How to choose classes as a College freshman

Welcome to Ben Franklin’s turf. 

I am a rising sophomore in the College, majoring in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, called PPE for short around campus. You don’t have to decide on your major until the end of your sophomore year, but some people, including me, are more or less determined about what they’re going to study. 

As pre-professional as Penn tends to be, you actually have the freedom to explore the liberal arts and sciences. The freedom does come with the price, though, of fulfilling the sometimes-annoying sector requirements.

At Penn, we use the Penn InTouch system for course selection. There is an advanced registration period each semester during which you search and register for courses. Advanced registration for your first semester should be around June and July. For the rest of your school years, advanced registration for the upcoming semester usually takes place a month before the current semester ends. 

Students in the College have to communicate with their pre-major advisors about academic plans before registering. Otherwise, they are not granted access to the registration system. 

Everyone has another chance to add or drop classes at the beginning of the semester.

I took four classes in my first semester, like most College students. 

This semester I am taking five classes, including a writing seminar — which is required for all undergraduates, calculus, economics and PSYC 001: Introduction to Experimental Psychology. 

Writing seminars usually involved a huge amount of time commitment; they aren’t necessarily difficult but tedious for sure. You can choose classes from across the four different schools so if you want to do a dual degree, definitely consider taking classes outside of the College. Also be aware of prerequisites for majors that interest you. 

Hopefully, this is useful information for you. Congratulations on getting into Penn. We are excited to meet you. Until you get to campus, take care and get ready for your four years of fun and challenging academic life.

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