TOP Tips

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Class Scheduling Tips 

• When you meet with your advisor to schedule your classes, the following will be considered: How strong is your academic background? (as reflected by your high school GPA, your ACT/SAT scores, etc.) Will you be employed (if so, for how many hours each week)? Will you be commuting to campus (if so, from what distance)? Will your family responsibilities require substantial amounts of time? What are the demands of the classes you have selected (research papers, laboratory, etc.)? Be ready to answer these questions and begin to form a relationship with your academic advisor. Not only can he/she help you with registration questions, but they can also assist with job or study abroad opportunities!
• Take time to recheck your schedule for class conflicts. Allow time for lunch!
• If you have a specific interest in a department or major, ask your advisor about taking an intro level class. He/she won't know your interests unless you speak up!
• The time of day matters. Schedule your classes during the part of the day you are most alert and attentive.
• Schedule changes (drop/add) may be necessary following your initial registration. You can drop or add classes on TopNet with no penalty fee through the last day to drop or add a class as printed in the registration guide. After that date, you may withdraw from a class with a grade of "W." A schedule change fee per class will be assessed for all student-initiated withdrawals.
• 12 credits = Full Time Status. The number of hours you take depends upon the strength of your academic background and your time commitments.
• Familiarize yourself with campus. Knowing where the buildings are when signing up for classes will work wonders! If you just aren’t sure, ask an TOP staff member or your academic advisor.
• Balancing your classes between Monday-Wednesday-Friday (MWF) class meetings and Tuesday-Thursday (TR) class meetings will bring balance to study time during the week.
• Avoid scheduling difficult classes back-to-back.
• Try to avoid racing up The Hill. Walking time: Gary Ransdell Hall to Thompson Complex = approx. 15 minutes; Tate Page Hall to Cherry Hall = 13 minutes.
• When in doubt... seek the advice of your advisor. They are here to help you succeed and guide you on your path to graduation.

 

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Set a goal to graduate! There are many campus services at WKU to help you navigate through college. From studying for your first exam to finding a job after graduation, all you have to do is ask.

A minimum of 120 credit hours is required for all baccalaureate degrees at WKU. To complete in four years (eight semesters with no summer sessions), you must average 15 credit hours each semester. To complete in five years, (ten semesters with no summer sessions), you may average the minimum full time requirement of 12 hours each semester. Every student is different, so discuss your unique goals and challenges with your advisor early. Revisit and revise your plan often to make sure you are meeting your goals or making new ones. Keep your goal to graduate in mind when setting up your classes, and keep it posted in your room for inspiration!

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Are you thinking about changing your major?

That's okay! Here's a few things to consider:

• If you are exploring your options, use general education classes to gain more information about various academic disciplines and use this opportunity to narrow your focus concerning possible areas of specialization. It is recommended that all baccalaureate degree-seeking students concentrate on classes that will apply to gen. ed. requirements during their first year of college studies.
• If you are still trying to decide between two (or 5) majors, don't take too many classes in a major during your first year, unless they also count toward General Education Requirements. You will avoid having excessive electives when you settle on a major later.
• It’s important to take general education classes. All baccalaureate degree programs (four-year programs) at WKU require a minimum of 39 credit hours in classes designed to provide you a broad academic preparation in basic areas of human knowledge and to orient you to the intellectual, social, and natural world. During your first and second years, the majority of the credits required to satisfy these gen. ed. requirements should be earned. Many programs require or recommend specific general education classes as a part of the major or in support of the major.
• If you are committed to a major, you must take gen. ed. classes along with classes from your field of study. With the assistance of your academic advisor, even if choosing a major in a highly structured discipline, you will be able to blend important introductory classes in the discipline you choose with classes that meet gen. ed. requirements. Through varied class selection, you can be assured of progress toward degree completion even if you decide to change your major later.
• WKU's general education program is called the WKU Colonnade Program. For more information about it, click here.

 

WKU Lingo