Planning for semester equals success

By Staff

It’s that time of year again when students start lining up outside professors’ offices to sign up for advisement. If this doesn’t sound like something you are doing, then you are already behind.

Though it may seem early, after midterms every semester, students need to set up times to meet with their advisors to start planning classes for next semester.

It’s really important to have a plan from the beginning. Even freshmen should have a general idea about their future college careers. If you go in to your first advisement knowing what you want your major to be, then it will make the next four to five years easier to plan for. If you still aren’t sure what you want to major in, then make sure to take general education classes that can apply to any degree. Make a goal to have a major chosen before you start your sophomore year. If you wait any longer than that, you may run into issues some seniors are facing now…they hoped to graduate this semester and suddenly there is a class or two they still need.

Also, start thinking about your financial situation. Is all your financial aid set for next semester? You can use the Banner system to check your financial aid status to make sure you have everything prepared for the upcoming semester. You can also use Banner to check if you still owe anything on this semester’s bill, any holds on your account and to find out who your advisor is.

Think ahead, sit down and plan out every class that you can and when you think you want to take them, then meet with your advisor to make sure you have everything straight. That’s what they are there for: to advise you. Oh, and to give you your PIN so you can register for those classes you want to take.