A recent newspaper article about a college student facing a year-long delay in graduation due to a needed class being unavailable re-opens the conversation I have with every family regarding our process for college selection. 

The student in the news article needs a class for her degree that is offered only once per year (Fall semester).  Only two sections are offered by the one professor qualified to teach an advanced, technical class.  By the time the young woman got to registration, both sections were full. 

Her choices next Fall will be to take just the class she needs and work part-time; or take additional classes not required while enrolled in the one she must have.  Either way, entrance into her career will be postponed by perhaps as much as six months.

We advise and coach students into identifying a career path, first.  Yes, it may not end up being the one they eventually pursue.  Nevertheless, having a career track in mind leads seamlessly to a proposed "Major."  Identifying those two helps significantly when trying to decide to which colleges a student should apply for admission.

A student prepared in that manner can, from day one, identify required classes and (with the help of an academic advisor) get those course requirements satisfied as early as possible.