As a freshman, it can be incredibly overwhelming to see all of the classes you’ll have to take to complete your major. You may wonder how you’re possibly going to be able to fit all of these classes into your four years here at Cedarville. Luckily, Cedarville’s Student Planning program allows you to go through your major and plan out ahead of time when you’ll be taking all of your required classes. I recommend watching some of the helpful videos on Cedarville’s registration page to learn more about how to use this important tool.
To help you on your journey, here are some of my dos and don’ts for creating a four-year plan you can be confident in.
DO Talk to Your Advisor
The Office of the Registrar schedules your first semester of classes for you, but your first week on campus you will be able to meet with your advisor to make any changes before classes start.
Your advisor is here to help you. They are from your department (if you have declared a major), so they know a lot about the classes you’ll be required to take and may even teach a few of them. If you have questions about your plan or registering for classes or a problem comes up while you’re planning, don’t be afraid to schedule a meeting with them.
Even if your advisor doesn’t have the answers to specific questions, such as whether a certain class will be available in a certain semester or how much homework a certain professor gives, they will know the people you can contact to get the answers. I would recommend meeting with your advisor at least once a semester to make sure everything is lining up well and you are on the right track to graduate.
DON’T Be Completely Committed to the First Draft of Your Plan
Your plans can change, and that’s okay! If two classes overlap in timing or you think the workload will be too heavy, you might have to change your schedule and move a certain course to a different semester. Sometimes, classes that were available during in a certain semester in your freshman year may have changed by the time you are an upperclassman. Being flexible with your course schedule will really help you avoid stress, especially with things like class times that are completely out of your control.
DO Talk to Upperclassmen
Your advisor is an incredible resource, but no one can tell you what taking a class is actually like better than students who have taken it before. It’s never a bad idea to grab lunch or coffee with an upperclassman in your major who has taken these courses and can give you lots of behind-the-scenes advice.
For example, you might look at your plan and think you can handle the course load only to find out that you’ve packed your schedule with the most work-heavy courses and the most rigorous professors. Rather than finding that out the hard way, you can ask an upperclassman for advice on what classes to take at the same time, what professors to sign up for, and even how you can prepare for the harder classes in your major. If you don’t know any upperclassmen in your major, talk to your advisor or your professors. They would be more than happy to connect you with trusted upperclassmen who can give you some advice.
DON’T Stress!
Don’t stress! This is obviously something that’s easier said than done. It may be overwhelming to log into the My Progress section and see all the classes you’ll have to take, not to mention the types of classes you’ll be taking when you’re further along in your major. But by the time those final projects and senior classes roll along, you’ll be ready for them! So don’t stress about the future. Put everything in God’s hands, prepare as best you can, and take your classes one step at a time.
DO Pray!
Our God is such a loving God that He cares about even the smallest things in our lives. If you’re wrestling with what classes to take, it is the perfect request to bring to Him. In Philippians 4:6–7, Paul advises the Church, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (ESV). Nothing is too small to take to Him, not even something as seemingly inconsequential as which professor to take for a class. You may be surprised at how much more peace you feel over your classes and future once you have talked to God.
Major and Year of Graduation: English, Class of 2027
Favorite Study Spot: The upper floor of the library by the window
Favorite Music Artist: Alec Benjamin, Taylor Swift, For King and Country
Favorite Quote: “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you” — Maya Angelou
What do You Like to do in Your Free Time? Reading, writing, taking walks in nature, listening to audiobooks
Favorite Bible Verse: Micah 7:7
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