A class schedule for college: creating yours

If you’re headed off to college across town or across the country, one of the most important tasks for your first year is creating a schedule. Find your way through your freshman year with these helpful hints.

As a first-year student, you should meet with an academic advisor to find out what classes you’re required to take to graduate. The sooner you find out what classes you need, the better, as the desirable sections of classes fill up faster. Many schools have a registration schedule that allows students with more completed credit hours to register sooner – so seniors and juniors have the privilege of getting registered before you – so the sooner you know what you need to take, the better. Because you choose what time of day to take classes, you can pass on an 8am class in favor of the 2pm section - if there are enough seats left in the class.

Beyond required classes, you’ll have some choice in what electives to take. You can approach these classes as required that will waste your time or you can look at them as classes you might enjoy or ways to pick up a new skill to use after graduation. Think about what your goals are for life outside of college and what you’re interested in so you can choose something that will be worthwhile.

If you haven’t decided on a major, your school should have a career center or other campus office to assist you in your career planning. Until you find out where that is located, keep thinking about what you’re good at, what you like doing and what careers you might enjoy after college. Be prepared to ask about how the college can help you find a co-op or internship while you’re a student or during summer breaks. Think about your ideal work conditions– would you like working outdoors or indoors? Would you enjoy working in a quiet environment or with lots of people or in a high-energy atmosphere?

How many classes you take – or how many you can drop if something goes wrong– may influence the amount of scholarships, grants and loans you can keep throughout the year. Remember this as you plan your classes as well as hours of work to prevent yourself from getting in over your head. Contact your college Financial Aid or Bursar office if you need help or have questions.