Planning Courses+ Classes

PLANNING COURSES+ CLASSES, reposted from my tumblr! 

Choosing classes is crucial. The principal priority and reason to be in college is most likely for the education and for the career options it’ll open up so classes are paramount. 

In high school, you’re used to having a short list of class options in a few categories and being guided through the process; but in college, you have a variety. It’s such a huge difference. And even if you’re already in college and completely done with high school, the stress of choosing classes is still heavy. 

There’s an effective way to tackle general curriculum and your intended major while scoping out other ones and this is my method for one full- time term. 

I hope this helps!

1. General Ed.*

Recommended # of these classes: 2+.

Reason: Your first term is the one that you should pack the general classes in because they provide a better foundation for more in- depth ones. Another bonus of making a larger part of your schedule out of general ed is that these are usually “core” classes so you probably have some background from high school. That prior knowledge will give you and your GPA an advantage. Starting strong can help keep you motivated and who doesn’t love a high GPA.

2. Weak Subjects

Recommended # of these classes: 1

Reason: It’s one area and it’s an area you happen to be a bit subpar at so you should take it one class at a time and make that time as soon as possible and consistent! By being proactive and handling this vulnerability as early as you can, you don’t have to worry about falling behind in it or lacking the skills it can provide when needed. This tip is huge, especially if your weakness intersects with your major. Business requires a few courses of calculus and I am by no means a math genius so I learned the hard way that I should have taken stats earlier so I wouldn’t have to take two math courses at once just to reach the typical math requirement expected. Plus, once you get these classes out of the way, you can breathe easier, become acclimated with the subject or even become good at it.

3. Electives

Recommended # of these classes: 1

Reason: It’s inevitable and mandatory to take classes outside of your major, minor, and general ed so it’s a refreshing and required slot of your schedule. This one class will give you the opportunity to look into other studies you might be interested in and yes, if you find some other career path you like better, follow it or minor it if you don’t find it as a sustainable income source. Do what you love, do what you never had the courage to do before, do what you think would give you helpful skills, or even just do what you know you’ll ace. It’s an elective, but it can open lots of doors for growth, change, and improvement. It’s also nice to have on your schedule as a break from the usual curriculum!

4. Major*

Recommended # of classes: 1+

Reason: This is the path that you pursued so follow it. Take a class or more just to test the waters and garner insight, knowledge, and expertise. This is the most obvious category of classes to people and it should be because they are going to usher you into your potential career path. Do not slack of in any class, especially not these ones because the college professors and career professionals care about your performance, not your excuse. Also, take these classes just for your own personal progress to step toward your goals!

* The asterisk indicates that as time passes, these categories should shift in their part in your schedule. As you take general ed, the list diminishes so you’ll need less of that and as you get further along, it’s best to start taking mainly major classes as you proceed on your path to that career.