Syd Speaks: Navigating Your Schedule

Sydney Barber

Staff Writer

Dis­claimer: Syd Speaks is a stu­dent run col­umn and is in no way pro­fes­sional ad­vice, this is just for fun! If you or some­one you know is strug­gling, con­tact our on cam­pus di­rec­tor of coun­sel­ing ser­vices at msil­vestri@as­sump­tion.edu. Take care of your­self.

Dear Syd,

I didn’t get into the classes I wanted for next semester and it’s really stressing me out!! What do I do and how can I plan better for next time?

~Anonymous

Dear sweet reader,

Ahh yes, the stress of a new semester is upon us and we’re all feeling overwhelmed about it. When it comes to course selections, the best thing you can do for next time is to add any class that you could possibly take to your course plan. Whether that be pre-requisites and core classes for my underclassmen, or electives for my upperclassmen, the more courses added to your course plan, the better!

I’d like to provide a quick overview of what may very realistically happen at 7am on the day of your course selection. It is very possible that you will set an alarm in enough time to get to your computer to register, but it is also very possible that you’ll sleep through that alarm and then scramble to register for your classes (I myself have done this 4/7 times I’ve registered for classes).

It is also quite possible that you’ll register and the classes you planned to take now have a waitlist… but this is exactly why you plan as many courses as possible because sometimes we have to expect the unexpected. Don’t let that discourage you though. The course you need will be offered again in the coming semesters… and even if you sleep through your registration, there are still classes to take!

However, if you’re unable to add 10 courses to your plan due to courses not being offered or time constraints, your advisor is there to help you create a schedule that will fulfill requirements and ease some stress. Use your advisor to your advantage during course selection seasons, especially because they are excited to help you and want to see you succeed, so don’t be afraid to reach out! They are also a vital tool right now to help ease your stress and find some alternatives to fill the gaps in your schedule.

All I can say is that course selection and advising season can be really nerve-racking, but what is meant to be will be. Trust the process and remember that even when things don’t go to plan, great things can still come from it. Some of my favorite classes I’ve taken, I only took because there were waitlists or no other classes I needed were being offered! Everything will work out!

Just make sure you set multiple alarms 😉

Take care of yourselves,

~S<3