We are now past the midway point in the semester, which means that it only gets harder from here on out; so don’t celebrate yet, freshmen! We still need to handle finals, and very soon, scheduling! (So, we’ve only gotten through like a third of the difficulty of the semester—joy.) Therefore, take some time to listen to some sage advice of mine regarding scheduling and talking to your professors!
Freshmen, this doesn’t really concern you, because, by and large if you’re in the engineering or science departments, all of your schedules are more or less the same. For all other majors, and anyone going into their fourth semester, go online right now and find your department (you can google it, as it is surprisingly easy). You can find all of the classes you’ll need to take, and there ought to be minors and master’s programs outlined if you are interested in such things. I would advise thinking heavily about those programs sooner rather than later. As a senior right now, going into my last semester, I have hardly any wiggle room to get a minor or a masters. I would have had to do these things ages ago. But it isn’t too late for you!
But before you start scheduling your future, know a few things:
- That curriculum is not set in stone. If you did Co-op, or have AP credits to knock out requirements, you may be ahead or behind the curve. That’s okay. Don’t stress about making Engineering Economics exactly in the sixth semester as recommended. Over-planning, as Civil Engineering Advisor Professor Billah has hammered into my head, is a terrible, terrible thing that stresses you out and blinds you from other obvious solutions. Slow down, breathe, and take it easy. See what fits. This school will make sure that you have all of the required classes to graduate, even if the order gets a little fugly. On that note…
- Know your advisors! At the very, very least, you’ll need them to sign off on your application for candidacy and, before that, study plans. Hopefully you get to talk to them a bit more than that. They know your schedule, they know your field of study (ha, they sort of teach it and sort of have multiple years experience working in related careers) and they should know you as well so they can best advise you on what classes to take and in what order.
Moreover, they’re kind of awesome people. I, of course, can only speak in reference to the Civil Engineering Department, but I am confident that my experience there carries over to any department at Stevens.
Think of it this way: you pay a tremendous amount of money to this school—that much is painfully obvious. You are told that this money is going to a program that gives you an experience unlike that at any other college. What do you suppose that money is actually going to? (Well, this is a true point of agitation of mine, because I have no idea, and never will! But let’s just turn a blind eye to the obvious shadiness of the money you spend blipping in and out of existence in the big money vat of Stevens. I’ll tackle that gripe when I am feeling less generous.) That money is funding the paychecks of your advisors. They are some of the best in the business, and if you don’t talk to them, you’re losing out.
These professors have work experience and have likely been working as professors for longer than you’ve been in school (possibly even born!). Can you imagine the sheer volume of wisdom and guidance they can give you? Of course, you go to their lectures, you listen to them speak, but that is hardly all that they do here—that is the bare minimum of interaction with these people, and you really should go to their offices and spark up a conversation. They can help you understand things that may have been confusing to you, or they can impart upon you wisdom or tips for working in the field of study in which you’re interested.
Maybe you doubt yourself and your decision to stay in the major you’re in? Professor Hassiotis and Professor Rutner of the Civil Engineering department are so enthusiastic about what they do that they could likely convince any other student to switch majors! (Note: I am not picking favorites, this is just based on my experiences in lectures. Hassiotis and Rutner just smile so big if you ask the right questions in their classes.) The professors at Stevens are passionate about what they do, and if you could harness that energy (which, if you talk to them, you do) it really inspires you to go out and make something of yourself.
This is why they are here. They give you advice, they inspire you, they give you knowledge and wisdom. Capitalize on this while you have it. Get to know your department, the advisors in your field, and figure out what schedule fits best in your short time here at Stevens.
