It is that time of year again. Classes are about begin, or perhaps they already have, and you need to put together the best course schedule for another semester of college. You need to find the best schedule to fit not only your academic life but your social life as well.
And if you need time to work your schedule must work around you making the bucks to get through school or perhaps just to buy that pack of beer and chips for the much awaited Friday, or maybe both. Whatever it is, your schedule can make or break a semester so putting together the best one is the smartest plan to make your semester a great one. So let's get started!
Scheduling Questions to Consider
You first need to decide how many hours you need to take. Nine, twelve, fifteen, eighteen? How many hours do you need to stay a full time student at your university or college? Are there a certain number of hours you need to take each semester to finish on time? Maybe you need to take a certain amount of hours to get the right GPA you want as long as you make the grade?
These things are definitely worth thinking about, and the sooner, the better! Usually your college counselor can help you with all of these questions, depending on the university or college you attend, and can even keep you on track for all four, five, six, how ever many years you decide to keep your head in the books and maintain the life of the college undergrad!
Finding the Best Professors
Second, professors, professors, professors. You may absolutely love the subject of Microfinancing, World War I, or British Literature, but unless you have a decent professor your semester can be a drag.There are some great websites like RateMyProfessor.com rate professors, include student input, and even reflect total grades received in the classes from past semesters. Using these website can be extremely helpful in choosing the right classes and professors before you even step in the classroom, but use them cautiously and with discretion. Just because someone could not stand one professor, another might have loved him or her; read the ratings and comments, maybe test out a class or two with that professor, and then make your decision.
For those students at Louisiana State University, AroundU.com is similar and just as helpful. Here you can search reviews by course, by professor, and a list of courses that students rated highly or most recommended.
Best of all both of these tools are free! They can help you get the most out of your college experience and to maybe even find that life changing professor that taught you to see another way or think about something you never had before.
Don't Forget Passion
Lastly, often you must take classes that are requirements. Understood. But if you can, choose the ones that you will be most impassioned and excited about. The ones that you will not mind putting the work into, that you are excited to attend, and are willing to do well because you want to. If you are not satisfied with your major and classes in college how can you expect to be satisfied with the field you go into if it relates to your degree?
So choose right and choose wisely. The best way to do this is to prepare ahead. Visit your college counselor, use free web tools like RateMyProfessors.com and and AroundU.com, and get excited about your classes! Enjoying something makes it all the more easy to excel in it, remember that, and you will not go wrong when the next time comes to put together the best schedule and undergraduate semester for you.
When all is said and done don't forget to make time for sleep and fun times along the way because there is a reason, besides smart scheduling, for the saying: "Your college years are some of the best years of your life..."
Rachel Lombardo - I am a recent graduate of Louisiana State University with two B.A. degrees in History and International Studies. I enjoy reading, writing, ...
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