guide for choosing academic subjects
Balancing workload, exam schedules, and personal interests is crucial when selecting courses at Princeton University, home to over 1,000 courses each semester. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you make informed decisions.
Identify Personal Interests and Academic Goals
Begin by exploring subject areas or departments that spark your curiosity or align with your major or career aspirations. For instance, Public Administration, Molecular Biology, or Computer Science might be areas of interest for you. Reflect on your passions and look for courses that deepen your knowledge or skills in these fields.
Check Distribution Requirements
Princeton requires students to fulfill distribution requirements across various academic areas. Ensure that your chosen courses cover these breadth requirements to progress towards graduation and develop a well-rounded education.
Consider Course Size and Format
Smaller classes offer more interaction, personalized attention, and better discussion, while larger lectures might be less personal but provide more flexibility in terms of grading or workloads. Use course reviews or university resources to gauge expected class size, participation level, and instructor style.
Assess Workload and Difficulty
Courses vary significantly in workload and grading intensity. For example, "Introduction to Graduate Algorithms" is known to be highly challenging, requiring about 23 hours of work per week. Reading student reviews and syllabi can help estimate if the workload fits your capacity and other commitments.
Evaluate Department and Course Reputation
Some departments or courses are renowned for their academic rigour or excellent faculty. Look for faculty resources or recent announcements to get a sense of teaching quality and course support.
Balance Your Schedule
Mix challenging courses with lighter or more engaging classes to manage stress and workload effectively throughout the semester. Plan for time-intensive courses accordingly.
Seek Advice and Use Resources
Consult academic advisors, attend course info sessions, or join student forums where you can get firsthand impressions. Utilize Princeton’s course catalog and review platforms to refine your choices.
Additional Tips
- It's suggested to take at least one small class each semester for the opportunity to know a professor well and potentially receive a letter of recommendation.
- First-year students are encouraged to use this time to explore and take random classes, as it may lead to the discovery of new passions.
Tools to Help You Choose
- TigerPounce notifies users by email or text when a space becomes available in a full course.
- Precourser and ReCal are user-friendly course scheduling apps similar to Recourse.
- Princeton Courses is a user-friendly app for viewing course information.
- The official course listings are posted on the Office of the Registrar.
- For more information on when course selection opens for each class year, spring add/drop and PDF periods, see the Office of the Registrar.
- TigerPath is a four-year planner that allows mapping out major/certificate requirements over multiple semesters.
- There are multiple online applications for course searching and scheduling available.
- Don't forget the many academic resources available on campus, including PAA, RCA, faculty advisers, residential college Director of Studies, and Department Representative.
In the pursuit of education and self-development, it's advantageous to consider independent work options such as online education, particularly when utilizing resources like Precourser and ReCal for organizing course schedules. This way, one can balance coursework with personal time effectively, whether it's honing skills in areas like Public Administration, Molecular Biology, or Computer Science, or satisfying broader learning objectives.
