As the fall semester comes to a close, for those of us not graduating this semester, we must start planning for the spring. There are many different aspects students need to consider while planning for their next semester of classes, especially this year with COVID-19.
The first step students need to take is to speak with their advisors. Most schools require students to meet with their advisors to discuss their course selection in order to register for classes. If students want to get into the classes they want or need for next semester, then they have to meet with their advisor early enough to not miss their first day of class registration. Something I have started doing in order to get the most out of my advising appointment is to look at my degree audit first.
The degree audit shows your progress on your completion of major(s) and minors. By looking at what classes you still need in order to graduate, you are able to start looking at what classes will be offered next semester and you can go into your advising appointment with a game plan. Once you know what classes are still required for your degree completion, then go to the course registration portal to see the options available for next semester.
It is important to pay special attention to the structure of the class this year, in-person versus online synchronous and online asynchronous. If you plan on being home all semester then you are limited to what classes are offered online for next semester. If you plan on being on campus next semester and learn better with in-person classes, then you can try to have as many of those as possible. When looking at the course offerings, for the classes you still need to complete, it is important to also consider the times and days the class will meet and how it fits your lifestyle. For example, if you are the type of person who cannot wake up before 10AM, then it would not be a good idea to take an 8AM lecture. Try to schedule as many of your classes as possible for late morning, afternoon, or evening.
The other big tip is to try and learn about the professors before you commit to the section. For intro level courses, there are typically multiple professors teaching the different sections. However, as you move deeper into your college career you will find sometimes only one professor is teaching one section of the course you need. Therefore, when you have options for your class, research what others say about the professor. You can use ratemyproffessors.com. Word of caution though, before using “Rate my Professors,” consider the previous students’ feedback with a grain of salt. Every student has their own learning style and wants something different out of each class. Also remember, most people do not take the time to give a positive review on sites. However, they are more inclined to make their complaints public.
When planning for next semester, please take the time to organize and think about what you want next semester. Taking a few hours to plan will help the next sixteen weeks go a lot smoother for you.
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