The selection of courses during your first year must be done with two considerations in mind.

First, you should be strategic in your course selection, choosing courses which will fulfill university graduation requirements as well as the requirements for your intended major. Eliminating requirements early on in your college career will make the course load in your latter years – when you’ll be focusing more intensely on the graduate school application process – easier.

Make sure you consult the appropriate manual at your university to determine what the requirements are for the major you think you are interested in. Also, consult your academic advisor on how to best proceed. Although most colleges do not require that a major be declared until sophomore year, it is never too early to be aware of your academic requirements.

In addition to focusing on requirements, you should use your first year as a time for intellectual exploration. Take courses that you find interesting.

This point is especially applicable to those who are unsure what their major will be, but who nevertheless plan on attending graduate school. It is also a good idea to take classes you find interesting because you will probably get better grades in those classes.

Remember, G.P.A. is one of the factors considered by graduate school admissions committees when deciding which students to admit. Thus, the higher your G.P.A., the more attractive your graduate school application will be.

Finally, taking a variety of classes can also help you to expand your intellectual horizons, fostering personal, as well as professional, growth.