Showing up to class and doing the coursework is only ½ of the struggle when it comes to college. Actually choosing which classes to take and when to take them makes up the rest of it. Once you enter college, you are essentially getting the opportunity to customize your education path and pick your own schedule, so use this to your advantage! The following are some tips for ensuring that you have the best schedule for your lifestyle:

  1. Don’t go with the 8AM class. No matter how motivated you feel at the time, there is going to come a point where you stop showing up to such an early class. In college, no matter how focused you are, there are likely to be outside distractions after hours. Try picking classes that start no earlier than 10AM so you will be sure to have time to prepare.
  1. If you know that you have to take certain classes to fulfil your major, get them out of the way first. Taking a majority of required classes plus one or two “fun” classes will make your college career much easier on you. Nobody likes having to take a million math classes in their final semester just to catch up.
  1. Separate from your friends. While knowing people in class can be a great thing, choosing a class simply because your friend has chosen it can lead to distractions. If you are too familiar with your surroundings, you are going to be more likely to slack off. Stay alert, and keep your friend group on the side for socialization after class.
  1. Try to give yourself enough time in between classes. If you want to load up your entire day, make sure that you aren’t leaving yourself with only 10 minutes in between. This will wear you out and you might even not have time to grab a bite to eat. Stay fueled and nourished, because without your health, you won’t be able to make it to class in the first place.
  1. If you have an adviser, visit them! That is what they are meant for, and they can provide you with insight or scheduling tips that you may have never thought of on your own. If you have a basic idea of the classes you want to take, your adviser will be able to lay this out for you in a schedule.
  2. When registration comes around, be early! There is nothing worse than having your schedule all planned out but not being able to get into the classes you need. Having all of the information that you need ahead of time is going to give you a head start in the semester.