First Semester Course Planning

Welcome to Macalester!  We’re excited you’ll be joining us in Fall 2026. We understand that selecting courses for your first semester in college can feel both exciting and overwhelming, so we try to provide information and guidance in several different ways. On this page, you’ll find general advice about how to think about a well-balanced schedule for your first semester.  On the First Semester Registration Steps page, you’ll find specific steps you need to take in order to choose a First Year Course, and later to register for the rest of your classes. Finally, the FAQs also provide helpful guidance and links to other resources.

What makes a great first semester schedule?

• Exploration and balance – take a subject (or two!) that you haven’t tried before! Macalester’s graduation requirements mean that you will need to take courses in a wide range of subjects, and there’s no better time to start than your first semester. Taking courses in a variety of departments also means you are likely to have a workload that is balanced between different kinds of assignments (e.g. reading, writing, problem sets, or labs). Find advice from different departments about courses suitable for first semester students here.
• A First Year Course – all incoming first year students take a First Year Course (FYC) in their first semester. The instructor for this course will be your academic advisor. Most departments across campus offer one or more FYCs; you can find a list of this year’s offerings here.
• Language proficiency – consider starting to fulfill the language proficiency requirement, especially if you plan to continue a language you have been studying in high school. For more information about this requirement and the ways to fulfill it, as well as information on language placement, please see the Second Language Proficiency page.
• Consider Chemistry – if you are considering a major in Biology, Chemistry, or Neuroscience, or if you are considering completing pre-health coursework, we strongly recommend that you start by taking CHEM 111 in your first semester.

Registration Overview

June: UPDATE: You can view a recording of the webinar here and a transcript of the Q&A here. Join us for the First Semester Academic Planning Webinar on June 2 at 5pm Central time. You can register for this in the New Student Portal, and the event is open to students and their families. Panelists describe the registration process, suggest strategies for developing your list of course preferences, and answer other questions you have about academics at Macalester. A recording will also be available to view after the event is complete. Then, submit your First Year Course Preference Form by June 15. This form asks for your ranked preferences of up to four First Year Courses.

July: You will receive your First Year Course assignment in early/mid July. The professor of the FYC serves as your initial academic advisor, and you can reach out to them with any additional questions you have. Because the FYC is tied to advising, housing and other aspects of orientation, once that assignment is made it cannot be changed. In late July you’ll meet over Zoom with your new advisor. In advance of that meeting, be sure to fill out the Course Planning Form in your New Student Portal. Nothing on this form is binding – it is a tool to use as a starting point for a discussion with your advisor about your schedule.

August: Registration for the rest of your courses occurs August 3-14. Your specific registration time is available in the New Student Portal. You can register at or after that time, until the close of registration. See the registration instructions for more information about how to complete your registration. When you attend Orientation, you will have another opportunity to make any necessary adjustments to non-FYC courses when you meet with your advisor.

Registration Tips

Open Modal

Language Classes

Open Modal

Math, Statistics, and Computer Science

Open Modal

Pre-Health

Contact Information