You did it! You graduated high school, and, after a well-deserved summer break, you are ready to dive back into your education as a college freshman. All of that newfound freedom might seem like a dream come true, but it also means you’re now in charge of making a lot of decisions. Right off the bat, you’re tasked with choosing and registering for your own classes. Luckily for you, Coalinga College has a lot of resources to assist you in completing this Herculean task.
Your counselor and advisor are the perfect resource when it comes to deciding your Ed Plan and choosing your major, and they want to help! You can schedule an appointment to meet with them face-to-face, or online. You should also be mindful of campus events specific to registration assistance. These events will be advertised in your student portal, as well as on social media. Be sure to login to the student portal frequently as well as follow all Coalinga Collegesocial media accounts, as news, events, and announcements will be shared to these feeds regularly.
Counseling & Advising Services
In addition to these resources, here are a few things to avoid when scheduling your classes as an incoming freshman:
WAITING TOO LONG TO REGISTER
One of the most critical mistakes you can make is waiting too long after registration opens to sign up for your classes. Classes often fill up fast, depending on what you’re trying to register for, and not being able to sign up for a class you really need can leave you struggling to find an alternative at the last minute.
Having an idea of which classes you want to take in your first and even second semesters, along with some back-ups, will be a huge help to you. Doing this will ensure you’ll know exactly what you’re looking for when you start the registration process, and you won’t be left taking a bunch of classes you don’t need just to meet the full-time requirements.
SCHEDULING BACK-TO-BACK CLASSES
Unlike high school, your college schedule can allow a ton of flexibility to accommodate athletics, a job, appointments and more. Take advantage of the flexibility and do not schedule back-to-back classes. Some classes are significantly longer than others and scheduling three or more classes without any sort of break in between can potentially lead to burnout. You also run the possibility of missing out on your instructor’s office hours which can be invaluable if you find yourself struggling in a specific area. Try to schedule breaks in between courses to allow yourself time to recharge, refuel, and mentally prepare for your next class.
TAKING TOO MANY CLASSES
The number of units required to earn your degree can seem daunting, and it might seem like a good idea to cram as many classes as you can fit into one semester’s schedule to make sure you graduate on time, however taking too many classes can quickly become an unmanageable mess. I know you’re probably thinking, “I took 6-8 classes all day, every day in high school, how can college be any different?” Well, my friend, it is. Not knowing what a manageable course load looks like in college is not a lesson you want to learn the hard way. It is recommended that you take 3 – 4 classes during your first semester to really gain an understanding of what you can handle.
Remember that while most courses are 3 units, there are several courses that are 5 units, and even more that are 1, so taking 12 units in one semester, while only taking 3-4 classes, can be easily accomplished.
Registering for classes can be an intimidating task, and a huge transition from high school to college student, but with the right resources you’ll be able to manage your schedule like a pro!