Planning your four years at LC
In this section you will find some specific planning tools to help you make the most of the opportunities offered at LC.
- Time Management
- Semester Course-Planning Worksheet
- Four Year Course-Planning Worksheet
- Declaring Your Major
- Scholarship Information
1. Plan 2-3 hours of study per hour of class time. If you attend classes 12 hours a week, you will need to study 24-36 hours a week. This means 36-48 hours need to be scheduled for academics each week. Remember, school is your job.
2. At the start of each semester, mark on a calendar the due-dates of all exams, papers, and projects. These dates provide short-term goals, enabling you to manage your time in one of the following ways: - An hour-by-hour weekly calendar: In this approach, you indicate specifically what you will do and when you will do it on a weekly calendar.
- A daily list. This tool appeals to those who don’t want to be locked into an hour-by-hour schedule. But you will need to prioritize your daily list, with a clear understanding of how your short-term and long-term goals will be affected.
Reminders:
- Plan for 8 hours of sleep each night.
- Eat well and exercise regularly.
- Maintain personal, family, and social relationships.
- Start long assignments early.
- Make use of the hours between classes.
- Manage your time rather than letting it manage you.
Lay out on this worksheet all your classes, athletics, jobs, and community service activities—anything that regularly occurs each week. Doing so will give you a visual impression of where you can fit in study time. Semester Course-Planning Worksheet (.pdf) Use this worksheet to project when to take various required or elective courses, the best time to go on an overseas program, and so forth. If you do not know what specific courses will be offered in future years, write “major,” “requirement,” or “elective” to block in courses. Four year course-planning worksheet (.pdf) A liberal arts education is intended to provide both breadth and depth. General Education Requirements and elective courses expand your knowledge and understanding through the study of a broad array of subjects. The major requires you to delve deeply into one subject, to master its distinctive modes of thought, and to acquire an understanding of its achievements and complexities.
One of the expectations of a liberal arts education is that the coursework in any major will give each student the skills needed to be successful in any number of diverse paths and careers. The choice of an academic major does not necessitate or even necessarily imply the choice of a future career, but instead represents a base for a range of future opportunities. Two students majoring in the same field may end up with markedly different careers, while graduates with similar careers may have arrived at them by the route of very different majors.
Check out these websites for ideas about various jobs to which different majors can lead: What’s A Liberal Arts Education Good For, Anyway?
www.scrippscollege.edu/dept/careers/careerplan/libartskills.html
Careers for Liberal Arts Majors
www2.davidson.edu/studentlife/cs/cs_majors.asp
What can I do with a major in…
www.uncw.edu/stuaff/career/Majors/index.htm
College Majors and Career Information
careerservices.rutgers.edu/CareerHandouts.html
When to Declare a Major:
Students who have 61 credits must have declared a major in order to register for classes the next semester. The ideal time to declare your major is, then, no later than the end of the sophomore year. That will leave you enough time to complete the prerequisite course work for upper-division courses and to take advantage of internship, practicum, or research opportunities available to juniors and seniors.
By declaring your major in the sophomore year, you will also be able to make important connections with faculty in your major department, who will help you decide the courses you should take and who can help you think about career interests related to your field. The department will also add your name to their mailing list for notifications of course changes and special events. Choosing a major:
You should major in the field you enjoy the most because that is where you will most likely challenge yourself to do your best work and develop your critical-thinking skills. If your major courses are drudgery, reevaluate your choice.
- Ask Yourself:
- Which subject areas interest me most?
- Which ones do I do well in?
- What skills and talents do I have?
- What are my strengths and weaknesses?
- What do I envision myself doing after graduation?
- Look through the College Catalog and put checks next to courses you’d like to take.
- Make an appointment with a faculty member in each major you’re considering.
- Consult with your faculty advisor.
- Ask several juniors and seniors what they like and dislike about their majors.
Declaring a major:
Get the Major/Minor/Advisor Declaration form from the Registrar’s Office or online at the Academic Advising website. Ask a faculty member in your major department to sign the form as your major advisor. Transfer students with a previously declared major at their former college must formally declare their major at Lewis & Clark. Meet with the chair of the department as only the chair can approve the application of courses from another college to the major requirements at Lewis & Clark.
The most reliable source of information on major, minor, and General Education requirements is the College Catalog in effect the year of your matriculation. You should also consult with your major advisor. The chair of your department has final approval on major requirements when you complete your degree application in your senior year. Declaring a double major or minor:
The Major/Minor/Advisor Declaration form (available from the Registrar’s Office or at Academic Advising website) has space to declare two majors and two minors.
If you are thinking about a double major, it is important to know that at least 28 discrete credits must be completed in each major (i.e., not used for the other major).
If you plan to complete a minor, remember that at least 12 discrete credits must be taken for the minor (i.e., not used for any other minor or major). Declaring a student-designed major:
The College Catalog explains the process you must follow. Forms are available at the Office of the Dean of the College. Please note that if you have a student-designed major, you may not double major. Engineering, Pre-law, Pre-med
To prepare for any of these careers, you still need to select a major in a particular department and choose a major advisor in that department. The following faculty members can provide specific advice: - Engineering advice: Dr. Stephen Tufte (Physics)
- Pre-law advice: Dr. Todd Lochner (Political Science)
- Pre-med advice: Dr. Bethe Scalettar (Physics), Dr. William Randall (Chemistry), or Pre-med website
For more information:
Consult with your faculty advisor, visit the Academic Advising website, or drop by the Office of Academic Advising.
External Scholarships
Research reveals that students who begin combining their academic, service, and recreational interests during their first years of college often become successful candidates for national grants and awards. The Office of Student Financial Services has a webpage with lots of good advice. Internal Scholarships
The following scholarship opportunities are available for continuing LC students. Students who meet established eligibility criteria for the various scholarships will be invited to apply in early January 2006. Freshman Cheney Scholarship
The top 10% of students with freshman class standing after fall semester will be invited to apply for the Freshman Cheney Scholarship. Five $1,000 non-renewable merit scholarships will be awarded for the 2005–06 academic year. Applicants submit one faculty letter of recommendation and an application. Selection of recipients is based on academic merit as well as community and College service. Junior Cheney Scholarship
The top 10% of students with junior class standing after fall semester will be invited to apply for the Junior Cheney Scholarship. Five non-renewable merit scholarships will be awarded for the 2005–06 academic year. Applicants submit one faculty letter of recommendation and an application. Selection of recipients is based on academic merit as well as community and College service. R. B. Pamplin Corporation Scholarship
The top 10% of students with junior class standing after fall semester will be invited to apply for the R. B. Pamplin Scholarship. Two $2,500 merit scholarships will be awarded for the 2005–06 academic year. Applicants submit two faculty letters of recommendation and an application. Selection of recipients is based on academic merit as well as community and College service. Mary Stuart Rogers Scholarship
Students at sophomore or junior class standing with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 are encouraged to apply. Each year, ten scholarships of $5,000 are awarded to undergraduate students demonstrating financial need and are renewable for one additional year. Approximately five new recipients will be selected for the 2005–06 academic year. Students interested in applying for this scholarship must submit a letter of interest explaining how their experiences and achievements exemplify the personal qualities of dedication, integrity, compassion, sensitivity, self-discipline, and leadership. The letter should also contain a summary of significant co-curricular activities. One faculty letter of recommendation is also required. The Dr. Robert B. Pamplin, Jr. Society of Fellows
The Pamplin Society is the highest honor bestowed by Lewis & Clark on its students. Candidates are nominated and are required to submit two faculty letters of recommendation and an application. Seven sophomore students annually are named as Pamplin Fellows. These students demonstrate superior intellectual promise and academic performance; dedication to their communities and the desire to use their talents on behalf of a free and democratic society; interest and success in physical fitness and health; and unimpeachable integrity.
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