A Little Light Beach Reading: the College Catalog and You

HEAD Start

These balmy summer days are perfect for reading thrilling mysteries and romances. Your college catalog is probably neither thrilling nor romantic, although its complicated descriptions of academic regulations may be a little mysterious. Keep most of your reading hours for the fun stuff, but take just a few minutes to browse through the catalog - you'll never have time to do this during the school year, and there's information in the catalog that can put you ahead in the whole college game.

HEAD Lines

LOOK FOR:

• Details on the majors you've been considering - and maybe discover some majors you didn't know existed. English Language Arts? How is that different from plain old English? Soon you'll know!

• Descriptions of student resources and services. For example, your college might have a ski cabin students can rent in the winter, or reservible group study rooms in the library. Offerings like this often go underutilized because no one knows they're there. Amaze your friends with your inside knowledge!

• Special programs. There are tons of these to encourage students to pursue particular academic fields, and often they provide money, mentoring, research opportunities, and special advising.

·       And last but not least, now's your chance to brush up your knowledge of your college's policies: when to declare a major, how many credits you need to graduate, what grades you'll need to earn, how to get honors... Not the most fascinating stuff, unless you're pre-law and you like learning about rules, but definitely important to know.

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·From Other HEADS

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·I CHOSE AN INTERDISCIPLINARY MAJOR so I could take courses in lots of departments.

-- M.K.

BELOIT COLLEGE

I MADE THE DEAN'S LIST, and there is nothing better than feeling like you really accomplished what you set out to do in college.

-- A.L. HILLSBOROUGH

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS

I CHOSE MY MAJOR because my cousin was an electrical engineer and he said not only was it fun, but the money was good. Plus, my college offered me a four-year scholarship to get more African-American girls into the program. It was an offer I couldn't refuse.

-- CORAVIECE TERRY

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY, CARBONDALE

HoH Tips

• Can't find an academic department in the catalog, although you know for sure it exists? Try the index in the back. Departments are frequently listed out of alphabetical order because of their affiliation - for example, you may find French under "R" for Romance Languages instead of under "F".

• Good to Know: