In “college class scheduling 101” we covered the basics, as well as the importance, of class scheduling. In this section we will discuss how to schedule that perfect class schedule. During my time in college it always amazed me how some people seemed to always be in the library working on some insane project or studying for an impossible test from their satanic professor, while at the same time, there were just as many students drinking by the pool, and having an all around great college experience.
The natural conclusion people make is those students at the pool either don’t care about good grades, or they are Communication Majors and actually don’t have any real classes to worry about, but once you dive into the pool you begin to realize that many of these people have real majors and real concern for good grades. So then the question becomes… how is it that some people can spend their college life trapped in the library only to leave for their next class, while other students can lounge around at the pool all day? The simple answer is… smart class scheduling habits!
Schedule Optimal Class Times
College classes are offered at various times and days of the week. The same class may be offered M-F 8-8:50, Tu&Th 1-3, or even Wed 5-9. The best time to schedule your classes is going to be based on your personal preferences with each schedule offering different pros and cons.
Morning classes are going to be great for those students who enjoy waking up early and tackling the day. For those who can manage morning classes, this usually leaves the rest of the day for a job or whatever you like. However for those of you that struggled in High School to wake up for classes, College is not going to be any easier, and we recommend you avoid classes in the AM if at all possible.
Afternoon classes are great for students who often find it hard to wake up early (especially with no parents forcing you to). This also gives you some breathing room when you and your roommates decide to have a midweek beer pong tournament. Another great thing found commonly in afternoon classes is the condensed class schedule such as the Mon&Wed, or Tues&Thurs, which allows more time between classes to study or finish homework.
Night classes are another alternative for students who like to sleep in AND still enjoy the day. Night classes are generally one hellishly long class a week. This is great way to just get a class over with for the week, but also makes attendance critical to your success (unless the course syllabus reads otherwise). Although they will generally ruin whichever night they fall on by turning your brain to mush, night classes are still a great option to those of you who hate mornings.
*Another critical aspect to consider when looking at class timing is considering Thursday night and Friday classes. In college Thursday is the new Friday, so having classes early, or at all on Friday can be detrimental to your happiness. Structuring your schedule to occupy your Mon-Thurs afternoon however best suits your needs will leave you with a 3 day weekend EVERY week to enjoy the finer things in your college life.
Schedule a Mix of Classes
It is important to mix the type of classes you take. If you know that a class is going to be reading intensive, it’s in your best interest not to schedule another reading intense class the same day, and even the same semester if at all possible. The same also goes for classes where you will have to do a lot of writing. You will become one of those lost souls in the library if you are forced to write major papers in different classes at the same time. A good mix of reading, writing, arithmetic, and labs will keep your mind fresh for all of your classes.
DON’T Over Schedule
While having a good mix of classes with keep your mind stimulated, it is also important not to over extend yourself, especially in your freshman year! 12 units is generally considered a full semester which is important to qualify for student loans and your parents health insurance. While many students will decide to take 15 units or more, it is wise to at least start off with just 12 units your first semester. Although 4 classes doesn’t seem like a lot, college classes require a lot more of your time than classes in high school, and with new external pressures and responsibilities in college there is no reason to put yourself into an overly stressful situation. Remember, in the end its your GPA that matters, not how quickly you graduated. So take the time you need to do things right!
Schedule the Best Professors!!
Most of your classes will be offered at different times and with different professors. Well it is nice to be able to take classes when you want to, it is even more important that you take classes with student friendly teachers, while avoiding the professors from hell! It is truly amazing how much choosing the right professor for a course can ultimately affect your semester. That is why scheduling best professor for your chosen class is the most important thing you can do each semester.
Would you rather have the nice, funny professor who doesn’t take attendance and is very helpful when it comes to taking exams? or would you like the dull, unhappy professor who is strict about attendance and is utterly useless when it comes to exam preparation? This should be a fairly easy decision for you, and should be reason enough that you do a little research on the professors teaching your courses before you register.
Lucky for you that you live in the information age where anything you want to know is just an internet search away! This is where we recommend that you bookmark RateMyProfessor.com! Chances are the professors you are trying to decide between have been rated on this website. We also recommend that you share your opinion about professors you have taken. It’s a beautiful thing when everyone helps out!
