Starting college for the first time and figuring out what classes to take can be overwhelming. When it comes to registering for courses, there are a few great resources available to students today. This can help you pick classes that will be right for you, your goals, and even your learning style. Here are a few valuable resources you can tap into when you’re planning your class schedule.
Rate My Professor
Rate My Professor has been around a long time and has evolved to be an excellent resource for college students looking for more information about classes and instructors. It’s a peer-to-peer review site that allows your classmates to talk about why they like, or don’t like, about a particular professor. This can help you determine if a specific professor matches your learning style. A word of caution, however. Be sure to read the reviews critically to discern helpful information.
Past Semester Syllabi
The University of Texas Austin has a great resource that can help you research potential classes before registering. They have a catalog of all past syllabi for classes held at the university. While professors can and do change the course curriculum each year, reading past syllabi can help you decide on the class
itself. Once you’ve registered, you can also review the previous semester’s course material to prepare yourself for the first day.
Catalyst Grade Distribution
Another resource available is the Catalyst Grade Distribution site. You can enter the class you’re interested in knowing more about and pull up past information. Use the search function to find courses by department, instructor, or semester. This information is provided by the university itself and not self-reported so that you can feel comfortable with the accuracy of the data.
Social Media
In today’s hyperconnected world, you can also get information about classes and professors in online social communities. Whether you’re joining Facebook groups for specific social or academic topics or chatting with classmates on GroupMe, don’t be afraid to ask questions about upcoming courses to learn
more details.
Your Community
Of course, don’t discount the first-hand experience from those around you. Living in the communities around campus gives you access to people who have experienced different classes and professors throughout their time at UT. Visit common spaces, study rooms, coffee shops, or libraries and talk to other students to learn more about classes and professors before registering for the next semester.
Do you want to learn more about connecting with others at UT and building a community where you live? Contact Housing Scout today.
