Some people dive into college with set intentions, knowing exactly what they will choose and graduate with, and that’s great! Then there’s the rest of us. It can be hard to fill up your semester’s class schedule. Especially when you aren’t sure where your time and energy would best be spent.

The big idea is to go to college and get a degree. That will give your career (and income) the kick start or boost that you want, right? That initiative alone is all you need to get started. The rest is figuring out what it is you want to study. Then finding a way to make it happen. As they say, where there’s a will there’s a way!

Students with undeclared majors are more common than you might think. The amount of choices can be overwhelming. Courses are often offered on hundreds of different subjects with varying levels of expertise. Some classes are reserved for specific students while others require more courses to be taken first. Navigating the sea of learning can be daunting!

A study on the “Developmental Disconnect in Choosing a Major” states that an estimated 20 to 50 % of students enter college as “undecided” and an estimated 75 % of students change their major at least once before graduation (Gordon, 1995). So don’t worry, you’re definitely not alone. Turns out a lot of people get frustrated when spinning that big wheel of life. Fortunately, reality doesn’t have to play out like a game show and we have the power to choose the right courses to lead to ultimate success.

It’s completely okay to start without knowing where to begin, most people do!

When first starting out, make sure to take some general education (often called “gen ed” on campuses) credits. Every student is required to take these courses regardless of major. They consist of basic knowledge stuff any collegian should know like psychology, algebra, history, etc. It can be a win-win situation; getting these classes out of the way will free up time later on for the good stuff. Not to mention there is potential to fall in love with an area of research.

An extra literature or writing class is always helpful to have under your belt. These skills are used in every class and you’ll want to hone them early on. While signing up for those general classes, be sure to review the college catalog and pick a few courses that seem fun or interesting to take. Once you start those and learn more about them from a professor, you may have found your major!

An uncommon resource that not everyone thinks of is the professor of the class you might register for. You could always reach out to them and ask any questions you may have that an adviser can’t answer. They are typically happy to help and tend to respond pretty quickly in my experience.

It’s time to plan ahead!

Planning a semester schedule for college classes can be a tricky task. Some people prefer to have all their classes back to back in one or two days a week to coincide with other nonacademic schedules. Some prefer to have only a class or two every day to spread out the work load and study time. As long as you don’t sign up for courses that overlap or occur at the same time, you should be fine. Most colleges have advisers that would make sure that a scheduling faux pas wouldn’t happen anyway. If you have room in your schedule throw in some bonus microcredentials. Make sure to consider factors like distance from your house and your method of transportation. Schedules can be changed in the first few weeks of classes, but planning ahead, so that the first schedule you make will be a good fit, is important and saves a lot of undue hassle.

A good way to make sure you have the most options and opportunities available to you is to register as early as you can. More classes will be presented with available seats for students like you!

The post Choosing The Right Classes For Your Future. appeared first on SUNY Ulster News Blog.

Reliable degrees at SUNY Ulster Community College.

When you begin exploring potential reliable degrees, it is important to consider a field that you are interested in working in, as well as one that is experiencing growth within its own respective industry!

There are many beneficial degrees offered here at SUNY Ulster, but in this particular article we will explore in more detail five of the most reliable degrees offered at SUNY Ulster.

(SUNY Ulster rated 5 out of 25 of the top New York State Community Colleges.)

Public Safety and Criminal Justice:

The Criminal Justice program at SUNY Ulster is designed to offer an educational experience for criminal justice practitioners, individuals seeking employment in the field, and concerned citizens wishing to become better informed about the administration of justice. Various job positions in the criminal justice field consistently have openings, making it one of the most reliable degrees offered at SUNY Ulster! 

SUNY Ulster Offers: Criminal Justice (AS), Criminal Justice (AAS), and Police Basic Training (Certificate)

Paralegal:

The Individual Studies Paralegal degree at SUNY Ulster is a jointly registered program with Marist College. Here you can study in a program that is designed to prepare students for employment and transfer into a bachelor’s degree program. Graduates of this program at SUNY Ulster earn an Associate in Science in Individual Studies and a Paralegal Certificate from Marist.

SUNY Ulster Offers: Individual Studies/Paralegal (AS).

Technology:

Technology is something we use every day, so it should come as no surprise that the technology field is rapidly growing! If you decide to study technology at SUNY Ulster you will have the opportunity to potentially strengthen your computer science, programming, designing skills set, and beyond. Specific programs require various curriculum levels of mathematics, manufacturing processes, computers, drafting/blueprint reading, communication skills, and liberal arts!

SUNY Ulster Offers: Computer Game Design (Credential),Computer Science AS,Computer Science Online AS,Green Building Maintenance & Management AAS,Industrial Technology: Drafting & Design AS,Industrial Technology: Drafting & Design AAS,Manufacturing Technology (Certificate),Mobile Application Developer (Credential),Network Administrator AAS,Network Administrator (Certificate),Web Application Developer (Credential).

Engineering:

Engineering at SUNY Ulster provides the basic preparation for students who plan to continue studying engineering at a four-year college. If you plan to attend you should keep in mind that applicants should have above-average grades in high school mathematics and chemistry. High school physics is also recommended for incoming students.

SUNY Ulster Offers: Engineering Science AS, Aeronautical, Civil, Industrial, Mechanical & Nuclear, Chemical, Computer, Electrical.

Technology and Engineering students can enjoy learning in state of the art classrooms as a part of the Pfeiffer Technology and Innovation Lab expansion.

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