What mistakes do first-year students make when choosing their timetable?
Mistakes to avoid include building a timetable around appealing courses without first checking required courses, prerequisites, credit limits, or registration rules. This may lead to timetable clashes, too few credits for program requirements, concentrated assignments or exams, or overlooked breaks and commuting time. Check the syllabus and academic guide, and leave some flexibility for both degree requirements and daily circumstances.
Key points
- Check required courses, degree requirements, and prerequisites before selecting electives.
- Consider assignments and exam periods, not just class hours, so the workload is not concentrated.
- Check for timetable clashes, long gaps, travel between classrooms, and commuting time.
- Confirm credit limits, registration periods, and course-change procedures in the academic guide.
Things to check
- Prerequisites, credit limits, registration periods, and degree requirements vary by university, faculty, and academic year, so verify them in official academic guides and syllabi.