If youāre in college like me, registration can be a source of stress and confusion. Last year, since I was an incoming freshman, I had upperclassmen guide me through the process but this semester, I had to figure it out on my own. Soooo, I thought Iād write a little guide for making sure that registration will be stress-free!
First and foremost, check your registration date/time!
1. Check your advisement report/major program.
Usually, you can find this online on your campus portal. Mine laid out all of the requirements and classes I needed to take. It helped me to cross off the classes I had already taken and the classes that I didnāt meet the requirements for. Some have prerequisites (classes you have to pass before the next), corequisites (classes you have to take at the same time as the next), or standing requirements (you have to be in sophomore, junior, or senior standing to take them). When everything is crossed off, youāre left with your options. It might also be nice if youāre a freshman to create a four-year plan and check with your advisor so you only have to do the hard part once.
2. Write/draw a timetable of the schedule you create.
Find your registration catalog on your collegeās website and search for the classes you chose. Then plot out when all of your classes occur. I found that this helps you visualize your classes so you donāt schedule two at the same times or days. Assign each class a color so you can tell the difference between those that are close together. You can also cut out pieces with the names of classes and move them around based on what sections you choose. I included the subject, catalog number, section number, building/room, and professor.
3. Have options and backups.
Depending on your class standing, you might have the first shot at classes or the last. Itās always best to have a backup plan. Make at least one backup schedule and a list of all the sections that can fit in each time period in case you donāt get a seat in your first-choice classes.
4. Keep location, professors, and difficulty in mind.
If at all possible, try to avoid classes that require you to sprint across campus in between- not fun. A lot of my classes are in the same building because of my major, so I scheduled them all next to each other so I didnāt have to keep coming back to the same spot all day. If youāre an undeclared major, stay away from odd 30min/1hr gaps in between classes so you donāt need to run from your dorm to class 3-odd times a day. BUT REMEMBER LUNCH!!!! (I have this problem this semester- I need to eat in a recliner in my building in between classes (sometimes it took me 2 passing times to finish lunch!) No food = no concentration.Ā
I encourage you to research your profs- but donāt take online reviews too seriously. Usually, people only write reviews when they have really good or really bad experiences. With the average prof, youāre gonna get a mix of both. Try asking around with upperclassmen that have already taken the course instead. If the class seems too difficult or has a lot of required reading, donāt be afraid to pass it up, especially if you already have a rigorous schedule. Donāt overwork yourself- youāll regret it later. Itās the same with the opposite. If you have a lot of really easy classes or very few classes in general like I do this semester, youāll find it just as hard to get things done as if you took too much. Thereās a fine line between overworking, balancing your time, and overestimating your free time and never studying. Trust me, I know from experience.
5. Double-triple-quadruple check with your advisor!!!!
This is probably the most important. Even if you have a perfect schedule, you could still be off-track in your program. Itās very easy to miss that one little financial literacy course you need or graduation or even a giant capstone major class if youāre surrounded by information. Yesterday, I didnāt look closely enough at section numbers and mixed up 2 classes that ended up clashing with each other. It took my advisor about 20 minutes to completely redesign the schedule that took me 3 hours to curate. They know what theyāre doing, itās their job.
6. Be prepared when the time comes.
Once you have your schedule, I strongly suggest putting all of your classes in the shopping cart/queue. Check back every couple of days to make sure that thereās still room in the sections you chose. If not, sub out a backup class. That makes it a lot easier and helps registration go more smoothly so you wonāt click enter and realize all the classes are full. Sit down and puppydog your computer starting 10 minutes before your registration time, refresh, and click enter exactly when it begins. Iām always a bit paranoid, but Apple computers have the option to set your clock to the second hand so you can be sure of how much time you have. This year, Iām pretty sure I zoned out for a bit at 7:58 and looked back to see it was 8:01, and that minute counts!
I hoped this helped you out! Send me an ask if you have a question, and Iād be happy to answer it for you! Keep in mind that I amĀ only a freshman, and my knowledge only reaches so farā¦.
