by Megan Worley

Created on: October 30, 2009

Choosing classes to take in college can be quite difficult. When you look through the course catalog before each semester there are often many choices, and there are also a variety of ways to make that choice. Although certain times and class descriptions make some classes seem like the right choice the most important thing to think about is choosing the best teacher. A good teacher should always trump a good course description or title.

No matter the subject of the class a good teacher will make the topic interesting, as well as holding your interest making the course more worth your time. The information found in other classes can always be found on your own throughout your life, but the time spent with a good teacher is really invaluable. Great teachers are rare and you should take full advantage of that chance.

A good teacher will really help you learn and a great one will even teach you better ways to learn, something that will last your whole college career and beyond. Finding a good teacher shouldn't be too difficult. Ask other students what they think. Don't just ask what teachers they thought were easy. Find out which teachers challenged them and motivated them to really learn. Great teachers often expect a lot from their students, including class participation and a lot of time spent preparing for class. That time will be worth it in the long run. These teachers are often more available than others and more willing to put time in with you outside of class for extra help or just a discussion about the class subject. Also spend time talking to the teachers that you have found that you already really like, they often can recommend great teachers. Just ask what classes your current teachers recommend.

When you are choosing classes you should also choose them based on what you love. Although it is likely that you will have to take some classes on subjects that aren't your favorite it is important to find something to study that you at least have an interest in. Also consider independent study programs and seminars. These can often be great programs, although they are often overlooked.

Although the previously mentioned considerations are very important to think about when deciding which classes to take it is also important to consider the times that classes are at and how long they are. If you know that you have a hard time focusing for more than an hour try not to choose classes that are longer than that. Also try not to make your schedule overly difficult, only do as much as you can so you can really focus on your classes.

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