask any questions you may have about the courses or professors. Having two options for your schedule will help you easily adjust if you find your top classes have already been filled. Ask your advisor to walk you through the registration process. Ask him or her what your school’s policy is on adding or dropping classes. Normally, there is time allowed to make changes to your schedule, even after your classes begin.

Preparing for Your First Day of Class

After you have registered and have a firm schedule, make a copy of it. Keep one copy with you and the other one in a safe place in case you lose the first copy. Write your schedule in your day planner, including the building and classroom number of each class for the first day. Now you have three copies of your schedule. This method may seem like overkill, but you will not want to find yourself on the first day of class without your schedule.

Tips to Prepare for First Day of Class

Here is a list of important things to do before you head to your first day:

• Find your classes: With your schedule in hand, visit each of your classrooms before the first day of school. You do not want to be lost on campus and late for your first class.

• Buy your books: When you register for your classes, you should be able to look up the required books for each class. You may be tempted to wait and buy the books after your first class; this might not be the smartest idea. For one, some college bookstores will sell out of books. If you wait too long, you may find yourself ordering your books online. Although some people find this method cheaper, you run the risk of buying the wrong version or spending a week or more without the textbook; do not start school behind the game. Having your books before class will ensure you are prepared for the homework and studying that will most certainly be assigned on the first day of class. Also, most colleges sell used books, which are books bought back by the bookstore from students. The used books are cheaper and are the first to sell out.

• Get your pencils ready and your pens, notebooks, and other materials. Have all your essential school supplies ready to go on the first day of class. Highlighters are also helpful.

• Read the syllabi: If you are attending a school that posts syllabi before the first day of school, print them out. Read through them. Look ahead to the first assignment. If you already have your books, you may be able to get a head start on some reading.

On the First Day of Class

• Be prepared: Have your supplies ready, your books with you, and your thinking cap on. Be prepared to learn.

• Be excited: Professors can tell which students are in class only because they have to be there and which students are there to learn. Come grade time, you want to be in the latter category.

• Arrive early: Get to class five minutes ahead of time. This rule should be applied to every class, every day. Do not be known as the guy who always shows up late. Not only will the other students notice and be distracted by your tardiness, but your professor will not like it. Again, come grade time, you will not want the professor to know you only as the late one.

• Sit up front: You do not have to pick a front-row seat, but do pick a seat toward the front of the classroom. Many freshman-level classes are large, maybe even hundreds of students. If you sit up front, you will have a clear view and will be more likely to pay attention, which normally means better grades.

• Stay after class: If you have taken the scheduling advice, you should not have to rush off to another class right away. Hang around a little late. Some professors give helpful tips or hints about upcoming tests.

• Talk to your professor: Introduce yourself. If you are in a class with 100 or so other students, your professor will not recall you just because you answered one question in class. Ask questions after class. E-mail your professor if he gives an e-mail address, which would normally be listed on the syllabus. Visit him during office hours, which are also listed on the syllabus.

Case Study: Being Dumb Can Be Smart When Registering

Eric Chaney, 2002 Graduate

University of Missouri-Columbia

During the second semester of Eric Chaney’s freshman year, he signed up for a full load of classes, including German and geography. He quickly realized that the only German he was interested in was beer, and he logged on to the university’s computerized scheduling system to drop the class before it counted against him.

Fast-forward two months, during which time he had been going to and somewhat enjoying the geography class. When he checked his grades one day, he found out that he was getting an F in German and, well, nothing in geography. He soon realized he had dropped the wrong class. He went to the registrar’s office to straighten the situation out and was told that the date to drop a class with no penalty had past. So, he went back the next day and put on his best “dumb helpless freshman” act for a different employee. He still does not know if she felt sorry for him or just could not believe he did not know the difference between G-E-O and G-E-R, but she predated the transaction and dropped him out of German two months earlier.

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