Student Advice on Choosing a Schedule that Helps You Stay Sane
Some of the most meticulous decisions and dilemmas happen even before the semester starts. Choosing classes is an art in itself, and figuring out what schedule works best for your situation will save you so much trouble. Even as a sophomore, I’m still learning some tips and tricks. Incoming students: check out our article on Choosing Classes @ Cal to learn the basics of enrollment and planning! And to save you even more time, here are my tips and rules of thumb for choosing classes at UC Berkeley.
Night Owl or Early Bird?
First and foremost, you need to decide if you like sleeping in or getting your classes out of the way early to have the rest of the day to yourself. An 8 a.m. class might be fine the first few days, but if you’re not a morning person you might end up questioning your existence in the dog days of the semester. If you truly are a morning person, go for it, but I like scheduling later classes. I like waking up early to study and do homework without worrying about an early class that I have to get dressed and ready for. My personal general rule is nothing earlier than 9:30 a.m., and nothing that ends later than 5 p.m.
Consider your routine: What’s equally important in deciding which days you should have an early class has to do with your personal routines and other activities. If you’re a person who likes going out and staying up late on weekend nights, it may be wiser to build in Monday morning recuperation time instead of reckoning with an 8 a.m. class. If a club meeting gets you home late on Wednesdays and you’re not a morning person, definitely do not schedule an 8 a.m. on Thursday.
To Break or Not to Break?
Bear with the Hamlet reference, I’m taking a Shakespeare class this semester…
I’m a big believer in scheduling back-to-back classes. Alum and former Berkeley Life writer Hosea mentioned not being able to feel productive when he had small breaks in between classes and I agree wholeheartedly. It’s best to power through and then be totally free, with the crucial exception of lunch breaks. Those are a must, especially for STEM majors (shoutout to my floormates) who are stuck in class for most of the day. It’s easy for food breaks to feel inconvenient in our insanely busy schedules, but we need to take care of ourselves and stay fueled for the day!
Survey Says
Rate My Professor is something I use for any class I’m considering…with a grain of salt. Yes, it can give you an idea of what things you look for in a good professor. Sure, it could save you from taking a professor who isn’t a good fit. But beware the salty students. Pettiness is a strong motivator and there are some great professors who are strict and get review-bombed by students who didn’t do the work. Really pay attention to what the reviews say and see if any common themes—positive or negative—pop up. From there, use your best judgment in terms of what teaching styles have worked best for you.
“Even If I Wanted to Go, My Schedule Wouldn’t Allow It!”
Take the time to plan out your entire undergrad class plan.
Yes, all of it. Every semester.
Check all of the requirements for your major and minor, the seven-course breadth requirements for my fellow L&S students, and anything else you need to graduate. Nothing needs to be concrete, as plans of course change, but having a clear picture of what you need going into class registration is key. Enrollment can be stressful, so having backup plans will save you from disaster. Have backups for every planned class, every outstanding requirement, so that if you need to pivot, you’ve done all the research already and all you need is to click that enroll button.
DeCal Till I Die
Not taking a DeCal until this semester will end up being one of my greatest Berkeley regrets. These one or two-unit, student-taught classes, usually once or twice a week at night, are truly diamonds in the rough. It’s a great way to reach the minimum unit requirement, and the class options are endless. Want to start cooking? Behold, Baking DeCal! Haven’t watched a single Star Wars movie (shame on you…)? Fret not, the Star Wars DeCal plays all nine films! Use these DeCals to explore stuff you’ve always wanted to learn, or to maintain a hobby you haven’t had the time to invest in.
“Slow Down, You Crazy Child!”
Your workload will determine a lot when it comes to how sane you can still be when finals roll around. If you think you can handle 20-plus units, the world is your oyster. However, it’s super important to consider other factors, such as time commitments outside of class, like work, clubs, hobbies, and hanging out with your friends. Last semester, I spread myself too thin with 15 units, writing for both Berkeley Life and the Daily Cal and performing/working for a few theatre productions. Now that I’ve taken a break from theatre and stuck to 13 units, I actually have time to get work done and keep up with my responsibilities.
Pro Tip: Diversify your schedule as much as you can. Classes from your major will inevitably end up being a majority (pun intended) of your schedule in your last couple years. But it’s no fun if that’s all you’re learning and working on. Like my Media Studies professor says, make sure you can “smell the roses” and still enjoy yourself. You can add a DeCal, a class from your minor, or any class you are simply taking for fun (an underrated life hack to enjoy going to class, thanks Hosea!)
I’m Willing to Wait(list) For It
We’ve all been there: There’s the class you have to take for your major, and despite hopping on the class enrollment portal the second your slot opens, it’s already at full capacity. What is a college student to do?
Generally, if you follow the 10% rule (for example, being one of the first 10 on the waitlist in a class of 100) the drops will happen and you’ll get in, often before classes even start. If you’re still waitlisted by the time you’re seated for the first lecture, let the professor know your situation. They’ll have a good idea of your chances of getting in, based on their prior experiences teaching the class. Sometimes they can even get you off the waitlist manually. Especially in big classes, not every single person will show up to each lecture, so adding an extra student won’t cause any shortage of seats.
And There You Have It!
For incoming or continuing students, hopefully, this guide helps class selection seem a bit less daunting. If you’re already enrolling for summer classes or researching for next fall, good luck! In no time, it’ll be the end of the school year, and it’ll be time to start the process and enroll for yet another semester.
Nolan Zils, Class of 2027, is majoring in Media Studies and minoring in Journalism and Creative Writing.
Want More?
- Want to know more about waitlists and classes? Check out Hosea’s article on Choosing Classes.
- Get Enrollment Tips for Transfers.
- Choosing classes is easy, but finals are harder! Here are some Tips for Tackling Finals.
- Need to study for classes in a different library during the Moffitt closure? See Reva’s piece on libraries to try out.