Course Selection

Hey, guys!

Today I would like to discuss the actual course selection and all of the little nuances you might want to encounter. Before I go on to suggest you anything, though, I've posted my own schedule here, as well as a little explanation to it underneath:

So, the first picture is my 1st semester schedule, and the 2nd - is the second semester. Starting off from the 1st semester, you can see I have freed up my entire Tuesday. Now, I did that for a few reasons:
1. Studying
2. Clubs, Extracurriculars and Volunteering
3. Part-Time Job
A little into my first year, I'll post a schedule of how I'll study and work around my huge gaps in between classes. My only reason for that as of now, is that the breaks are the optimal size for me not to go back home (I live 15 mins off campus on bus) and procrastinate, but rather spend all this time studying on campus. I can also fit my club meetings in there.
Thursday is going to be my longest day, partly because of the lecture from 7-10. I'm not to worried for Thursday, though, because Wednesday and Friday are relaxed, and I won't be very exhausted.
By the way, my courses for the 1st semester are:
Chemistry
Biology
Physics
Psychology
Health, Aging, and Society (for my minor)
Speaking of the 2nd semester, it is a little bit more packed due to math appearing 4 times during the week. Other than that, you already know what I'll do with my breaks ;)
I also have that long class again, but on Thursday I won't have to wake up early at all.
My courses are:
Calculus
Biology
Chemistry
Neuroscience
Introduction to Health Studies (for my minor)
P.S. I will take the second portion of my Physics class in my 2nd year, since it's important to have a full year of physics with lab for the MCAT, but I needed to take the Intro to Health for my minor in my first year.
P.S. I really recommend making a visual schedule like I did, but don't forget to include the location and the name of the prof!
Okay, now I can go on to tips while selecting the courses:

1. Plan Way Ahead

Your university has a list of all courses available for you major. But in some universities, you can't choose your major until the 2nd year.
Make a list of all courses required and the list of your potential electives throughout your university career. Even if you won't stick to all of it, you will have a guideline for the 1st year subject selection.
The goal is to learn about what prerequisites are needed for some subjects, and what can you fulfil in your 1st year.
For example, I want to take a Homeostasis course in my 3rd year, but in order to do that, I need Cell Biology in my 2nd year, and I need to take Cellular and Molecular Bio in my 1st year to take it.
As you can see, I am planning backwards!

2. Know Your Productive Time

All of us should learn when our most productive time of the day and even day of the week is. In order to know that, you can just spend a few weeks tracking your energy levels onto a piece of paper and then, structure it in a form of a graph to have a visual of your most productive time. Now, the idea is that you have to schedule your most important or hardest subjects during that time period, just so you will have the capacity to learn the course to the best of your ability.

3. Optimal Spacing

So, many people hate spaces in between their classes, and that's fine as long as you know what you're gonna do with all of the time off. Knowing myself, I have to make those spaces larger for work, extracurriculars, clubs, and of course studying. Chances are, I will stay on campus during my breaks, because I hate busses too much to go back home. My aim is to be as productive as I can this year.

4. Ratemyprofessor.com

I heard that Ratemyprofessor.com is a useful tool to learn about your future/potential prof. Don't look at the rate only though. Also look at the descriptions to see if you might or might not be tolerant to certain aspects of his/her teaching.

5. Not Too Easy, Not Too Hard

If you have electives, don't go for the easiest ones, and don't go for the hardest either. I was deciding between Discover Immunology Today (super easy, seminar-like course with no exam), and Neuroscience (enough said ;D) and I chose Neuroscience because Immunology is not a prerequisite for anything in my upper years, and I'd rather choose a course which will let me take advanced courses in that field.


The best of luck!!