© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Chapter 9 Choosing Your Courses and Major

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Today’s Class-You will need: Degree Audit Academic Planner Paper/pen

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. P.O.W.E.R. Plan Prepare: Prepare: Become familiar with your options and requirements Organize: Organize: Examine what you have done and what you need to do Work: Work: Choose the next term’s courses Evaluate: Evaluate: Decide whether you are in the classes you need Rethink: Rethink: Learn what you love and like what you learn

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Prepare Become familiar with your college catalog Academic Regulations GPA (Grade Point Average) Academic Programs Core Major field of study Transfer information for 2-year programs

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Catalog Articulation Agreements Course Listings Schedule Provides information for course offerings including instructor, days and times Prepare

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. College Advisor Important to meet with advisor Be prepared for meeting Advisor provides students with advice about their academic careers Two-year college advisors can help students with transfer information

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Organize Examine courses you have completed Examine courses needed to graduate Obtain copy of transcript from Registrar Graduation grades may be different from grade needed in major field

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Course Requirements Create a List Prerequisite requirements Credits required and completed Required courses Credits required and completed A list can be created online at

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Work: Choose Your Courses List required courses first Draft a schedule for next semester Choose electives Balance course load

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. How to Choose the Right Course Ask Instructors for Information Talk to Classmates Review Previous Course Syllabi Meet Potential Instructors Register for Courses Early

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Evaluate Check your Degree Plan to be sure you are in the Right Courses Are the Times and Days Correct? Are you Registered for Enough Credits?

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. If you choose to drop a course, be sure you drop it officially and do not just stop attending class.

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Desperate Measures to Meet Graduation Requirements Identify classes needed Talk with advisor Speak with individual instructors Consider distance learning courses

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Service-Learning Ask questions Maintain positive outlook Go with the flow Keep commitments Discuss concerns with supervisor Keep journal

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Choose Your Major Explore catalog Try It #6 Assess your personal style Check characteristics that apply Determine possible fields of study

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Your Major Indecision is acceptable Focus on your interests Consider a double-major Education is lifelong Take an aptitude test (see testing center)

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. PREPARE ORGANIZE WORK EVALUATE RETHINK Become familiar with your options and requirements Examine what you have done and what you need to do Choose the next term’s courses Decide whether you are in the classes you need Learn what you love and like what you learn P.O.W.E.R. Plan

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Career Connections Narrow your career goals by becoming aware of your likes and dislikes.

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Resources Guide to College Majors That Work by Michael Viollt (Octameron Associates, 2004) What Color Is Your Parachute (Ten Speed Press, 2005)

© 2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Homework Read Chapter 12