With the end of the semester fast approaching and the spring 2025 semester around the corner, winter break offers a great opportunity to set yourself up for the upcoming semester. From registering for spring classes to planning future opportunities and events to attend, being proactive and taking advantage of Parkland’s resources to help transition and position yourself is an excellent way to step foot into the new semester.
Spring Registration
With early registration already occurring this past October, right now is the time to register for classes, not only to make it before your desired course’s deadlines but to optimize your selection of available courses. Getting a spot in certain classes can be a competitive task and consequently leave you high and dry if you don’t register early enough.
To get an idea of what classes to register for, log into your Parkland account and look at the “My Progress” tab under student planning. There, you can find all the classes you have already been accredited for and see the required courses you have left to take before graduation.
For instance, a humanities course is a common requirement for many programs. We at Prospectus received exciting news from the Humanities faculty chair, Brian Nudelman, that a guest teacher will be joining the “Cultures and Civilization of Sub-Saharan Africa” course this upcoming spring.
Nudelman revealed that the guest teacher will be “Dr. Youssoupha Mane, Parkland’s Fullbright Scholar, for this current academic year. Dr. Mane is from Senegal, holds a PhD in African Studies from Gaston Beger University of St. Louis in Senegal, and is currently an Associate Professor at the same university.”
For students needing a humanities course for spring, this is an excellent opportunity to receive perspective directly from an international scholar. Perspectives like this are much of what makes having a Fullbright Scholar a unique experience, especially considering that it has yet to be commonly offered at Parkland.
While registering for classes, it is also important to note that according to Parkland’s registration site, “degree-seeking students who have earned less than 30 credit hours at Parkland College must meet with an academic advisor before registering.” If this requisite applies to you, scheduling your appointment before the semester ends is highly beneficial, as Parkland is closed throughout its winter break from Dec. 23 through Jan.1.
Events and getting involved
Beyond planning your course schedule, however, Parkland offers so many events and extracurricular activities for the upcoming semester that it is an excellent time to make plans or figure out how to get more involved.
Some of the more prominent events taking place this fall come from Parkland’s own theatre and planetarium, offering theatrical productions such as “The Miser” and “The Wedding Singer” and planetarium showings like “Skywatchers of Africa” and “Beyond the Sun.”
Another intriguing opportunity lies in volunteering for the Science Olympiad, taking place the first week of next March. Hosted the previous year at Parkland, the Science Olympiad serves as a science-based competitive event for middle and high school students, being a great volunteer experience for anyone interested in science or looking to join the field.
While often straightforward, joining a club is a fantastic way to build a community centered around similar interests and goals. We recommend going to Parkland’s student life section online to see what clubs interest you while registering for classes. That way, you can schedule your classes around the clubs’ meeting times.
Planning study abroad
Despite the deadline for the spring study abroad locations already closing, the summer locations are still up for grabs. Depending on the trip, the deadlines range between mid-February and mid-March, making this winter and early spring a highly opportune time to look into a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
With ten different countries to choose from, many of which are only available this summer, the thought of traveling abroad is a compelling switch from the typical ins and outs of preparing for the usual semester.
If you are looking for a way to continue your education while participating in a fun and enriching cultural experience but still have concerns about the inner process involving topics like what country to choose and how to afford to attend school internationally, do not worry.
Here is our most recent article, which covered the ins and outs of studying abroad. We interviewed Jody Littleton, the program coordinator, and students who participated in the program. If you are still interested after reading, Littleton is the person to go to for any inquiries.
To returning students
No matter how your fall 2024 semester has gone, whether it has been a time for self-growth or has caused feelings of stress, one thing remains true for returning students: there are always lessons to apply from a previous semester to the upcoming.
So get a head start, reach out to your advisors, use Parkland’s resources and most importantly, let yourself rest so that you can return to Parkland next spring and make it your best semester yet.
