Student Blog: Beating the Stress of Choosing Classes

Hello!

During my time in college, I have taken several general education classes; I loved some of them, but there were some that I really hated. Here are some of my tips for choosing your classes, and how to get through those that you're not looking forward to.

First and foremost: try to figure out if any of your classes are offered during one specific time of year. There were instances where I was looking forward to taking a class in the fall, only to find out it wouldn't be running until the spring. In my experience, this kind of information is hard to find online, but if you talk with a professor about a class you are interested in, you'll probably have better luck getting the information that you need.

Another thing to consider is online classes! I personally found online classes to very useful when I was taking my gen-eds. I could work at my own pace, and I didn't have to walk around so much on campus. On the flip side, I had friends who preferred in-person classes much more, because they could talk face-to-face with a professor, and didn't have to worry about adapting to the technology. Research the pros and cons of each, and try to gain perspectives from other students if possible, in order to decide what type of classes will be best for you!

There are plenty of reasons that you may not like a class: maybe you have always struggled with the subject, you don't know anyone in the class, or you don't like the way the course is organized. For reference, my least favorite class was Psychology. I think it is a highly interesting subject, but I just could not keep up with the way the material was presented. For example, I had never used the APA format used in the class. I also didn't know any of my classmates.

The first thing I do in a situation like this is to find a study buddy. These classes tend to go more smoothly if you have someone to study with, even if you don't end up keeping in touch after the semester. Chances are, if you're looking for a study buddy, someone else is looking for one too. You can give each other feedback on work, or hold each other accountable in regards to deadlines. Maintaining contact with classmates is especially helpful in an online class, for those who don't know how to navigate the software required.

In my psychology class, I made a friend who was able to help me understand APA format, and in return I gave them feedback on essays. It ultimately helped me get through the class without too much stress.

Most importantly, just remember that there are people who are there to help you if you look in the right places. You are given advisors you can go to, but they don't have to be the only people you seek advice from. There are plenty of professors, or even other students, who will be happy to help you create plans for your classes, and back up plans if things go wrong. I wish everyone good luck in getting their preferred classes when classes start back up!

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