Previous | | Next

Dear Black-Ops,

I'm just a lowly freshman, and the time to register for classes is coming up quite fast. This whole process is totally new to me, and I'm so confused about it all. I'm having issues about whether to switch to a chem. major or not, and I still can't figure out how to set up a meeting with my advisor. Should I be worried about getting a C in half my classes? What the hell should I do about all this?

- Insanely confused

Insanely confused,

First of all don’t worry. Just stop and take a deep breath, then let it out slowly. Almost everyone’s been a “lowly” freshman sometime if their life. It’s not that big a deal!! Almost every educational institution has a set way of scheduling for classes. Where I go it’s all online stuff. Chances are you were given a date/time to register, or some such nonsense like that. This basically allows the university to keep track of which students have more credits. (The more credits a student has the earlier the registration date/time or whatever.) This also allows upper classmen get the classes they need to graduate first with little fear of the classes being full before they can register. When it is your time to register for classes, enroll in classes not necessarily that you need, rather take classes that you want to take. Example: I took a French class just for the hell of it. I didn’t care that it really wouldn’t count for anything in my major, it was just FUN!!

As for contacting you advisor, well that’s the easy part. Most advisors want to help you (unless you ended up with some jackass how only cares about his/her work/project/whatever.) I hope you didn’t “draw” one of these. Anyway, first try finding them and physically talking to them. This is the best to get to know your adviser, and for them to get to know you. I know this can be hard, and even scary, but I can guarantee you that they are not going to bite you. If you find that you can’t find them or are too scared to seek them out in person, then email. Email is easy, blind and simple. Just sit down write a little blurb and send it.

Example: Hi, my name is insert name and you’re my advisor. I would like to meet with you to figure out what I’m supposed to do when I register and what classes to take…

Anyway, this could go one for awhile longer or you could leave it at that. Just be sure to put your email address down at the end somewhere. Then click on a little button and it’s done. There’s no way your advisor will miss the message, because it’s in his/her inbox on the computer.

As for picking a major, pick one that you find interesting AND fun. If you’re not sure, declare one that you find interesting and you may find out that its fun too. Otherwise just switch out if you don’t like it, and choose another one. That’s the beauty of college!!

Getting C’s in college isn’t all that bad. All the classes are a little tougher, the teachers get harder to understand and there are always way more distractions than in high school. C’s are okay here, I know that it’s average but sometimes that’s the best you can hope for in some classes. Stretch for B’s if plausible but don’t break yourself over a few missteps. They happen, if all else fails and you get a C and you absolutely can’t live with yourself, then you have three options:
1) Talk the teacher after the grades come out, you may be able to influence them into changes your grade.
2) If 1) fails, then you can always retake the class in a different semester. It’s not that big of a deal.
3) If you couldn’t (didn’t want to) do suggestions 1) or 2) then forget about it. Hide the “report card” deep down in a drawer somewhere and forget about it. (I prefer fire under these circumstances :-))

Thanks for the question Insanely confused, if this didn’t answer your question sufficiently email me and I’ll try to clarify for you.

Always,

If you have a question you want answered send it to - silverbone01@yahoo.com or MU – senior_wills@yahoo.com or Nez – nicholaeus@hotmail.com or DarB - tmh_n_co@yahoo.com  All email addresses sent to this site are confidential, and will not be shared with anyone...EVER.

Previous | | Next