Choosing Your Courses and Major Chapter 9 Choosing Your Courses and Major

Choosing Your Courses, Major – Prepare 9-2 Get to know your college catalog Catalog is a legal document that offers you a contract Provides information on Academic regulations Academic programs Course listings LO 9.1

Choosing Your Courses, Major – Prepare 9-3 Meet with your college advisor Set up the meeting early in the term Take a checklist of questions with you Remember that ultimately you are responsible for your college career LO 9.1

Choosing Your Courses, Major – Prepare 9-4 LO 9.1

Choosing Your Courses, Major – Organize 9-5 Examine what you have done and what you still need to do What courses do you need to complete your degree? Understand the requirements of your major and the requirements for graduation Use your transcript to determine what you have completed and what still needs to be done LO 9.2

Choosing Your Course, Major - Work 9-6 Choosing the next term’s courses Schedule according to your need for core classes and electives Decide on the best times for you to take classes Meet with your advisor and register for your courses Have alternative classes selected in case your first choices are not available LO 9.2

9-7 LO 9.2

Choosing Your Courses, Major – Evaluate 9-8 Evaluate your schedule Are you enrolled in the courses that you think you are? Are you enrolled in the courses you wanted? Are the times accurate? Are there conflicts? Are you registered for the number of credits that you need to maintain your student status for financial aid? LO 9.2

Choosing Your Courses, Major – Evaluate 9-9 Correct any problems immediately If you need to drop a course, do it officially and on time! Determine what is the last day you can attend and still get a “W” (withdrawn) from the class instead of an F. LO 9.2

Choosing Your Courses, Major – Evaluate 9-10 If you can’t get in the courses you need to graduate: Act right away and look for a creative solution Find other classes that are still open that meet the same requirement Speak with your advisor and with the course instructor Consider taking a required course at another college, perhaps online (make sure it will transfer) LO 9.2

Choosing Your Courses, Major – Rethink 9-11 Learning what you love and loving what you learn Set aside time each month to determine if you are satisfied with the direction your college career is going in Don’t accept dissatisfaction LO 9.2

Service Learning 9-12 Engage in community service activities and get college credit Tutoring elementary students Volunteer at a halfway house Volunteer as a “big brother” or “big sister” Intern in a government office LO 9.3

Service Learning Make the most of your experience Ask questions 9-13 Make the most of your experience Ask questions Maintain a positive outlook Go with the flow Keep your commitments Keep a journal LO 9.3

Choosing Your Major 9-14 It’s okay not to know right away what you want to major in Taking a variety of classes may help you decide where your interests are Focus on your interests Seek the help of others – your advisor, the career center, or other students A double major or creating your own major may be an option Remember that learning is life-long – choosing a major does not shut out other options down the road LO 9.4

Accepting Responsibility 9-15 Celebrate successes and accept responsibility for failures Learn from your mistakes Reflect on what went wrong, don’t spend time and energy blaming yourself or others Seek ways to prevent a negative outcome in the future LO 9.4