Whether you have a meticulous plan for your college career or are going with the flow, knowing what resources are available to you can make a big difference. This article outlines a timeline of what to consider as you build your first semester schedule.
The summer before college
You’ve been accepted into William & Mary — congratulations! Now you have to complete the (seemingly endless) Tribe Guide checklist, on top of which you need to complete College Studies and think about what classes you want to register for. You may be wondering, where do I even start when choosing courses?
Here are two course search tools to get you started:
- PATH – PATH is the system William & Mary uses for searching for and registering classes. If there is a particular major’s courses you want to view, this is where you can search for and read course descriptions. Alternatively, filter courses for specific COLL curriculum requirements, proficiencies, etc. Familiarize yourself with PATH before registration begins. Learn more: PATH & Registration information
- Course catalog – The course catalog is another helpful tool, especially if you have an idea of your potential major. It provides details about major requirements — navigate to the “Majors & Minors” tab to explore your interests. Make sure that you are looking at the catalog for the current academic year to see the most up-to-date information.
Familiarizing yourself with these tools will help you narrow down your course choices and be better prepared when registration opens.
Orientation
You’ve arrived on campus — yay! During orientation, you’ll meet with your pre-major advisor. Remember those courses you had your eye on in the summer? Now is the time to revisit them. Talk with your advisor about your interests and goals, and ask for feedback on your course ideas. Use this meeting to:
- Ask if your planned courses align with your interests
- Determine additional course considerations
- Learn how to get involved with your department: This might look like getting involved in research or projects
- Ask any other burning questions you might have
There are countless opportunities at William & Mary — this is your chance to begin discovering them.
The first week of class
You’ve made it through your first week of classes! Whether you’re thrilled with all your classes or you’re unsure about a few classes, there is still time to make changes.
The add/drop period will be open for the first two weeks of the semester. This means you can adjust your schedule by:
- Dropping courses that don’t seem like the right fit
- Adding new courses to explore other interests
- Trying out different professors
Think of this as a “shopping period” for your schedule. Don’t stress about having the “perfect” schedule — add/drop gives you the flexibility to refine your classes.
Researching and choosing classes can be an overwhelming task, but utilizing resources — PATH, the course catalog, your advisor — can make the process less daunting.
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