How did you guys manage and create your schedule for University classes?

It's a combination of knowing yourself and what is available. For example, if you are not a morning person, don't sign up for 8 a.m. classes, unless of course, there is a required class that is only offered at 8 am. If commuting costs are a concern, you try to load up on Monday/Wednesday/Friday classes and skip Tues/Thurs. If it is a large campus, you need to give yourself time to get from one class to the next if they are not nearby each other. If you have trouble with school, do not try to take 15 hours your first semester, start with 12 and see how you do. Research the classes/professors to see which ones give a lot of work. Don't avoid the hard teachers, as those are the ones where you learn something, just be aware of the workload to expect from each one. Have some extra time that you have to be at the campus between classes, so you have time to use the library, participate in study groups, etc.

You will also have choices as to what to take each semester. First semester might look something like this. Notice the built in study time on Tues/Thurs.

Monday/Wed/ Fri
9 am - 9:50 am American Gov't
10 am- 10:50 am Algebra
11-1 (lunch/study/freetime)
1:00 -1:50 Freshman Composition
2pm-4 pm (can leave, or stay if you have things to work on)
Tues/Thurs
8:30-11 am (Free time/study time)
11:00-12:15 Intro to Psychology
12:15-2 pm (lunch/study)
2:00-3:15 US history I

best of luck!

I believe as a freshman, the school will make your schedule for your. As Kim said up above, make sure that you pick classes that suit you (i.e. if you're not a morning person, don't take the early classes, if you're a commuter, you may want to schedule your classes on one day, etc.).

I would recommend getting your school pre-reqs out of the way first. They will tend to be the easiest, and if you're an undecided major, it will get those out of the way first. Saving a couple of your easy classes for senior year would also be beneficial, because your upper level courses towards the end are going to be more heavy in work, so if you have 2 classes that are heavy, and 3 that are easier for you, it will be less stressful.

If you are commuting, I would recommend scheduling your classes on the same days, with giving yourself some time off (like Kim suggested). I was a commuter for part of my time in school, and I had a couple of semesters where I had Tuesdays/Thursdays off, and even one where I had Fridays off. On the off days, I was able to bang out my homework, and even get ahead on some items. I also used to use my breaks on class days to go to the library to get work done as well.

If you can, once the course schedule comes out for the semester, start making some mock schedules. Highlight the classes you want to take (sky's the limit!), and then plot it out on paper and see which ones would be best. It's kind of like a puzzle. Always have back ups too, because if things haven't changed from when I was in school, freshmen go last, and most likely some of your courses will fill up.

P.S. Try at least one night class. Most of the professors for the night classes I had were adjuncts, so they worked full time during the day, and offered really good real world examples, and it helped make the class interesting. :-)

I believe freshmen have their courses picked for them. If it isn't the case, you are going to need three things. Your major curriculum, the university courses booklet, and the online course registration website. The curriculum to know your core and elective courses, the booklet to read the courses distribution, and the website to know the courses available and register. I am sure they are going to teach you this stuff during the orientation.