Why are you taking the course?
- Is the course required for your pre-major or major? Is it a prerequisite to a required pre-major or major course? Review the information in this manual; visit the website of your major department; or contact the department to find out.
- Does the course meet a general education requirement?
- Is the course an elective?
- Is the course part of a sequence, and will you be able to proceed through the sequence in a timely way?
Are you eligible to take the course?
- Check prerequisites and restrictions in the Course Catalog/CourseBulletin. The web registration system—Buckeye Link—does not always check for prerequisites or restrictions; you are responsible for making sure you are eligible to take a course.
- Do you need instructor permission? Please contact the instructor for permission to enroll or see your Academic Advisor in the Student Services Center.
Course-specific issues
- Content: What is the focus of the course? Is this an easy or difficult subject matter for you? • How is course content presented—large lecture? Small discussion groups?
- How will your work be evaluated—midterms and final only? Papers? Projects? Group work? You can get this information by obtaining a copy of the syllabus from the department offering the course or by checking the department’s website to see if the syllabus is posted there.
- What are your time commitments for the upcoming quarter? • How much time will you be able to devote to class preparation and attendance?
- What are your other obligations—employment, extracurricular activities, family responsibilities, internships, sports and recreation, social activities?
How will you balance your schedule?
- If your degree plan permits, schedule a combination of GEC courses, major courses, and electives.
- Balance the types of courses—does the course require a great deal of reading and/or writing, memorization of material, frequent homework, laboratory work?
- Try to take a variety of courses each quarter.
- Balance courses that you know will be difficult with courses that will be easier for you.
- Balance courses in which you have great interest with those in which you have less interest.
Other considerations
- Do you need to concentrate on raising your GPA? If so, plan to take courses in which you expect to do well.
- Is it important to establish a relationship with a faculty member in order to get a recommendation in the future, or to do an independent study? If so, plan on taking a course or courses from a faculty member in your interest area.
- Check to see whether there are any holds or negative service indicators on your account. Resolve them before your enrollment appointment begins. If you do not have holds removed, you cannot schedule classes.