2008 Woodie Awards
Freshmen learning joy of scheduling
By Jessica Rupell
Rocket Focus Editor
Issue date: 11/4/05 Section: Opinion
Did you know that for your liberal studies, you must take this class and that one is a requirement, and for this part, you can pick two of the three sections and pick two classes from each, but because of your major, you can't pick that one? Oh, and don't forget that before you are eligible to graduate, you need to have this class completed and also two from this section. Are you speaking French? Of course you aren't, you're speaking DARS.
But up until about three days ago, it wouldn't have mattered if you were speaking French or DARS, because either way, I felt like a foreigner who was listening to words that just wouldn't stick in my head.
Okay, so for all of you upperclassman thinking, "Shh, stupid freshmen!" all I have to say is, so maybe we don't get it, but think back to when you were a freshman hearing the DARS language for the first time. Can we say confusing?
Although I have always caught onto concepts pretty quickly, I have to admit that the whole scheduling thing didn't come as easily at first, and I have been learning something new about this scheduling process everyday. From the day that I got my scheduling date, I started to ponder exactly how this would work. However, with being in the Honors program (and therefore, having to schedule way earlier than many other freshmen), I found the whole idea a little intimidating. I would actually have to create my schedule in about a two-week span.
As if that weren't enough, I also decided that I would add a second major, increasing the amount of classes I have to take, and making my DARS more confusing than before. Can liberal studies count for both majors? Can I take this class to fulfill that requirement, or because of my one major, will it not work? I had so many questions and thankfully, many of them have since been answered.
I still have a lot of planning and preparation, since I realized that when you schedule, you really need to schedule for the next four or five years to make sure you can graduate on time. But, I have begun to feel a lot more confident in the process and hope many other freshmen do as well.
Thanks to advisors, professors, and believe it or not, FYRST seminar, I got a lot of added insight, especially by Academic Services, who was willing to answer any questions. Although the DARS is quite confusing, it was a comfort to know that, not only were others just as confused as I was, but that there were lots of people willing to help me figure out how to read it and how to go about scheduling my classes.
Thankfully, I am quite confident in my abilities now, and know that scheduling for future semesters will not be quite as difficult or frustrating. At least, until I decide to change things up again.
But up until about three days ago, it wouldn't have mattered if you were speaking French or DARS, because either way, I felt like a foreigner who was listening to words that just wouldn't stick in my head.
Okay, so for all of you upperclassman thinking, "Shh, stupid freshmen!" all I have to say is, so maybe we don't get it, but think back to when you were a freshman hearing the DARS language for the first time. Can we say confusing?
Although I have always caught onto concepts pretty quickly, I have to admit that the whole scheduling thing didn't come as easily at first, and I have been learning something new about this scheduling process everyday. From the day that I got my scheduling date, I started to ponder exactly how this would work. However, with being in the Honors program (and therefore, having to schedule way earlier than many other freshmen), I found the whole idea a little intimidating. I would actually have to create my schedule in about a two-week span.
As if that weren't enough, I also decided that I would add a second major, increasing the amount of classes I have to take, and making my DARS more confusing than before. Can liberal studies count for both majors? Can I take this class to fulfill that requirement, or because of my one major, will it not work? I had so many questions and thankfully, many of them have since been answered.
I still have a lot of planning and preparation, since I realized that when you schedule, you really need to schedule for the next four or five years to make sure you can graduate on time. But, I have begun to feel a lot more confident in the process and hope many other freshmen do as well.
Thanks to advisors, professors, and believe it or not, FYRST seminar, I got a lot of added insight, especially by Academic Services, who was willing to answer any questions. Although the DARS is quite confusing, it was a comfort to know that, not only were others just as confused as I was, but that there were lots of people willing to help me figure out how to read it and how to go about scheduling my classes.
Thankfully, I am quite confident in my abilities now, and know that scheduling for future semesters will not be quite as difficult or frustrating. At least, until I decide to change things up again.
