Academic Goals for the First Year

The initial goal for first-year students is to make the transition to life at Carleton. They should plan to take a variety of courses from different areas of the curriculum in order to explore new subjects and to refine their reading, writing, and speaking skills. They should also look for opportunities to work collaboratively with their peers. Most students report that during their first year they become more reflective about their own learning processes and learn to manage their time better, while dealing with the challenges of college life.

The first-year and the beginning of the sophomore year should put students in a position to commit to a major with as much information as possible about their academic alternatives as well as their own interests and abilities.

[Adapted from the ECC Subcommittee on First-Year Academic Experience, April 1999.]

Focus on Distribution Requirements

How concerned should first-year students be with fulfilling distribution requirements? As they experiment with a wide variety of courses, first-year students will end up fulfilling many of their distros. Some first-year students don’t concern themselves with checking off requirements at all. Those who are extremely focused on distros, as well as those who are already focused on a particular field, could be encouraged to take the opportunity to experiment more freely during their first year.

The ECC recommends that students try to fulfill the RAD requirement early on in their time at Carleton, and begin fulfilling the Foreign Language Requirement and Writing Requirement by their 5th term.

Related links: Graduation Requirements

Registration Time

Note that the choices of a student registering in the last third of the class are going to be relatively constrained. However, a late registration time for one term is compensated by earlier times in the other terms.

Priority Registration

Priority Registration gives an advantage to students who might otherwise be registering too late to get into certain classes.

Related links: Registration Regulation and Procedures

Things to Consider About A Course Program

• Does it focus only on courses that require daily assignments or does it offer flexibility in work load?
• Are reading, math/science, and language courses balanced?
• Is it a full 18 credits?
• Is there a good balance between introductory courses and other courses the student finds challenging?

If you have a question about the suitability of a course or course level, you (or the student) can contact the instructor, department chair, or program director directly.

Courses in the Sciences

A good guide for prospective science majors which outlines several courses of study in Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, and Physics based on different levels of high school experience.

Language Requirement FAQ

Frequently asked questions about Carleton's Language Requirement

First-year Students Registering for Winter Term (in the Fall)

In addition to academic questions, the following are suggested topics to discuss at your advising session:

• How are things going?
• Have you had difficulty with anything?
• What have you found most surprising about college? About Carleton?
• How are you liking your classes?
• Have you had opportunities to meet other students and to start making friends?

First-year Students Registering for Spring Term (in the Winter)

Possible questions:

• Do you have an authenticated paper from your writing requirement class for your portfolio?
• Are there things you were hoping to accomplish this year that you haven't accomplished yet?
• What are you doing to manage your time?
• Are you thinking of off-campus study for next year?

First-year Students Registering for Fall Term (in the Spring)

This will probably be your final meeting for the year. Some things to consider:

• Progress in thinking about a major: consider courses which will help narrow the field.
• For students who are fairly certain of a major: consider taking at least one course to challenge that choice.
• Accomplishments: how has college life has gone so far?
• How might things be done differently next year?
• Consider getting papers authenticated before the term's end since faculty are often hard to locate. (See Graduation Requirements for more information about the Writing Requirement)