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It is near the end of the semester, which means that the course guide has been released. Some people rejoice, while others sulk and lament about picking out classes for the upcoming semester. Picking out classes does not have to be strenuous. In fact, the process can be enjoyable if you keep these tips in mind. 

The first major tip that is often overlooked is to capitalize on when you naturally have the most energy. Some people work best during the first half of the day, while others work best during the second half. Knowing when you are most productive is essential because you can maximize your productivity. If you are absolutely not a morning person, a class before noon may not be for you. Keeping this in mind is helpful, yet it is not always feasible to only take classes during a certain time frame. If possible, scheduling more challenging classes during peak productivity hours may be more beneficial and more conducive to your schedule. 

Another aspect that is often overlooked when picking out classes is time outside of class. First-year students will have a lot on their plate. Daily life can include making time for exploring campus, joining organizations, tidying space, doing homework, eating, staying active, and building and nurturing relationships. Considering this, it may not be best to load up your class schedule with every class possible. It is crucial to find a balance between school and life. Remember that in addition to engaging in required activities on campus, you will also want to do things you enjoy. Finding this balance will help ease the transition and make the college experience more enjoyable.

When perusing the course guide, take your time! Read into classes that pique your interest and do not be afraid to enroll in classes that are not directly related to your major or concentration. The College of Literature, Science, and the Arts offers more than 3,000 courses. This may sound overwhelming, but the course guide allows for filtering options. Reading class descriptions can help you gain a feel for a class and its requirements. If a class seems interesting, look into it more! Taking some courses that are not concentrated on your major can be helpful, as they can serve as an academic break. If you are unsure of what to expect from a class, reaching out to the professor is always worthwhile.

The final, and possibly most important, piece of advice for configuring a schedule is to get help! Help with scheduling can come in a variety of forms. The university has countless ways to support you, especially when it comes to scheduling and signing up for classes. Reaching out to an older student or an advisor for guidance, as well as using university services such as Atlas, always makes the process easier. Advisors and upperclassmen can guide from experience, but Atlas can guide with statistics. Atlas is a platform through which you can create a mock schedule, learn more about previous semesters of the class, and learn about the demographics and predicted workload of the class. Getting help can clear up any confusion or answer any questions that may arise throughout the process.

Implementing these tips is not required. However, they will make the process more straightforward. Knowing yourself, knowing your options, and knowing where to go for help are the cornerstones of simplifying the process of registering for classes. If you do not enjoy your classes or accidentally enroll in the wrong class, the deadline to add or drop classes is typically about a month after they begin. This way, ample time is allotted to curate the perfect schedule for you.