Every university does the initial freshman scheduling a little differently.  But there are some similarities that might be useful for you to know.

1. Many campuses do course scheduling in the summer prior to your fall enrollment.  This generally involves a 1 – 2day visit to campus.  Try to do the earliest possible date so that you will have a fuller selection of classes.
2. Most majors will have a fairly established fall schedule.  In most cases, you can expect to take

■      Composition and rhetoric

■      Freshman seminar/ orientation

■      A math class

■      A lab science class

■      One/two general education classes)

3. Your math/science course may be determined by a placement test (See the Topic: Preparing for Placement Tests).  Generally this placement test will be given during your campus visit.
4. You may have a say in your class times and days, but in many cases, you will have a trial schedule already determined.  While you may not like your initial schedule, changing it can involve a lot of work.
5. You may have some activities that will influence your class schedule.  These include athletic schedules, marching band/concert band/ chorus practice/ work.  If these apply to you, you should let an advisor know so your schedule can be adjusted.
6. Students tend to do better when they have a demanding schedule.  That sounds counter intuitive;   but when students have a lot of free time or easy classes, they tend to get lazy and grades suffer.

Finally, you should trust your university to set up a schedule that will allow you to be a success.  A lot of incoming students will want to take classes in their first semester that may be too challenging for a first semester student.  Trust your advisor until you get a better feel for how you will do in college. .