Here's a sure fire method to choose classes in college. Ready? Great, let's go.

What's In It For Me

Be sure to think long and hard about why you are going to college. Think about what you want out of your education before deciding on what classes you will take.

Where Do You Start

Look at your college's online schedule of classes for the term and ask them to mail you a course catalog. Have pencil and paper ready so you can take notes and circle classes that appeal to you.

As you do that, write down the class times as well as alternate times. If they list a schedule for final exams, circle that too. Do this so you how many finals you will have on each day during finals week. If you find your college schedules multiple finals at the same time, or have more than three on one day, go to your advisor and get a conflict request form signed. This form allows you to take your finals at a time that fits into your schedule.

The Necessities

Take all required courses for your major as soon as possible. Avoid anxiety by finding the right that works for you-try to schedule your electives between classes you must take. This will keep you focused and help minimize the burnout caused by the class loads.

While choosing your required classes, pay attention to the ones that your college does not offer every semester and try to take them as early as possible. You do not want to be close to graduation and find out that your college does not offer the one class you need until next year.

You also want to watch for classes that are part of a prerequisite series. Usually the mathematics, sciences and language classes are like this. If you have any of these, begin taking the in your first semester.

Time To Make The Cut

As you narrow down your choices, you must do some homework in the form of research. Ask yourself these questions and go find the answers:

1.How early in the morning/late a night is the class?

2.Is the professor Fair? A good professor?

3.How will this class enhance my career?

4.Does the class matter interest?

5.Is the class too small or large for me?

6.Is the book for the class interesting?

7.Are the cost of associated books and other material within my budget?

Tips for finding out this information are:

Sit-in on a class
Visit the professor during his or her office hours
Ask other students about the professor
Go to books store and read the book (I know, rather obvious)

Although this is a good starting point for narrowing down your classes, there is one more thing should consider:

Is It On Easy Or Hard Street

You do want to consider the level of difficulty. Most people may want to take the easy road, but let me warn you, usually all the easy classes are boring to the point that you will skip them and not do the assigned reading.

This can lead you down a path to receiving a poor grade. Yet, most times the hardest classes are so interesting that you enjoy the challenge. In my experience, the harder the class, the more I learned. So, try your best not to decide solely on "if it's easy or hard." Doing so may backfire.

Instead, focus more on how interesting the class is; whether you are required to take the class; how it will benefit you for the future.

As you now see, choosing classes in college could be difficult if you are not prepared. But, since you will be, doing so will be a gentle breeze.

If you need more help, schedule an appointment with an academic advisor at your college.

And yes, do go before you start college.

Learn more about this author, Bruce Waller.
Click here to send author comments or questions.

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