LEH250 Course Registration Activity

Scrumptious Scheduler

LEH 250 Spring Registration Check-list

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Warmest Regards, August

It's time for you to cook up a balanced, nutritous, and absolutely bussin' course schedule for the spring semester. Complete the activities and answer the questions to be extra sure you have included all the ingredients for a high-quality, well-seasoned semester (and also get 20 pts)

Start by checking the note on the fridge

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Go to the "Student Center". Check the "Tasks and Holds". If you have holds, it will indicate what they are here.

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To check if you have any registration holds , log in to CUNYFirst.

Recipe

1 Cup of CUNYFirst

4-5 Courses (to taste)

1 Homemade(ish) schedule

A Schedule Builder bias

Next, go into the cabinet to select your courses

Info

How many credits will you register for?

Crunching Numbers

Also consider the difficulty of the course AND your comfort/ease with the subject area when thinking about workload

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A lighter load with a delayed graduation date is better than a heavier load where you burnout and get poor grades

• 15 in the fall and spring is "average"
• 12 required to remain a "full time" student (for financial aid)
• With summer and/or winter classes, you can graduate in 4 years without taking 15 every regular semester

No matter the number of credits you want to take, make sure you are realistic and honest with yourself about the workload you can comfortably take on

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Find Your Major's Prerequisites Here

General Eduaction Requirements

Contextualize your topic with a subtitle

Prioritize pre-requisites and general education requirements this term

Eat Your Veggies Before Dessert

I bet you there's some fantastic sweet treats in the freezer...

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• Not required for your major
• Not in the "Required Core"of the general education
• The "Flexible Core" classes are a excellent place to start for this list
• However, you can choose other classes too that aren't on this list

Double Majors and Minors

• All sections of your preferred class fill up
• There's open class sections but they overlap with a required class that you need
• Or maybe the open sections are just at undesirable or inconvenient times

You can have your preferred classes at the top of the list, however, you can start moving down the list in these cases:

Use your list to create flexibility in your schedule

Generate a list of classes that are...

Use the flexibility of elective classes to keep yourself on track (and then some?)

Let your eyes be bigger than your stomach

Recipe

1 Cup of CUNYFirst

4-5 Courses (to taste)

1 Homemade(ish) schedule

A Schedule Builder bias

..........has the oven been IN FLAMES the entire time...? I guess we should handle that next?

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POP QUIZ!

00:15

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Thoughts and advice on the preferences on the last question

This part is very personal and situational, so I won't tell you what to do. But I do have thoughts/advice from my own experience, talking with friends, and from looking online to support y'all! So I hope this helps

Recipe

I Cup of CUNYFirst

4-5 Courses (to taste)

1 Homemade(ish) schedule

A Schedule Builder bias

Next

But first, please navigate to one last quiz-type screen so you can get a report of your reponses. Click the next button.

Lovely. The blaze died down and we are almost done! Now, you just need to set up your ScheduleBuilder favorite so you're ready to register on Nov. 15th.

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Wow you made it? How very cash money of you.

Let's go ahead and close down the kitchen by finally having a bit of tea (dealer's choice) and powering down the tea pot

Great! Now you have your report to show that you completed this lil tutorial.

Recipe

1 Cup of CUNYFirst

4-5 Courses (to taste)

1 Homemade(ish) schedule

A Schedule Builder fav

Schedule Builder Guide

All Done!

Looks like we cooked up some.....knowledge? Friendship? A little joy? I dunno man.

(from: https://www.collegegirlsmarts.com/college-class-schedule/)

https://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/majors-and-academics/blog/how-easily-plan-and-register-your-college-courses/

Don't get me wrong; working while a full time college student is taxing. You'll likely end up working long days and staying up late trying to get work done only to say "fuck it" and go to bed when you're only halfway done with an assignment thats due tomorrow. If you work enough part time hours, it'll eventually become clear that you are working longer hours than people in both parts of your public life (school and work). All of this takes a toll. So, why not do all you can to make this a little less painful? I am here to tell you that, while the work will be difficult, making it work is not. It is really just a matter of communicating EXTRA diligentlty with the various supervisors/professors/parents/romantic partners/friends. If you're going to work during college, it becomes even more imporrtnat that you have a meticulous calendar or agenda or schedule or something along those lines AND you are able to clealy, respectfully, and conscientiously communicate any changes or disrutptions or double-bookings with the people who are going to be affected by it. Personally, I was never very good at keeping a schedule/calendar in college. So I definitely had to overcompensate in the communication / social relations department so people didn't hate me for switching shifts with them (again) or for asking for an extension on an assignment. I think both are important, or at least they can be. You just have to decide where you will put your energy! Alright, this half of the page has been all my thouhts, the things on the other half are directly excerpted from a couple of articles online (that are linked), plus one other potentially helpful link that I didn't excerpt out, but its linked right... HERE:

How to Find Balance As A Working Student

If you have a part-time job or any other responsibilities, you’ll need to take those into account when registering for classes so you can tell whoever creates your work schedule that you’ll have some changes coming. The sooner you can alert them to a possible change in your schedule, the better for everyone. Outside of work and other responsibilities, assess how your last term went when deciding how many credits you’re able to take and what courses you think you can handle. If you’re a freshman, most of your courses will be prerequisites, and it should be easier to create a reasonable schedule.

Making it Work

Having a part-time or a full-time job in college can impact, and in some cases limit, your options when it comes to scheduling college classes. For example, if you have a full-time job that revolves around a 9-5 schedule, you may find yourself taking more online classes or classes in the evening after work than the typical college student. Or, if you have a part-time job that has funky hours (like 10-3 one day and then 3-9 the next), you may find it difficult to keep a consistent routine throughout the week. You may find yourself taking morning classes on the days you work 3-9 and then taking early evening classes when you work 10-3. Not having a completely open schedule due to work can also limit your options of which professors you can take courses from. This could potentially result in you taking courses from professors who are not the best fit for you and your learning style. However, at the end of the day, you need to be able to financially support yourself to get through college, so don’t just quit your job to take a course with a specific professor. It’s just not worth it. Instead, see if you can ask your boss to adjust your work schedule or reduce your hours at work. Also look at the reviews on RateMyProfessors.com to help you decide on the best professor who is available when you’re not working for each of your classes.

I don't have too too much advice since unfortunately I was one of the boring hyper-individualist people in college. I hope y'all can be greater than me! I think this is obvious but perhaps just try to do your searching when you and your friend(s) can both physically be on CUNYfirst together (or onZoom too). And perhaps try to align with professors who, from their RateMyProfessor reviews, seem to be okay with continued peer collaboration. You probably won't want to be in a class where a prof would consider your study session cheating! But also, even though I am a big fan of this idea, don't

Turning Student Groups into Effective Teams

Student Guide for Studying Together

Study Group Agenda Template

The Friends We Make Along The Way

I have a feeling there will be mixed advice about whether it is a good idea to try to overlap with friends for your classes. It's whatevs. I think it's a great idea, and I totally support anyone looking to work that angle in their course scheduling! If you've found folks that you work well with and study well with and who can completent and/or enhance your skills, then y'all should ride that as long as everyone is having a good time and benefitting! We typically approach (higher) education in such an individualistic way, so I would be a huge fan of seeing some more collaboration and cooperation!

So I think all I'll provide in terms of advice are some questions that you should consider:

How to Plan the Perfect College Schedule

Don't Take Break Between Classes--Cal Newport

Getting the Timing Right

While, of course, this particular aspect of semester scheduling is going to be more-or-less relevant to everyone, it is also kind of the only one that is hard to give any advice on. For example, right below this paragraph on the right side you'll see a short piece from Cal Newport (y'all know him) and he says don't take a long break between classes, however, in the piece on the left, there is a list of several reasons why they disagree:

• Do you feel like you're more productive in the morning or afternoon?
• Are you in a better mood in the morning or afternoon?
• Do you have other obligations or important routines that you want to/need to respect?
• Would you rather have more classes on fewer days (with some days off during the week) OR shorter days of taking classes everyday?
• Also think about the differing homework/study loads with both of these configurattions
• If you have a far commute, what are the ideal times for you to go to and from Lehman?

A Hefty Collection of short pieces about self-care from our home-skillet: Cal Newport

When it comes to creating your schedule, specifically, self-care and prioritizing wellbeing will likely mean choosing only class times that will work well with the rhythms that your body prefers. That can be later or earlier in the day,but it should work for you! It may also mean ensuring that you're taking classes that all you to have time to eat at your preferred times. And making sure you can exercise when you want. And also leaving enough time to rest (and that doesn't just mean sleep)!

I think it's obvious that refusing to push yourself to meet unreasonably high expecations AND allowing your body-mind to take priority over a packed schedule means that you may not be able to take as many classes as quickly. And it might mean only allowing one of those super brutal, labor intensive courses per semester (or even one per year). This may mean that you graduate later if you choose to do self-care in this particular way. And I want to emphasize that this is not the only way to do self-care while in college. It'll look different for everyone. And some people may not be able to do self care in the way they want at the moment, so that's why we have these two jam-packed pieces so you can adopt the things that work for you and maybe shelf everything else til the time feels right :)

Engaging in a Healthy Lifestyle

Rethinking expectations in academia: How lowering expectations of ourselves and others improves wellbeing

Making a Self-Caring Course Plan

As you'll see in this first reading, "Rethinking expectation s in academia: How loweing expectatoins of ourselves and others improves their wellbeing", self-care has not historically been a part of academia. Honestly, it is more like actively discouraged when you really look at it closely. But I won't get into that (unless you email me asking for more readings cause then I totally will). At the end of the day, we have to live the world we want to see, right? So I, personally, think it is important and inspiring when y'all choose to take care yourselves! And this reading will hopefully convince you that being kinder to yourself in your academic life is a powerful form of self care.

This last set of readings are segments of a textbook that are giving advice for planning your college route, executing the plan, and also helping to bounce back in the case that it get s thrown off!

"Drop Classes Every Semeser " is a 2 page piece that you may remember reading in class, but it's a helpful reminder from Mr. Newport to try to use the Add/Drop period to your benefit so you can be sure you get the exact courses you want. Similarly, the web article "Getting Off the Waitlist" recommends a bit of brown-nosing in the case that you are still stuck on a waitlist by the time the beginning of the semester comes around. Both of these techniques might feel a bit....manipulative? But, hey, we gotta do what we gotta do to stick to the plan!

Drop Classes Every Semester

4.2: Planning Your Degree Path

4.3: Making a Plan

Getting Off the Waitlist

Those of you who ranked getting the specific classes you want each semester are actually very well supported in your choice by academic research! Students who have a firm plan tend to do significantly better in college than students who are unsure and/or those who end up registering late. Also, if you have a firm plan, I am sure you don't need too too much advice from me, but here are a few links and ideas that I think might be beneficial!

4.4: Managing Change and the Unexpected

This is the Way

When it comes to registration, technology is a real game changer for getting the classes you want during the semesters that you need them. For pre-requisite courses, you can keep on top of them and compulsively check course pre-recs onthe Program Catalog til the cows come home. Also be sure you are pre-determining and favorite-ing a schedule in Schedule Builder before your enrollment period. That way you can register as soon as your window opens (and I mean the very minute it opens!)

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Click on the icon to the left to find the proper email contacts and forms for each credit-granting program.

OH MY GOSH! You've been struck by a massive can of Credits for Prior Learning

If you took AP, IB, CLEP, and/or other credit-granting courses and believe you qualify for college credit, you need to reach out to the registrar in order to ensure those credits apply. First tho...

• Check the credit-qualifying scores for AP exams
• Check the credit-qualifying scores for CLEP exmas
• Request your IB certificates

This one is pretty self-evident, I think. Staying connected to loved ones while dealing with school stress is so important. I think the only important thing to keep in mind regarding this priorty and scheduling is to keep it at the front of your mind that x y and z person are the priority. So if you have to give up a preferred schedule or a particular professor or even if it means you're not able to take a class in the semester you want (meaning you'll graduate later), make sure you're keeping that in mind so you don't beat yourself up and so you don't build any resentment toward loved ones either! Especially if you're a care-taker of some kind

Time with Family and Friends

Use your electives to complete a minor or a second major (if you're feeling ambitious!)

Maybe you noticed that many of the classes on your list are in the same department. Or maybe you're one of those people who likes to maximize their time to the fullest. Or maybe you just can't make up your mind and want to pursue two equally interesting areas. Regardless of your reason, most degrees will have room for at least a minor and maybe a major without requiring more than 120 credits from you. If you take all of the standard general education courses (no AP credits, no extra maths, etc.), that will take up ~43 credits. From there, each major requires different quantities of degree-specic courses (see to the right, or see the linked programs catalog for the full list). Any room left over before 120 credits is all for electives. If you'd like, you can take that space to complete a minor or another major. Minors require anywhere from 12-24 credits. And the mjaor requirements are the same as in the table if you'd like to go that route.

p.s. if you want to learn more about this issue in higher ed, you can click on the hearts to read an interesting research article about it

'sup. i made the kitchen a mess. and by "made the kitchen a mess", i mean i made academic planning and course registration super confusing , frustrating, and overly complex. so , anyway...cook this for me. also, go ahead and clean up the kitchen. have fun, hunty. love, The US Higher Education System

Recipe

A Schedule Builder bias

1 Cup of CUNYFirst

4-5 Courses (to taste)

1 Homemade(ish) schedule