Is it even possible to get the "perfect" schedule?

Colleges and Universities A-Z The University of Texas at Austin
1

<p>Hi. I'm an uprising freshman.</p>

<p>I have an orientation during June 27-29 (pretty late).</p>

<p>And I tried to schedule some of the classes on MyEdu.com and i realized that it is extremely difficult to schedule classes without having them overlap.
Also, I realized that some of the professors I looked up on RateMyProfessors.com are not on MyEdu.com schedule thing. </p>

<p>So my questions are...
1. Are there usually many classes available for each subject or are students usually obliged to pick whatever is left over? I have several professors written down and I really want to have them as my teachers.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>When they show the classes that are left, do they have the names of professors next to the classes?</p></li>
<li><p>How likely is it for me to get a good schedule?</p></li>
<li><p>What can I do to increase the chance of getting a good schedule?</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Can Anyone enlighten me? I am totally lost. Some extra feedback would be nice too!</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>I had the perfect schedule last semester and I was a freshman. No class before noon, fridays OFF, one class on Mondays and Wednesdays that started at 4pm. It was the PERFECT schedule. Note* I’m a total slacker but I got the classes I wanted. And I value my sleep and sleeping in. (I learned that my first semester the hard way.)</p>

<p>You just have to be persistent and no you won’t always get the profs or classes you want, but if you just keep checking and refreshing on your computer, you might be able to. Definitely take use of the waitlists if you have to. They can be your second chance to get into a class that you really want. </p>

<p>Sometimes profs won’t be listed for a class until the very last minute and chances are it’s because you’re taking a class that’s going to be taught by a grad student and there’s lots of them so they just take their time in updating the registrar. Have you looked at yet? Most of them definitely have the professors listed. </p>

<p>And supposedly they reserve seats for each wave of freshmen going through orientation.But bottom line – you are at the bottom of the totem pole all over again and you are really getting the leftovers from upperclassmen. But it’s not so bad. Just whatever you do, do not go for the 8ams unless you are perfectly okay with waking up that early. Unlike high school, your mom won’t be there to yell at your or flip on the lights and some classes DO take attendance (even large classes) so it could screw you over. </p>

<p>And if a class is ‘‘Closed’’ it could still open up but you might keep your eye on what is still open. Just have to keep a look out. A lot of classes will open up when people don’t pay their tuition by the deadline and get dropped from their classes – another opportunity to nab a spot in your desired class.</p>

<p>And don’t worry if you can’t get a class you want, you have next semester and the one after that and the one after that and so on to take classes.</p>

<p>And the higher you get up, the smaller and more concentrated classes will get thus less in number of classes offered (unlike all the intro classes) – so just ride it out and you’ll get into your major as time goes by.</p>

<p>Some classes will be restricted to your major, whether or not your in an honors program or scholar program or have prereqs that you take a class before it with at least a C or something.</p>

<p>They’ll explain it all once you get to orientation. Your orientation advisors, your college advisors, and your major specific advisors. Definitely USE them for help because that’s what they’re there for!</p>

3

<p>When scheduling, how mch time between classes do you suggest?</p>

4

<p>If the buildings are close enough, I’d say just schedule back-to-back classes (with maybe one break each day). If you keep having one- or two-hour breaks between classes, you’ll find that you’ll be wasting a lot of time every day.</p>

5

<p>

</p>

<p>Imho, it is best to have the next class start right when the previous class ends. I hate it when I have like 1 or 2 hour breaks in between my classes because it seems like right when i get back to the dorm and start studying/napping/whatever, I have to be leaving for the next class and so the time between classes just gets wasted.</p>

<p>I prefer to have a 2-4 hour chunk of time per day where i attend all my classes (say 9:00-1:00) and then I have the rest of the day to do whatever i want!!!</p>

<p>edit: exactly what soadquake said lol</p>

6

<p>Do you guys recommend taking as many classes in one day as possible (say, having 3-4 classes on MWF) and then leaving the other days with 1-2 light classes?</p>

7

<p>^That’s what I’ve been doing. First semester I had 4 classes M and 3 on WF and then two easy-ish morning classes on TTh. It was great being able to use TTh afternoons to study for my MWF classes rather than slaving away at homework and reading assignments for the other two.</p>

8

<p>I’m personally not a fan of more than 3 hours of class a day or in a row. This semester I had 3 back-to-back classes TTH and I could never pay attention in the last class, which was the toughest.</p>

9

<p>If i have back to back classes, wouldn’t i be late to the second class? And if the class takes attendence, wouldn’t i be late? Especially if the classes are far apart.</p>

10

<p>Professors generally let you out 10 minutes early for MWF classes and 15 minutes for TTH classes. If you are really worried about being late, you can also leave the previous class a little bit earlier.</p>

11

<p>It’s difficult to get the schedule you want with the classes you want and the professors you want. When it comes to classes, times, and professors, you’ll usually have to settle for just two out of three.</p>

<p>My schedule for the fall turned out pretty well. All my classes start around 9 AM, and I’m done by 2 PM every day. And I only have two hours of class on Friday.</p>

12

<p>I never thought having classes on friday would be a bad thing. I guess it’s because ppl go out a lot that day?</p>

<p>I guess ill try getting my classes in the 9am-2pm range and avoid many classes on Friday. Haha.</p>

13

<p>Who doesn’t love a perpetual three day weekend?! lol</p>

14

<p>

</p>

<p>the most important thing is to get the best professor for each class. I would not advise you to choose a worse professor just so you can have a 3 day weekend or back to back classes.</p>

<p>Like it or not, some professors are far better than others and it is invaluable to choose good ones.</p>

15

<p>^ Where do we find the information about which prof is the best?</p>

16

<p>You can find info on myedu.com ratemyprofessor.com or on your UT Direct, just do a search for course instructor survey</p>

<p>I think I just made a “perfect schedule” for next year on the myedu scheduler… how likely is it that i will actually get my “perfect schedule”?</p>

17

<p>

</p>

<p>Highly unlikely, especially with your UGS.</p>

18

<p>If you selected a specific UGS, odds are you won’t get it. They fill up quickly. Have a backup schedule to your “ideal schedule”.</p>

19

<p>Yeah, those UGS classes are the fly in the ointment!</p>

20

<p>Dang. It seems like it’d be very hard. I hope i can all the professors i want to get.
I made a list with 4-5profs for each subject. Hopefully ill be able to find the right classes.
What do you suggest me bring to the orientation?
The list of profs and what else?</p>