Here are a few tips to help your student register for the right classes:
Don’t duck your requirements: The more general requirements you can knock out early on, the fewer will still be around to haunt your senior year.
Look ahead: Figure out up front how the required classes will affect your entire four-year career—not just whether it makes you get up early on a Wednesday. For instance, if you’re planning on going abroad, or if your school requires you to take a time-intensive lab class or two, keep those things in the back of your mind early on.
Don’t overdo it: You’re a smartie, but that doesn’t always mean you’re ready to tackle a full load of grad seminars right off the bat. Mix a few challenging courses with lower-level classes that are easy-aces. That leaves extra time for mastering Space Physics.
Do your homework: You’re not the first person intent on piecing together an awesome semester. Take advantage of your advisors, whether they be RAs, faculty members, or older kids down the dorm hall. They’ve got the been-there, done-that wisdom you need. Some schools now encourage students to swap reviews of classes and professors, whether through a school network or an outside site, like www.ratemyprofessors.com. It’ll fill you in on all the information they couldn’t cram into the 50-word course catalog write-up.
For more tips, please visit: UniversityParent.com and Unigo.com.
