The Princeton Review
Smart planning has a lot to do with paying attention to your growing interests and noticing how these interests coincide with your school requirements. Without planning ahead, your progress towards completing your degree may be hampered or delayed. Here are some tips to get you started on the path to success:
Before You Commit
- Start with the end in mind. Make concrete connections between the value your school represents and your personal and professional goals. Look beyond the current semester and be mindful of your long-term goals. Outline several goals that you are committed to and keep them in mind throughout planning your calendar.
- Explore the schedules. Go online as soon as they’re available. Don't wait until registration has started before planning your schedule. Be selective and strategic about your time.
- Pull rank. According to your preference, consider the ones you are most interested in first.
- Give yourself plenty of time. Register early.
- Explore all your options! Speak with your advisor to discuss courses or majors you had not considered before. Take the initiative and engage in meaningful conversations. Your school counselors are excellent resources in your course selection and decision-making process.
- Prepare your scouting report! Research the classes that might be of interest to you. If you spend a little time getting some background, then you can ask very focused and specific questions.
- Maintain regular contact with your academic advisor. Your advisor should be based on your personal and academic needs so if you need to change then do so, or if you need multiple advisors for multiple academic interests, expand (for instance, if you are majoring in Management but also interested in Education, you can have an advisor from each discipline). Your academic advisor can be your best resource regarding academic planning, but the responsibility to make the most of your advising relationship ultimately lies with you.
- Take notes. When you enroll next semester, you’ll know what you were thinking and don’t have to go through the process from the beginning. For example, maybe there is a class you did not take and have an opportunity next time around.
- The U in unique. Understand that you are unique and a plan that works for you may not be at all what another student wants to do. A plan is almost never static. It evolves as you evolve through your academic and personal experiences. This is a highly creative process in which you shape your own education as you go. Whenever you can, meet requirements with courses that excite you. Challenge yourself to think outside your comfort zone. Look for ways in which academic work relates to the other important areas of your life. The plan you develop should lead not only to graduation, but to a fuller sense of who you are and how you can make valuable contributions to the community around you.
After Your Semester
- Reflect. Take time to reflect on your experience—did you accomplish your goal? If not, why not? What would you do differently next time? Write all of this down so you don't forget it! What might you undertake the rest of the year to enjoy your course more or have a better experience?
- Follow-Up. Send a brief email to key people that you met (professor, teaching assistant, classmate), particularly if they went out of their way to help you. Tell them something about what you got out of the course or their presentations. It can also bring attention to your name.
Committing to a preparation plan is never easy. Everyone feels nervous in the daysleading up to starting school again, but putting it off will only prolong and amplify the anxiety associated with it. So pick a time frame that fits your goals and stick with it – YOU CAN DO IT! Sometimes you may hurt yourself by rushing to finish school and you may make some errors in haste (classes/major). So, consider your goals and pace yourself accordingly. Don’t panic if you cannot finish as quickly as you had hoped.
And if you find that you cannot fully commit, take it in small chunks; maybe one class at a time. Build some momentum and then you will be on your way to academic success.