Two weeks ago, I got an email saying I have an enrollment date to register for fall classes. Immediately I started freaking out because I hadn’t really put much thought into it considering there’s still another month until the end of the semester. Then, I sat down and thought about it and came up with a list of what I consider when it comes times to pick classes. Hopefully, these tips will help you out when it comes time to pick yours.
No Friday Classes
When you’re in college, weekends start on Thursdays so the idea of having to wake up on Friday for a 9a.m. is not the most sought after. I know that I try to avoid Friday classes at all costs because the odds of me actually going are slim to none. If you do get stuck having to take one, aim for a later time so you can still party on Thursday and manage to drag your hungover ass out of bed on Friday.
Morning Vs. Night Person
If you’re someone who needs to sleep till noon every day, then that 10a.m. class is a bad idea. You know you won’t go so why bother scheduling something that you will hate getting up for? If you sleep in, pick afternoon classes. Not only will you have gotten in your sleep requirement but you will actually go to these classes. On the other hand, if you wake up at the ass crack of dawn, why not plan all your classes before noon? You’ll be done for the day while your lazy roommate is just rolling out of bed.
Figure out Your Requirements
Every school has different classes that you have to take to graduate. Most of them are supposed to be fairly easy and geared towards basic education. If you know you suck at math, do not wait to take that math class until your second semester senior year. Figure out what you need to take and how to spread them out over your remaining semesters. Don’t forget you also have major requirements. Personally, I try to balance my major with gen eds just to get them all over with at the same time.
Ratemyprofessor.com
While figuring out what classes to take, this site is the best. Not only can you sort the hard classes from the easy, but you can also find out if a professor is hot. If you’re someone who is just trying to breeze by with the least coursework possible then this site will be your best guide. The other is your friends. If your friend spends every night crying over their chemistry homework, then it’s probably really dumb for you to sign up for that class.
Extracurriculars
If you have a lot of things going on outside of class, then you have to plan for it. Being in a sorority, I have weekly meetings and workshops and new member events. It seems like a lot but it’s all about balance. I’ve learned to get all my work done for my classes by Thursday night so I can go to mixers and not have to worry about that essay due on Friday. If you know you’re going to be doing a lot of things on campus, make your course loads a little lighter to avoid unwanted stress. Extracurricular activities are just as important as classes when it comes time to apply for jobs and internships and anything in the real world.
