Drop Ins - Episode 2: What should I know before my first semester?

In this minisode of Drop-Ins, hosts Molly Clock and Ryan Howlett tackle one of the most common sources of student confusion: DegreeWorks. If you've ever opened your degree audit, seen a wall of red circles, and immediately closed the tab, this episode is for you.Molly and Ryan break down what DegreeWorks actually is, why it can feel intimidating at first, and how to read it like your advisor does. They cover common issues students run into — like a class not counting where they expected — and walk through practical tools like the "What-If" feature, which lets students test out a new major, minor, or course before committing. They also address a common point of confusion around AP and transfer credit, and explain why DegreeWorks can sometimes look different from one semester to the next.Beyond the technical how-to, Molly and Ryan connect the everyday habit of checking your degree audit to bigger-picture skills — adaptability, planning, and self-advocacy — that carry well beyond graduation.Whether you're a first-year student trying to make sense of your audit for the first time, or a returning student who still finds it a little mysterious, this episode offers a clear, encouraging walkthrough of one of the most-used tools in your academic toolkit.