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Step 5 - Consider your proposed schedule

Review the list of courses that you have identified for next semester. Do you have a good balance of different types of classes? Do you have classes that contribute to Linfield Curriculum requirements? Have you selected at least one course in a potential area of interest or major? Does your class schedule allow for blocks of study time? Are you excited about taking these classes? How many credits?

As you begin to identify courses you would like to take, make certain that the total number of credit hours is suitable for your first semester of college, taking into consideration your extracurricular and work commitments. For most new students a desirable load is between 12 and 14 credit hours. Credit hours generally equate to the number of hours you will spend in the classroom. That means that if you are registered for 15 credits, you should expect to spend 15 hours a week in the classroom. This is a lot less classroom time than a traditional high school setting of 30-35 hours a week! As a college student, however, you will be expected to do a significant amount of coursework outside of the classroom and come to each class prepared by completing assigned readings, writing assignments, etc. In many classes you will be expected to be an active participant in discussions and ask questions of your professors.

A good rule of thumb is to assume that you will spend at least 2 hours doing homework for every 1 hour of time you spend in class. That means that if you are registered for 15 credits, you can expect to do at least 30 additional hours to complete course work.

Consider:

   15 Hours in class (registered for 15 credits)
+30 Hours spent reading, writing, homework, group meetings, etc
=45 Hours devoted to academic course work
+10 Hours devoted to job, sports, clubs, etc
=55 Hours devoted to college commitments each week

45-55 hours a week is more than a full-time job! First-year students are strongly discouraged from taking more than 15 credits in their first semester. Consider your other time commitments (e.g. playing a sport, working, getting involved in clubs and activities, etc.) and contact the Office of Academic Advising (also at 503-883-2250)  or your faculty or peer advisor if you would like to take more than 15 credits during your first semester.

Note: A full-time student must register for at least 10 credit hours, students receiving financial aid, as well as international students, must register for a minimum of 12 credit hours.

Continue to Step 6 for instructions on submitting course reservations through WebAdvisor