Choosing Classes in College

Choosing classes in college can be overwhelming, but also a lot more fun than picking from the few choices you had in high school. Most college students end up changing their major a few times, so don’t feel you need to plan out all the classes you’re going to take before freshman year even starts! Chances are you won’t stick to that plan.

There are some things you can do to make the process of picking classes easier and less stressful.

• Talk to an Advisor or Upperclassman
• Check the General Requirements
• Take a Variety of Classes and Leave Your Comfort zone
• Shop Around
• Don’t Go Overboard
• Read Reviews
• Check Out the Course Catalog
• Create a Schedule that Works for You
• Take a Freshman Seminar or Writing Class
• Register on Time

Talk to an Advisor or Upperclassman

Most colleges place students with an advisor before school even starts. Your advisor can answer questions about classes, majors and scheduling issues. You could also talk to an older student who’s been through it at your school. Ask your advisor to put you in touch with another student with interests similar to yours. Also, if you have special needs, such as dyslexia, talk to an advisor about classroom accommodations.
Back to top

Check the General Requirements

Most schools require you to take general education classes before you can take the more fun, upper level classes. If you know you’re interested in taking upper level microbiology, for example, make sure you take the intro classes you need sooner rather than later. But with that said, don’t rush into completing all of your general requirements right away. Leave some room to figure out what you really like.
Back to top

Take a Variety of Classes and Leave Your Comfort zone

Even if you think you are set on majoring in physics, try to branch out and take an art class. Not only will you be incredibly overwhelmed taking only physics classes, but you might find out that you secretly love art! It’s important to take classes that sound interesting but may not be the subject you want to focus the rest of your college career on. Schools also may have intro courses for topics that you aren’t so familiar in such as economics for non-majors or chemistry for people who don’t have a strong science background. You’ll meet different people and maybe learn something new!
Back to top

Shop Around

A lot of schools have a week or so at the beginning of the quarter or semester where students can sit in on different classes without actually registering for the class. This allows you to read the syllabus, see the professor in action, get a feel for how big the class is, and figure out if it’s a class you think you might like to take before all the work starts. Make sure you talk to the professors for ideas and advice.
Back to top

Don’t Go Overboard

While there may be 10 classes that sound amazing, don’t take all of them. You want to maintain a balanced life. Make sure you have time for joining a club, playing a sport, hanging out with friends, or just relaxing on your own. The biggest mistake you can make is overloading yourself with work right away.
Back to top

Read Reviews

Find out if your school has an online system of reviewing classes or giving feedback about professors. This is a great way to see what other students thought about the professor’s lecture style, the work load, and ultimately whether or not the class was a good one.
Back to top

Check Out the Course Catalog

Read the booklet or online course catalog with the list of classes being offered. You may find out about a class you never knew existed!
Back to top

Create a Schedule that Works for You

One of the best things about college is being able to make your own schedule. If you don’t like waking up until noon, chances are you can make your schedule so that you only have afternoon classes. On the other hand, if you’re a morning person and want all of your classes to be done by 11 a.m., you can do that too. Make sure that if you go to school on a very large campus and want to take two different classes that meet back to back that you have enough time to get across campus for the second one. It takes a little planning to figure out when different classes meet, so plan ahead!
Back to top

Take a Freshman Seminar or Writing Class

Some schools offer special classes just for freshman. These classes are often writing-intensive and are a great way to meet other new students and professors in a small group setting. If your school doesn’t offer freshman seminars, try to take a writing class early on. A lot of upper level classes require good writing skills so it won’t hurt to improve your writing right away.
Back to top

Register on Time

Make sure you know when you are supposed to register. Many students don’t get into the classes they want, often because students register too late and the class is already full. It’s worth it to wake up early and sign up on time!

The main thing to remember about choosing classes in college is to have fun! It definitely can be stressful when you see so many classes you want to take and know you don’t have time for them, but having so much freedom about picking what it is that you want to study can also be very rewarding. Remember that there are always resources on campus, such as advisors and older students, to show you the ropes and help make your decisions a bit more manageable.

Back to top