A Typical Schedule

Recently, I was thinking about what I most wanted to know as an incoming student. Where is the best place to eat? What is the best dorm to live in? What classes should I take? But the broadest question I had was, what will I be doing day to day? High school schedules are much different than college schedules – you will not be in class from 7:30 to 3:00 Monday through Friday. That being said, there is no unique schedule that everyone follows.

A single class generally meets for three and a half hours over two (Tuesday, Thursday) or three (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) periods each week. Labs usually meet for an additional four hours on Tuesday or Thursday. This all makes scheduling classes a lot like solving a puzzle. It’s confusing at first, but after one quarter you will get the hang of it.

Three classes for three and a half hours a week is only ten and a half hours – sprinkle in a lab and you might be in class for only fourteen and a half hours a week! You’re practically always free, right? Wrong, but in a good way. Carleton students know how to keep themselves busy. Add in all your club meetings, sport practices, floor dinners, and homework, and you will realize that, while you still have enough free time to relax and be with friends, a lot of the time you aren’t in class is filled with all of the amazing opportunities on campus.

To give you an idea of a typical schedule, I am going to share what I do on a normal Monday. Note that this is not representative of everyone’s schedule, and only reflects my personal interests and time commitments.

8:00 – 8:25: Breakfast in Burton Dining Hall
8:30 – 9:40: Geomorphology (class)
9:50 – 11:00: Atomic & Nuclear Physics (class)
12:00 – 12:25: Lunch in LDC
12:30 – 1:40: Geology and Natural History in Tasmania (class)
1:50 – 3:00: Introduction to Computer Science (class)
3:30 – 6:00: Ultimate Frisbee practice
6:00 – 6:45: Dinner in LDC
7:00 – 8:30: Homework / relax
9:00 – 9:30: CANOE (outdoors club) meeting
10:00 – Whenever: Finish homework and go to bed.

I hope this gives you a general idea of what your schedule could look like. Many people have entirely different schedules, but each person finds a routine that works for them. Your schedule may look nothing like mine, but you will be able to find activities to fill the gaps and spend time doing what you love.

Jacob is a potential physics, math, and/or geology major (he’s indecisive) who appreciates the occasional anthropology or English class. Growing up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin has made it easy for Jacob to adapt to the Northfield winters, during which he likes to ski and go traying. In more agreeable weather Jacob enjoys going on outings with CANOE, the outdoors club, and playing Ultimate Frisbee on the Gods of Plastic, Carleton’s DIII men’s ultimate team. Read on to meet the rest of our bloggers.