1. Presented by The GSC Peer Mentors
Smart Scheduling
Presented by The GSC Peer Mentors

2. Agenda/Topics to Be Covered
Meet with an Advisor and create a path for success to your degree
Consider alternatives such as CLEP and internships for college credit
Pick classes on times and days that fit your schedule
Choose classes that complement each other
Balance classes based on your personal strengths and weaknesses
Take program related and general education classes first
Take personal interest and elective based classes last
Know when your priority registration begins

3. Meet with an Advisor to create a path to success!
Advisors are trained in program requirements, career outlooks, and other important information concerning academic and professional development
Advisors can help to determine what classes you need based on your individual program choice
Advisors can help to make sure you take classes in a logical order
Meeting with an advisor will help to avoid taking unnecessary classes that waste time and money
Checking Online Services VIA the RVC website and doing a Program Evaluation will help you to understand what classes you still need to take in order to complete your program

4. Consider CLEP and College Internships for College Credit
Make sure to send any AP Exam scores to Records and Registration to see if you can get College Credit or advanced placement
College Level Examination Program or CLEP allows you to test out of subjects you already know without effecting your GPA CLEP can save both time and money helping to earn your degree faster
Rock Valley College offers unpaid and paid internships on campus and in the community that earn college credits
Internships offer students a chance to gain experience and build their resume as well as earning college credit
Internships give students a chance to see how things really work in their chosen field before committing to years of education in a field that may not be what you think it is
Career Services and Advising on the 2nd floor in the Student Center hosts job fairs and resume workshops

5. Pick classes on times and days that fit your schedule
Everyone has different responsibilities and obligations, Rock Valley College offers many options regarding days and times for most classes, so, pick days and times that fit your lifestyle
Try to avoid large gaps between classes, this can make it tempting to leave campus and not come back
Don’t overload yourself, taking all your classes on Monday/ Wednesday may seem like it will save you time; however, assignments and exams will be due at the same time and you may end up spending your whole week studying and doing homework
Allow time in your schedule for campus clubs or events, studies show that becoming engaged in school activities outside of class improve your grades, and help you to become invested in your school

6. Choose classes that complement each other
Pairing classes that have similar or complementary material can be beneficial and help you to understand complex ideas and concepts
Classes like History and Humanities go well with each other Psychology, Sociology, and Political Science Pair well with Inferential Statistics, Speech and English, Biology and Algebra and on and on
Choosing a variety of classes with common or complementary concepts helps to reduce time studying and stress

7. Balance your schedule based on your personal strengths and weaknesses
Every person has individual strengths and weaknesses
Be aware of what you are good at, and schedule classes that are easier for you along with more challenging subjects
Balancing your workload in this way eases stress and makes it easier to commit the time and energy to face more difficult courses with confidence
Avoid taking classes that are all in the same field of study, for example taking 4 math classes in one semester
Choosing a variety of classes helps to keep students engaged and interested which promotes better results in all of your classes

8. Take program related and general education classes first
Be aware that certain programs may not offer all classes and section every semester, meeting with an Advisor can help you to understand what classes are available in any given semester
By taking required classes and general educations classes first you are building a strong foundation for future classes
Taking English 101/103 and Speech 131 as soon as possible make writing term papers and giving presentations in others classes much easier
Taking these classes first helps to ensure that you don’t have to wait an extra semester to take a class you need to graduate or transfer
Math classes especially those related to engineering programs must be taken in a specific order and fill up fast make sure to speak to an Advisor to ensure you’re on the right track

9. Take personal interest and elective classes last
Electives and personal interest classes should be chosen last to break up more difficult courses and help to fill in gaps in your schedule
This is your opportunity to choose classes that interest you and benefit you personally
Typically it is easier to find electives

10. Know when your priority registration begins
Fall 2017 Registration Dates
Students with 32 or more credit hours earned get priority registration April 9th at 9pm
Students with credit hours earned can begin registering April 10th at 9pm
Currently enrolled students with less than 16 credit hours earned can begin registering April 11th at 9pm
Open registration has no credit hour requirements and begins April 12th at 9pm
Avoid registering for waitlisted classes
Pay attention to classes with low enrollment
Payment for the Fall Semester is due by July 19th 2017 students who have not made a payment plan by July 20th will be dropped from all enrollments

11. The Getting Started Center
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