TigerJunction vs Recal: My Strategies for Structuring Courses in the Upcoming Academic Term
At Princeton University, students are advised to plan ahead for advanced elective courses and research-based courses, a topic that has recently gained attention. One essential tool in this planning process is course planning software, and two popular options are ReCal and its enhanced version, ReCal+.
ReCal, a course planning and scheduling tool available through TigerJunction, allows students to create tentative course schedules for upcoming terms. It integrates course offerings and basic scheduling information, helping students visualise schedule conflicts and plan their coursework.
ReCal+, on the other hand, offers all the core functionalities of the original ReCal but with additional enhancements. It boasts an improved user interface and user experience for easier navigation and planning. The enhanced version also incorporates historical data and analytics, enabling students to plan according to difficulty, professor ratings, or course popularity.
One of the standout features of ReCal+ is its enhanced integration with TigerHub and other university systems. This means students can access more accurate, real-time course availability and registration information. Additionally, ReCal+ supports saving multiple schedule drafts and comparing them side-by-side for better decision-making.
Another feature that sets ReCal+ apart is its advanced customisation. It offers a more robust search feature with filters for course ratings, distribution, and PDF status. Moreover, students can customise the colour theme of saved courses, making it easier to differentiate between various schedules.
As the academic year progresses, students may find that some courses, such as CWR 204 and FRS 154, have small class sizes and may not be able to be enrolled in. In such cases, having backup courses that fit into the schedule is beneficial. Using resources like Princeton Courses, which provides class ratings, current and previous professors, student feedback, prerequisites, course descriptions, and grading information, can help in planning a schedule that includes both required courses for degree progress and courses of interest.
When planning courses, it is also recommended to seek advice from friends, academic advisers, or residential college deans. For COS BSE majors, courses like COS 126, EGR 153, and EGR 154 are essential for fulfilling major requirements.
With the upcoming release of CourseGenie, a 4-year planner with AI course suggestions, and ReqTree, a visual map of class prerequisites, TigerJunction is set to become a comprehensive, all-in-one course planning platform. Shannon Yeow, Engineering Correspondent, suggests trying out both ReCal and ReCal+ for course planning to find which tool best suits your needs.
In summary, while both tools serve the core function of course planning, ReCal+ is a more robust, feature-rich platform compared to the original ReCal. It provides Princeton students with a more intuitive design, better real-time data, and additional planning aids that help in making informed course registration decisions.
Using tools like ReCal+ and ReCal, students at Princeton University can streamline their education-and-self-development journey by planning ahead for advanced elective courses and research-based courses. The personal-growth process of learning and choosing courses is facilitated by these course planning software, with ReCal+ offering several enhancements that aid in planning according to difficulty, professor ratings, or course popularity for resulting in a balanced schedule.
