How Do YOU Bluebook?!

Colleges & Universities Yale University
1

<p>Just curious about how people pick their classes!

  1. How do you organize the classes you’re interested in? Do you use post-it notes, Excel, or something else?
  2. What factors do you consider most important in choosing classes?
  3. How do you keep up with all the readings from the many classes you’re interested in within the first two weeks? Are professors more lenient during Shopping Period?
  4. Any recommendations for good classes? Personally, I’m a Humanities and Social Sciences person, but I’m open to anything.<br>
  5. Anything else!
    I can’t wait until the Bluebook actually arrives via snail mail!</p>
2

<p>When do we receive the blue book in the mail again?</p>

3

<p>I really want to know the answers to some of these questions as well. Good idea, bloomsday!</p>

4

<p>Disclaimer: I’ll be a sophomore in the fall and I’m would most certainly not call myself a Blue Book expert but here are a few things I learned/observed last year. </p>

<p>1. How do you organize the classes you’re interested in?
When I received the BlueBook, I marked it up and organized my choices on a simple word document. When I got on-campus, everybody (i.e. my suitemates/friends) was super-tech savvy and already using OCI (on-line bluebook and where you officially sign-up for classes) and organizing their classes in Excel and figuring out schedules in Google Calendar just to name a few. I found the OCI schedule maker useful but other people found it easier to use something like the Google Calendar. On OCI, when you add a class to your schedule, it will show you in a week format how it fits in your schedule. There will be a lot of overlap when you select classes that are in the same time period so this is probably why people choose something like a separate calender/excel.</p>

<p>Don’t feel pressured to use something because somebody else is using it. Use the strategy you most feel comfortable using. Even it means arming yourself with just the Bluebook and a highlighter. </p>

<p>I would suggest getting familiar with OCI as that is the last step in the class selection process. </p>

<p>2. What factors do you consider most important in choosing classes?
I consider the class summary, syllabus(gives idea of workload), evaluations, time period, class size. It also depends on what else you want to take. If you are taking science classes with a lab, you have to consider if you have enough time to go from A to B as you wouldn’t want to run up science hill from Old Campus for example. Also, if you want a really great sounding class that seems to be a lot of work in terms of papers and reading then you might want to choose a class that is less of a time committment in terms of work. </p>

<p>Balance is important in a schedule. </p>

<p>3. How do you keep up with all the readings from the many classes you’re interested in within the first two weeks? Are professors more lenient during Shopping Period?
Shopping Period sounded glorious until I heard we were actually supposed to keep up with everything during that time. However, it is manageable unless you are shopping an enormous load of classes. Usually though, you can weed out a class from one or two sittings. Professors are lenient in tems of you leaving the classroom to visit another class for instance but in terms of turning in work, they expect that you do it and you do it well. </p>

<p>**4. Any recommendations for good classes? Personally, I’m a Humanities and Social Sciences person, but I’m open to anything. **
Classes are what you make of it for the most part. Sure, there are still boring/poorly structured classes at Yale but nonetheless, you’re learning something. Choose classes that you know will continue to interest you further along in the semester. If you lose interest, it will be sooo much harder to study for an exam or write a paper (which you should start early so you can actually use a yale writing tutor before hordes of students do so a few days before the paper is due). </p>

<p>5. Anything else!
Explore as a freshman! Don’t feel obligated to take a high school like schedule. Choose what makes you happy. Looking back, I wish I had been more adventerous in terms of choosing classes. </p>

<ul>
<li><p>Lecture vs. Small Class
Some small classes demand more work (i.e. you have to do the reading before class and participate) but you can have great discussions and get to know the material better. Lecture classes provide some anonymity and you can get away with not doing the reading sometimes but they can also feel detached. People tend to have a mix of both in their schedule. </p></li>
<li><p>Prof. Office Hours
Go!</p></li>
<li><p>Weekly Schedule
Some people choose to have days off. This works for some people who enjoy a 3-day or 4-day weekend but then that involves 3 or 4 course-heavy days which some people can’t manage. So, don’t take that path unless you think you can handle it. </p></li>
<li><p>Don’t forget about section!
Certain classes like lectures and science courses have section, which is a separate class one day a week for one hour led by a TA and it must fit in your course schedule. </p></li>
<li><p>Language
Level 1-3 language classes meet 5 days a week and during Reading Period. You have to set aside a time period for your language class but there are several time periods from which to choose from. Use evaluations to decide on which teacher/TA to select.</p></li>
</ul>

5

<p>^ Good stuff. I too will be a sophomore. 2013!!!
I’ll just add some quick things to what labellehistoire said because my previous post didn’t actually post. :(</p>

<ol>
<li>I just used pen and paper. I tried using Google Cal and iCal but I really enjoy scribbling notes all over the place and making random lists, etc. So paper and pen worked best for me. But people do all random things.</li>
</ol>

<p>I would agree that OCI is A LOT better than the Blue Book. OCI is more up to date and you can selectively search for things. I think going through the Blue Book is a rite of passage, but don’t underestimate the power of OCI.</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Definitely read the reviews (this mean read more than just 2 student reviews and don’t look at the graphs. Take the time to see what a handful of other students had to say) and DEFINITELY check out the syllabus. It should sound fun on paper (and manageable) before you consider taking it. But, don’t take student evals totally to heart. SHOP THE CLASS! SHOP THE CLASS! SHOP THE CLASS!! Do not take a class you don’t shop. You might end up hating it later, and that is not a fun experience when Shopping Period could’ve helped you weed out a class you didn’t like.</p></li>
<li><p>Sections for lectures don’t usually meet until after Shopping Period so no real work to keep up with. You can always do it later, and professors are somewhat sometimes lenient about work. If you’re shopping seminars, make sure to check them out early in Shopping Period. It’s a lot harder to avoid seminar homework and to catch up for them, so you want to make a decision about those ASAP.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Remember that while Shopping Period sounds great, 1.5 weeks (it’s not really 2 weeks) is a long time. Do not wait till the last minute to make up your mind just to keep giving a class a chance. Make your decisions ASAP. This doesn’t mean that if a class comes up late in SP you shouldn’t look into it. Just don’t proactively keep checking out classes because you can. It will make things more difficult.</p>

<ol>
<li>TAKE A CLASS WITH RITZENBERG (ENGLISH) if you can. He’s amazing.</li>
</ol>

<p>Agreed: explore! Go to Prof. Office hours! GO, GO, GO! (Everyone will tell you this and you’ll say you will but actually won’t. Remember, you’ll want to know faculty at some point in college. Start early!)</p>

<p>Lecture vs. Seminars: Seminars will require you to do work because you can’t avoid reading. Lectures tend to be boring and pointless (the reading will cover the same thing). Lectures also have an extra hour associated with them (sections). Sections SUCK SO MUCH (IMO). Seminars allow you to know professors, whereas in lectures it’s a little more difficult. I personally think seminars > lectures. Just make sure to keep up with the work. Lectures are unavoidable most of the times though so just handle it as you can.</p>

<p>Definitely consider your social and/or extracurricular schedule when scheduling classes. Not having Friday classes is AMAZING. But don’t avoid a good class because it’s on a Friday.</p>

6

<p>oh yay bluebooking!</p>

<ol>
<li><p>How do you organize the classes you’re interested in? Do you use post-it notes, Excel, or something else?
First, I go through the blue book (or oci, whatever) and make a list of everything I want to take. Then, I enter every class’s time on my iCal, deciding which ones I’m going to shop when. It ends up looking really insane, but that’s just me. VERY IMPORTANT: sign up for a section for all lectures you’re considering ASAP. Even if you’re not sure you want to take them. The good sections (for popular classes) fill up fast. </p></li>
<li><p>What factors do you consider most important in choosing classes?
I rule out most classes before 10am, because I can barely make my 10:30 classes (not a morning person, what can I say). Last year as a freshman I had a few classes I knew I wanted to take right off the bat - micro, language, intro psych, and an intro class each semester in the subject I want to major in. I considered those would be a good “base” for future studies and what not. For the rest, I first considered workload: papers, amount of reading, etc. - this is VERY important, you want your schedule to be balanced. You’ll be all like, oh yeah, I can handle two writing-intensive classes at the same time! and around mid-October hate yourself for thinking you were such a badass back in September.
Anyways, then I just went by subjective stuff like if I liked the professor, if the readings seemed interesting, y’know. </p></li>
<li><p>How do you keep up with all the readings from the many classes you’re interested in within the first two weeks? Are professors more lenient during Shopping Period?
Umm…I don’t. And, they aren’t. Solution? Decide what you want to take early in shopping period. Have a fairly decided schedule by the end of the first week so you can catch up over the weekend.</p></li>
<li><p>Any recommendations for good classes? Personally, I’m a Humanities and Social Sciences person, but I’m open to anything.
Intro to Political Philosophy. Steven Smith is da man.
Intro Psych. Incredibly interesting and a great foundation for anything social sciencey
Micro. Kicked my ass but also really good - no, actually essential - to know for social sciences
Don’t take an intro math class unless you plan to be some sort of econ/math/science major. I’ve heard they’re terrible</p></li>
<li><p>Anything else!
Have fun! Explore! But, don’t go crazy or be too random. You will get better grades in subjects that you enjoy.
Also, first semester most people eff up choosing their classes. You could hear every piece of bluebooking advice ever given and still have a class or two you regretted taking by midterms. I had a much better schedule second semester simply because I had a better idea of how Yale classes work. So, choose your classes carefully, but remember, first semester is a learning experience first and foremost. Don’t stress too much :)</p></li>
</ol>

7

<ol>
<li>How do you organize the classes you’re interested in? Do you use post-it notes, Excel, or something else?</li>
</ol>

<p>I just add them all on OCS, because it is the easiest way of visualizing time conflicts without expending the effort of making an Excel document. YOu can always remove them later, before you finalize your schedule.</p>

<ol>
<li>What factors do you consider most important in choosing classes?</li>
</ol>

<p>The course evaluations are generally the most important thing, because they tell you professorial tendencies, test difficulties, and the other things you wouldn’t necessarily be able to discern from a couple introductory lectures during shopping period. To that end, you just see if the course fits what you want - easy A if you need to balance out a difficult load of math and science, intellectual seminar, and so on. The second most important is time - never choose morning classes if you like staying up late. I made the mistake of selecting a 9:00 AM class fall semester, and attended it slightly more than half the time because I couldn’t wake up. I had difficulty waking up for a 10:30 class spring semester, but that was more because I was perpetually tired due to taking Physics 201. On that note, do not take Physics 201 if Shankar is teaching it. You will regret it.</p>

<ol>
<li>How do you keep up with all the readings from the many classes you’re interested in within the first two weeks? Are professors more lenient during Shopping Period?</li>
</ol>

<p>You don’t unless you are seriously interested in the course. Usually you enter shopping period with a basic idea of what you are taking, and use the flexibility to choose between three or four candidates for the final class of the semester. And since you generally can identify after the first class which one you’ll select you subconsciously prioritize the work. It should be the least of your worries, really. The only classes which give out serious homework during shopping period are math and science courses, and those are rarely “shopped” in the traditional sense because they are required for the math and science majors taking them, while avoided like the plague for the less-quantitatively inclined. For those on the boundary between math and humanities, such as introductory and intermediate economics, the professors will not give problem sets until shopping period is over.</p>

<ol>
<li>Any recommendations for good classes? Personally, I’m a Humanities and Social Sciences person, but I’m open to anything.</li>
</ol>

<p>English 120, if you get a good professor, is a great class.
According the course evaluations, PLSC 126 was a great course, and I can attest that he is a wonderful lecturer.
Intro to Political Philosophy if it is Steven Smith
Intro to Psychology if it is Marvin Chun</p>

<ol>
<li>Anything else!</li>
</ol>

<p>Don’t overestimate your abilities. You will sorely regret it.</p>

8

<p>Bump because its online now…
[Yale</a> Online Course Information | Search Courses](<a href=“Yale Course Search | University Registrar's Office”>Yale Course Search | University Registrar's Office)</p>

9

<p>Thank you so much for all of your responses so far! :slight_smile: Bumppp in case anyone else has anything to add!</p>

10

<p>Here’s one global tip: take classes from professors that lot of other people say are amazing/inspiring, even if the subject is one that you don’t have a strong interest in. Try to avoid classes from professors that a lot of other people say are boring/bad teachers, even if the subject is one that interests you.
Also, don’t think that seminars or small classes on arcane subjects are necessarily the best. Big survey classes can be excellent if they have excellent professors. Some of the very best and most memorable classes I took were survey classes (i.e., music, art history).</p>

11

<p>^ True. Also, you need to consider the delicate trade offs of big lecture vs. seminar.</p>

<p>Big lecture: extra hour for section (most of the time), meets 2/3 times a week, homework not always required, attendance not always required, minimal professor exposure</p>

<p>Seminar: sometimes just once a week, never more than twice (unless language), homework usually completely required, attendance always required, participation required, intimate class experience and professor exposure, usually AMAZING</p>

12

<p>Good point. Take a seminar in a field you are interested in first semester, whether it is a freshman seminar or regular seminar. It should be one of the non-negiotable aspects of your course load freshman year.</p>

13

<p>Just remember that professor exposure can cut both ways. Choose carefully.</p>