Chapter 1. Chapter 2 Adopting a Success Attitude

1.1

Academic planning is a great way to keep yourself on track to graduate or transfer. By planning out your coursework you can save time, money, and a lot of stress! For example, what if you’re late to register for courses and a class you need is already full? What if that course is only offered once a year? What if that course is a prerequisite for other courses? Academic planning helps you avoid issues like these, and this two-part activity will get you started.

Part 1

One way to plan for the unexpected is to review your school’s academic calendar prior to the start of each term. The academic calendar lists important dates and deadlines such as when registration opens and closes, the last day you can add or drop classes, when classes begin and end, and the holidays during that term (days you won’t have class). For the first part of this activity, print off your school’s academic calendar for next term.

Part 2

For the second part of this activity, you’ll create an academic plan. Begin by listing the courses you’re required to take each term of your program. Include the course prefix and number, the title of each course, the number of credits you’ll earn, and the day/time the course is offered (if you know it). The academic advising office may have a handout of the required courses for your program that you can consult or a worksheet you can use, or you can create a plan using the sample below as a model:

Once you’ve recorded which classes you’ll need, answer the three following questions about each term in your program. For ideas, see the "College Planning Milestones" in the Student Resources in LaunchPad, or see the example below.