Right before Thanksgiving break, students choose classes for next semester. On Spire, you are given a time slot when you are available to enroll. This time is randomized, but varies depending on what year you are in and how many credits you have taken. Prior to actually enrolling in the classes, you are able to add them to your “shopping cart.” People do this to organize what classes they want to take so that, in the event they are unable to take a class they wanted, they have an back-up at hand to sign up for instead. It can be stressful figuring out what to take, especially if you’re an underclassman or if you have too many classes that you want to take in your "shopping cart."

Here are the three things I use to decide what classes I'll take (in order of importance):

1. What I need for my major

I primarily take classes for my double major (in other words, fewer electives). When organizing my course load for upcoming semesters, the first thing I plan is the classes I will need to meet the requirement for these majors. I take about five classes a semester, so I devote at least 3 of them to my majors. This way, my workload isn’t unbearably heavy and I still have spaces to fulfill other credits I must complete, all while still earning credits towards my degree.

2. What other outstanding credits I have

Each of the nine colleges have individual requirement needed for graduation. For example, the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) has a Global Education requirement that requires 15 credits of a language and its correlating area of study. I’m in the process of fulfilling these requirements, so I take one class that covers the credit I need for it. I also have gen-ed credits that I haven’t finished, so I usually devote one class to a gen-ed per semester. 

3. Time of the course

As I’ve said in my other posts, I’m really not a morning person. I figured that out the hard way this semester by taking an 8:30 math class. So I chose my classes for the second semester to start no earlier than 10 a.m. because I focus better when I’m well rested and have been awake for a few hours. The actual time of a class itself shouldn’t ultimately determine whether you take it, but you also shouldn’t take a class if you’re going to dread going to it, or, even worse, not go because of what time it meets).

If you have any questions whatsoever, each department is full of friendly advisors and peer-advisors that you can meet with during office hours or by appointment. The advisors know all the credits required to take by the department, so they will advise what they suggest for your course load. Don’t be afraid to go to them if you need help. They’re here for us!