7 Warning Signs You Shouldn't Take That Class
As if college wasn’t hard enough, with making friends and figuring out what your future career is, there’s the added stressor of signing up for and shopping classes. As a former academic advisor to students on my college campus, I can say with confidence that one of hardest things for students to do is set up their class schedule. There are so many things that go into choosing your classes, such as including major pre-requisites or sizing up the course load. If you’re having difficulty setting up your schedule, and life tbqh, keep in mind that that is totally normal. And if you need a little friendly advice, follow along as I break down the 7 warning signs that you should not take that class.
If you’re not a morning person
Or a night owl! I know this seems pretty obvious but hear me out. In college, you’re going to have a ton of responsibility, mostly around taking care of yourself. You are pretty much the only person taking care of yourself now that you’re away from home. While this added freedom feels great, and will be what ultimately allows you to learn about yourself and your needs, it also wreaks havoc on your eating and sleeping habits. So when setting up your schedule, be aware of your needs.
If you’ve always had issues getting up early for school, that’s likely not going to change in college. So keep that in mind when you’re looking down the barrel of an 8 AM lecture across campus. Same goes for the early birds out there. If you love going to bed early, that advanced level lecture or lab that gets out at 10PM isn’t going to leave you much time for your beauty rest.
Figure out how this class or lab fits into your life, and determine if you can do the work to push yourself. College is about growing, but growing at your own pace. So take your time!
There are Scheduling Issues
When it comes to setting up your class schedule there are a ton of things to keep in mind- no pressure. In fact, there are so many that I've made a list within a list to set them straight.
Make-or-Break things to keep in mind:
IF… the class creates a solid block with no breaks
While it might look tidy or make things seem organized to have several classes back to back, keep in mind that it’s hard to keep your brain focused for that long. You need some time to recharge your brain, as well as keep your energy up with some food. Take it from somebody who often did this and then distracted her classmates with a gurgling stomach all morning.
IF… you don’t have enough time between classes to get there
Depending on your campus and major, you might end up having a class across campus. So make sure you leave yourself enough time between classes to actually get to them. I’d recommend at least 15 minutes.
IF…all your classes are on the same day
While it might seem great to put all your classes on Tuesday & Thursday so you have the rest of the week to enjoy yourself, this will probably come back to bite you in butt. If you’re anything like me, you may not use those days off wisely and then be killing yourself on Mondays to get all of your coursework done before an excruciatingly tiring Tuesday.
IF… it conflicts with your work study, team practices, or club meetings
A big part of college is getting to know other people- whether it is in a social setting like a club or at your work study job. If you’re worried attending a class/lab may require you to reschedule some work shifts or skip club meetings, reconsider the class.
IF… you can never make office hours
While you may not always need to attend your professor or TA’s office hours, they can be incredibly helpful for your success in the class. If due to your other classes or responsibilities you can never make this class’ office hours, it might not be worth pursuing the class this semester.
In the end, it’s a balancing act. You gotta weigh those parts of your class schedule and extracurricular life that mean the most to you, and decide what you’re going to prioritize. But just make sure that your health and wellbeing are at the top of that list. You’re worth it.
You barely understand the syllabus
Shopping period, the time before classes begin outright in which you can attend the courses you’re interested in to determine if you want to take them, is incredibly important. I can’t stress this enough- use your shopping period! Try out different courses and use this initial schedule as a trial run to see what it takes to actually enroll in these classes. In the first class most professors will supply you with a syllabus for the semester which will outline the topics you’ll cover and resources you’ll need.
Make sure to pay attention to the professor or teaching assistant’s overview of the syllabus because there is some vital information you need! Such as:
Does the class require lab sessions or that students attend office hours?
Do those extra sessions conflict with your job or club meetings?
How many readings will you be doing on average for each session?
What courses does the professor suggest students to have already taken to be ready for this level?
The most important part of reviewing the syllabus is getting a sense of what you’re getting yourself into. Do you understand the subject matter and the first few week’s worth of readings?
It can be a great idea to challenge yourself with a higher level course or by taking classes outside of your major. But keep in mind that you’ve got a GPA to worry about, so try not to skip a level right off the bat. Trust the professor when they explain the course prerequisites and alter your plan accordingly. This goes for classes outside of your major too! There’s no shame in taking an entry level course in a new subject matter even if you’re an older student. We’ve all gotta start somewhere!
The professor’s teaching style doesn’t match your learning style
Another great thing about Shopping Week is that you can actually sit in the prospective classroom and hear from the professor. In theory, a good professor will not only go over the syllabus that first class, giving you a sense of what to expect from the subject matter, but they’ll also cover their teaching methodology.
Some classes are mostly readings and discussions, whereas others require more quizzes and tests. If you suffer from serious test anxiety, that's something you’ve gotta know going into a class. Some professors lecture and require that students be taking more notes, whereas others will utilize more visual aids like projections or films. If you are more of a visual learner the latter teaching style will better suit you, whereas if you are an auditory learner the lecturer might be more your speed.
In the end this will all depend on the subject of the class and the type of course itself. But listening to the prospective professor, and their expectations from students, will definitely help set your expectations for the course. Plus, it’s always good to find out early that your professor’s voice sounds like a boring, humming vacuum cleaner before you sign on to the class- that way you might actually stand a chance of staying awake.
You can’t afford the books, trips, or resources
Not to harp on the merits of syllabi, but once again they prove to be very helpful when choosing your classes during Shopping Week. Not only do syllabi set your course expectations, but they should also provide a list of resources required for the class. Some more reading-heavy courses will require that students buy several books or textbooks- which may not be an option for some students. This is one the sad realities college students have to face- everything costs money.
Even if you are living on campus and have a meal plan, there are still going to be auxiliary expenses like laundry detergent, Red Bulls for all-nighters, and textbooks. So when you are shopping for classes it helps to list out the resources you’ll need to pay for and determine if you can swing those costs. Luckily there are services like Chegg that allow you to rent books for cheaper than the price of buying them, or you can get used copies from your campus bookstore or Amazon. Beyond textbooks though some courses may require that you go off campus for field trips, research, or social functions. So once again, take a deep dive into those syllabi and make sure you’ve got what it takes before signing up for good.
It’s too similar to a class you’ve already taken
This is something that Deans or Major Advisors don’t talk too much about when working with students to set up class schedules, but it’s something that higher level students run into a lot. When you’re trying to hit all the required classes for your major, you may find the course offerings limited. That is quite the oxymoron. On one hand, you are obligated to meet those class level requirements, on the other there are only so many courses offered which are dedicated to your major. This is where you’ve gotta get creative and do some planning.
My advice for students has always been to try to plan their schedules holistically, taking in the bigger picture of their years at college. Once you’ve decided on your major, take a look at the number and type of courses you need to graduate with it. Most students only land on a major after having taken classes in that subject already, so bake those into your future scheduling. From there, you’ll be able to see what classes you can afford to take, and those that you can’t swing just yet because they are too advanced or clash with your other obligations. Make sure to focus on your core courses, and then build electives, work shifts, and club meetings around that.
Now when it comes to higher level courses, look for the ones that meet your requirements but still peak your interest. Is this Abnormal Psychology class covering the same topics as the Cognitive Neuroscience class from last semester, and you don’t need any more courses at the “200 level?” Forget it. This pattern can persist across majors. Where a student taking a lower level Architecture course may have covered most of the subject matter in a higher level Urban Planning course.
So make sure to take a step back from your schedule and see your major a whole. And once again, pay attention to that first day of class syllabus to see what you’re getting yourself into.
You don’t need it for your major/to graduate
College is about finding yourself. Or rather, finding out who you’d like to be and what you’d like to do professionally. And don’t expect to figure it out after only one semester and those freshman seminars you’re required to take. Explore every subject that speaks to you! Try out classes in subjects you’ve never heard of. Try out disciplines outside of your focus, once you’ve set your major or concentration.
The biggest mistake you can make in college is not giving yourself the opportunity to grow. For some people, you can only really figure out what you like by experiencing the things you don’t. But as important as the trial and error of college is, keep in mind that once you’ve set your major you’re on a designed track. (Assuming your center for higher learning prescribes to majors- I’m looking at you Sarah Lawrence). So once again, make sure to focus on the courses that are required for graduating. These might be a minimum number of 200 & 300 level courses, or even specific classes and labs. Scheduling your required courses should be priority, the skeleton on which you build your major electives and course experiments off of.
I know this process can be overwhelming and I just threw a whole lot of information at you. So take a deep breath and check in with yourself. In the end, all you have to do is prioritize your needs, keep an open mind, and read those syllabi! Once you’ve got that baseline plan down, the rest is gravy. Or in this former psychology major’s case- it’s printmaking.