If you’re an incoming freshman, you’ll be picking your classes in the fall, and if you are, well, anything other than that, you can still go through add/drop/swap when you come back! When I got to campus last semester, I felt prepared; I had done all of my research on the classes that were offered and had picked the perfect schedule for a pre-med student, but things didn’t go as planned. Yes, I got all of my classes, but no, I didn’t like all of them. I got into the coveted chemistry class, an intermediate economics course, QTM, and a 300-level psychology. Although I was excited and felt like I was on the right track, I ended up hating chemistry from the getgo, but I refused to drop it because I was pre-med. But look at me now, I’ve switched my major from pre-med/biology to pre-law/history&English. So here are the five things that I wish I had known when I picked my classes and during the add/drop/swap period!
- If you’re not feeling it, quit it!!
It’s very likely that within your first week, right before the add/drop/swap period, you’ll think “, I already hate this” about a class or will ’s too much work, aka 50 pages of reading in between each class. If that’s the case, drop it!! You don’t want to in a class that bores you or that you hate because you just won’t do as well and won’t be motivated. Had I dropped chemistry, my GPA would be a lot higher than it is, because I just didn’t care about the class.
- It’s okay to change your major!
Many students go college knowing what they want to major in, which is fine, just like it’s to have no idea what you want to do with their lives. But you have to remember that it’s also okay to come in with a major in your head and to change your mind. Like I said before, I in and now I’m pre-law, and that’s because your experiences and your classes will change you! I got an internship at a law firm, which made me change my track to pre-law, and I took an amazing English class with Quarmby which made me want to major in English. You will change and what you want out of college will also change.
- Choose classes you’re interested in, not because they’re required.
I understand that you might need certain classes, especially if you’re pre-med or pre-business, but make sure to take classes that you enjoy. Even if two of your classes are requirements and you aren’t super excited about them, make sure that the rest of them are ones that you’ll love, whether it’s a professor that like or a topic that you’re interested in, like Shakespeare or Art, for example. Having balance between harder classes and classes that you love will make it easier for you to study and to get through the day!
- If you don’t get into a class, email the professor.
It happens, sometimes classes fill and you just can’t get in, and sometimes there isn’t even a waitlist! But if you love the professor or the course, or if you need it, email them or to them. It can’t hurt to have a conversation with the who might suggest that you take it the next semester or that you take a different course, either taught by him or about a similar topic. And if the professor is feeling extra generous, or knows he/she has an extra spot or that some students usually drop, he/she might offer you a spot !
- Freshman drop exists for a reason, don’t forget about it!
Many students are worried that they shouldn’t use their freshman drop because it’ll look back, but having a C in that class looks even worse! Don’t forget that it exists and it’s there to help you out, not to punish you, so take advantage of it if you’re struggling in one of your classes. You only have one, so don’t use it for no reason, but keep it in the back of your head.