A Guide for Choosing Classes
February Fortescue
January 2020
Class sign ups for the Spring Term will begin in a little over two weeks: February 1st. The easy part is looking through that huge and wonderful list of classes and creating a list of the ones you'd like to sign up for. The challenge is narrowing down your options to a select few choices, because you can't take them all! Here are some tips which might help:
First, how many classes are you wanting and needing to sign up for? You need to pass two classes/earn two quills in order to advance to the next year. If you earned a quill in the Autumn Term, you are only required to earn one quill in the Spring Term. You are allowed to sign up for a maximum of five classes, however.
Second, look over the classes on offer and make a list of the ones that interest you. No doubt several will stand out. If you're like me, many more than five classes will appeal to you. More like twenty.
Third, going from your list, visit the website of each class and take a look at the assignments, project and/or final (if either are offered). Are these assignments you would actually see yourself completing?
Fourth, look at the homepage/syllabus. What is required in order to pass the class and earn a quill? Do you have to earn a certain number of points and/or complete the final? If so, and after looking at the assignments and final, you don't believe you would do the work, then this might be a class you'd want to cross off your list. If you really like the assignments and/or requirements, you may want to move this class higher in your list of choices. Maybe you'd like a mix of easy classes and more challenging ones?
Fifth, look at the due dates of the class. Some classes have assignments where each is due at the end of its respective month, while other classes have everything due by end of the term. This may affect your decision. Maybe you enjoy the monthly due dates because it helps keep you on track. Maybe you prefer classes where everything is due by end of the term because you can turn in the assignments on your own schedule, as long as it's not after the due date. Maybe you'd like a mix of the two?
Sixth, if your list is still too long, I can think of one more criteria: How often does the Professor/Student Teacher grade homework? To me, this is never a deal-breaker, because you will receive your hard-earned points, but those who teach classes have until just after the end of the term to submit all points and award quills, and many choose to grade all of their assignments and submit points at this time. Others submit points at various times throughout the term, while yet others submit points on a more monthly basis. If this is very important to you, it might help you in narrowing down your list. Keep in mind, however, that a Professor/Student Teacher may change their grading habits, which is their prerogative.
Good luck with choosing your classes, and I wish you a successful Spring Term!
Class sign ups for the Spring Term will begin in a little over two weeks: February 1st. The easy part is looking through that huge and wonderful list of classes and creating a list of the ones you'd like to sign up for. The challenge is narrowing down your options to a select few choices, because you can't take them all! Here are some tips which might help:
First, how many classes are you wanting and needing to sign up for? You need to pass two classes/earn two quills in order to advance to the next year. If you earned a quill in the Autumn Term, you are only required to earn one quill in the Spring Term. You are allowed to sign up for a maximum of five classes, however.
Second, look over the classes on offer and make a list of the ones that interest you. No doubt several will stand out. If you're like me, many more than five classes will appeal to you. More like twenty.
Third, going from your list, visit the website of each class and take a look at the assignments, project and/or final (if either are offered). Are these assignments you would actually see yourself completing?
Fourth, look at the homepage/syllabus. What is required in order to pass the class and earn a quill? Do you have to earn a certain number of points and/or complete the final? If so, and after looking at the assignments and final, you don't believe you would do the work, then this might be a class you'd want to cross off your list. If you really like the assignments and/or requirements, you may want to move this class higher in your list of choices. Maybe you'd like a mix of easy classes and more challenging ones?
Fifth, look at the due dates of the class. Some classes have assignments where each is due at the end of its respective month, while other classes have everything due by end of the term. This may affect your decision. Maybe you enjoy the monthly due dates because it helps keep you on track. Maybe you prefer classes where everything is due by end of the term because you can turn in the assignments on your own schedule, as long as it's not after the due date. Maybe you'd like a mix of the two?
Sixth, if your list is still too long, I can think of one more criteria: How often does the Professor/Student Teacher grade homework? To me, this is never a deal-breaker, because you will receive your hard-earned points, but those who teach classes have until just after the end of the term to submit all points and award quills, and many choose to grade all of their assignments and submit points at this time. Others submit points at various times throughout the term, while yet others submit points on a more monthly basis. If this is very important to you, it might help you in narrowing down your list. Keep in mind, however, that a Professor/Student Teacher may change their grading habits, which is their prerogative.
Good luck with choosing your classes, and I wish you a successful Spring Term!