Explore new academic areas, challenge yourself, and establish a balanced workload. Selecting courses for each term is about much more than simply checking off requirements for your degree and major. As you determine which courses align with your evolving goals and interests, peruse Princeton’s Course Offerings, the Undergraduate Announcement, and the School of Engineering advising site to familiarize yourself with Princeton’s incredible variety of academic opportunities and consider how they fit in with your personal and academic plans. Course Selection Advising Before you join a department, you’ll meet with your faculty adviser to select courses for each new semester. After you join a department, you’ll seek course advice from your director of undergraduate studies and other faculty in your field. Your Goal: Aim for Balance As you select courses, look for a balance that satisfies distribution requirements and potential major prerequisites. Take a class or two that simply sparks your interest. Princeton offers hundreds of courses, and you may discover a new passion! Think broadly: Balance new fields with familiar ones, required courses with electives, and pre-professional training with liberal arts education. Seek the sweet spot: Look for the line between challenge and security. Consider assignments and assessments: Although you will explore a variety of areas by fulfilling requirements, you should also try to vary the kinds of work you’ll do. Fulfill distribution requirements: You can look up a course’s assigned distribution area, or search for courses in specific distribution areas, by visiting Course Offerings on the Registrar’s website. For first-year students, it is also worth taking a look at unique academic opportunities such as Freshman Seminars, the Integrated Science Curriculum, and the Humanities Sequence. Connect with Residential College Resources You are always welcome to talk with your college dean, assistant dean for studies, peer academic adviser (PAA), residential college adviser (RCA), and community living adviser (CLA) about everything from choosing courses and majors to getting academic support. They can also assist you in making the most of your academic opportunities beyond the classroom. Consider a Reading Course Occasionally, students partner directly with faculty to develop a one-on-one course specifically aligned to their academic interests. Visit the ODOC site for insight on how to approach reading course design and approvals. Course Enrollment Understand the planning process and steps involved each semester. Enroll in courses Course Changes and P/D/F Election Learn how the add/drop period works and understand how it can benefit you. Manage your schedule Summer Courses Enrich and advance your studies through summer coursework. Plan your summer Taking Courses for Transfer Credit Consider the benefits of external courses, and review the criteria and approval process. Seek transfer credit