Four-Year Planning...Why Bother?
by Emily Mraz, Academic Adviser
Society & Culture Student Community
So, what are you planning to take next semester? Have you met with your adviser lately to go over remaining requirements? Have you jumped on the four-year-planning bandwagon yet? If not, why not?
"Four-year-planning" has become the new catch phrase lately in advising offices here at the U. There is even an online tool to assist students in the process! Four-year planning means exactly that: planning out courses to take and other activities that you hope to accomplish during a specific semester or year. The benefits to four-year-planning are limitless, but include awareness of your progress regarding general requirements and gaining a sense of direction. For example, you realize that the calculus course you're currently struggling through is worth all of the hard work because it's actually getting you closer to your goal of applying to the Architecture major.
There are some things to keep in mind when considering four-year planning. With enough advanced planning, students should be able to fit in all of the requirements they need to graduate in four years. Also, four-year planning should be thought of as an ongoing process. It's normal for the plan to change as new developments arise, such as changing one's major! Some undecided students develop what we call "parallel plans", or multiple plans for different possible majors. Parallel plans are very useful for students thinking about applying to competitive majors and students who have yet to choose their major. This is an important concept because it demonstrates that you don't need to know your major before you can develop your four-year plan!
Four-year planning is extremely helpful in putting things in perspective, looking at the big picture and realizing that there is life after college. It is also very effective in helping students gauge how quickly time can go by while you're in college. Graduation will be here before you know it, and with some careful planning, you won't have anything to regret! Contact your college advisor today for more information on four year planning and its online tool!
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