The Real Secrets Behind Choosing Class
Because we are on the quarter system we choose classes a lot. At least 3 times a year, so I feel I have become somewhat of a pro at it. It can feel like the hunger games a little bit, but it is also not as bad as it seems. Of course the 2pm Econ class fills up way faster than the 8am. And while Rate My Professor is a fan favorite, I have found it’s actually not the best predictor of whether you will like your professor. I don’t even check it any more and some of my favorite professors turn out to be the ones with the worst reviews. I also want to stress how much your academic advisor is here for you! Time to do a little deep dive on choosing classes at DePaul.
Let’s start with Rate My Professor, I found that when I have the option to choose a professor I may look online, but it really isn’t that helpful. A thing to keep in mind is that most people, including me, don’t write reviews of the professors that were good. We really only write them when we are upset. It also is really hard to know the full story and everyone’s definition of a lot of homework or easy grader is different. I do find talking to friends though is a little more helpful. You can ask them questions and get a lot more information from them.
One thing that makes choosing classes so much easier is visiting your academic advisor. So many people do not go and are missing out! They just listen to a lot of students’ recommendations instead of going to the experts. I try to pop in once a quarter, just to make sure my choices are on track.
Here are some other little secrets. Make the classes for your major a priority. There are so many more gen eds out there with a lot running every quarter, so they are easier to get into. Also you know yourself best. If you’re a morning person, do the morning class, or if asynchronous classes work better choose those. Lastly, always have a back up, or maybe two. And once you have added the classes you can breathe a sigh of relief until next quarter.
~Sienna