Part of choosing a college involves thinking about what program you want to study. With over 70 degrees and programs offered at PUC, whatever your passion, we’ve got a program for you! (Pssst! You can learn more about all of the college’s programs at puc.edu/academics.)

There’s also a lot more to academics than deciding on your major. Here are five academic-related questions students frequently ask during PUC’s admissions process. Reach out to PUC’s team of admissions counselors if you have additional questions or need clarification on anything!

What does the typical day of a college student look like?

Every day will probably be different! Sorry, it’s a frustrating answer, but it’s the truth. Most classes at PUC meet three or four times a week, so you’ll likely have different classes on different days. Some classes are an hour, while others might be three hours (like a lab). Depending on your schedule, you might have classes all in the morning or all in the afternoon. You’ll have lots of free time, but it’s important to balance your time well. Which leads to the next question …

How much should I plan to study each week?

As a general rule of thumb, most professors say college students should expect to spend about two hours studying per week for each credit hour they take. A full load at PUC is considered to be 16 credits, which means about 16 hours of your week is spent in class, and you should try to block out about 32 hours a week to prepare for classes. Class prep includes homework, reading, and any other assignments. Don’t panic though, you probably won’t spend all that time studying, as it can fluctuate based on papers, projects, and other things. To give you a better idea of what to expect, USA Today found the average college student spends about 17 hours per week preparing for their classes.

What if I don’t know what I want to study?

Don’t worry if you haven’t picked a major yet! You’ll be fine. Research suggests as many as 80 percent of college students change their major at least once, while the average student changes their major up to three times. Understandably then, many students come to college without knowing exactly what they want to study.

The beauty of PUC being a liberal arts college is you will need to take classes in many different subjects to fulfill your General Education requirements (You can read more about those in the “What on Earth are General Education Requirements?!” blog post). This is the perfect way to try something new while learning about your strengths to see whether or not you’re interested in a subject enough to major in it. Each quarter, there are hundreds of class options available to you, including classes on such topics as business law, fencing, American government, ceramics, anatomy, Christian ethics, creative writing, computer programming, and so much more.

If you’re struggling to see where your future is headed, there are also many resources available to you at PUC. Through the Career and Counseling Center, you’ll have access to multiple personality tests, interest surveys, and our career counselor will happily give you one-on-one career counseling. We’ll help you find where God is calling you.

Learn more about PUC’s Career and Counseling Center.

What academic resources does PUC have to help me with my studies?

The Teaching and Learning Center (TLC) offers free group tutoring Sunday through Thursday for more than 25 different courses, ranging from business to languages to science. Most lower-division GE courses have tutoring options available. If you’re struggling with a class but don’t see a tutoring option available, talk with the helpful TLC staff and they can set you up with a small group or an individual tutor. There’s also a writing lab available to students who would like input and direction on writing papers—take advantage of this service!

For those with a learning disability, be sure to contact the disabilities support service coordinator in the TLC when you are on campus to learn more about the accommodations we provide.

Learn more about PUC’s Teaching and Learning Center.

How do I register for classes?

For your first quarter, you’ll work with your admissions counselor to get registered for classes. Then, once you’re a student, you will be assigned an advisor in the area you’re studying. For example, if you’re planning to study business, your advisor will be a professor in the department of business (helpful, right?). Your advisor knows the ins and outs of their department’s programs and will be a valuable source for any questions you have about what classes you should take, what major you should consider for your career path, and more. Every quarter your advisor will need to approve your schedule, which is a great safety net for making sure you stay on track to complete your degree!

We have a team of five amazing admissions counselors ready to help you throughout the application process with any questions you have along the way, whether you have questions about admissions requirements, financial aid, or one of PUC’s academic programs. Call (800) 862-7080, option 2 or email admissions@puc.edu to get connected with one now!