Thinking Long Term
Thinking ahead during your first year will probably save you much agony later on in your college career. For starters, many departments require that you take classes in their field even before you declare them as a major. Furthermore, in departments that have a ton of requirements, taking classes there your first year helps ensure you have the freedom your junior and senior years to take classes outside your field of concentration.
The bible for planning long term is the "Undergraduate Announcement," which is published annually by the University. Every department and program has a section in which they list their requirements for entry and suggested course of study. Terrific resources are the departmental managers, who are generally very friendly and willing to answer questions, and the departmental representatives, whose job it is to guide majors in the department. You can also ask your director of studies or academic adviser in the residential college, who may be able to steer you in the right direction.
