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Have you ever clicked submit to register for your classes and been blocked from three out of the four? Thought you actually registered but it didn’t work? Even if you think you have registration down to a science, things can still go wrong. Read on to learn some tips and tricks of WebAdvisor.
Before Registration Day:
1. Check your registration time (and check it again)!
You’re probably laughing and thinking that you know your registration time like your birthday, but things can get confusing when everyone keeps telling each other their times and you checked two weeks ago. Put the time in your phone calendar and set an alarm so that you will be sure to remember! Also, be sure to know the date of your registration. Here they are for this year:
Class of 2014: April 17
Class of 2015: April 22
Class of 2016: April 24
2. Make sure you can actually register.
Even if you’ve talked to your advisor every day about your classes, double check that he or she actually cleared you to register on the “My Registration Information” screen. If you aren’t cleared or you have any holds from tuiton problems be sure to get them cleared up in the week before your registration!
3. Pre-select the classes you want.
This is the easiest way to save some time on registration day! When you search for classes on WebAdvisor, press the box next to the name so that it is checked. When you press submit on the bottom of the screen, the class will save to your preferred sections list. On the day of registration, go to Register for Classes and then click “Register for previously selected sections.  Select register on the drop down menu and press submit! Ta-da, you’re all set!
Hint: You can select more than four classes so that your backup classes are easily accessible too when you go to register. Just be sure that you press register on the drop down menu of your top 4 and then go back if you don’t get into one!
4.Have backup classes.
Nothing sucks more than not getting into a class and then having to scour WebAdvisor for a class at the same time that is also a writing-intensive or useful for your major. Have those extra classes preselected and make yourself a list, such as “If I don’t get into Econ 101 then take Math 222”, so you can tell the exact class to try next.
On Registration Day:
1. Don’t be too late or too early.
Press that submit button about 10 seconds after your computer clock changes and it should work! If you think you are sneaky by trying at 9:29 instead of 9:30 the system will just tell you can’t register yet and then you will be forced to go back a ton of pages that load extremely slowly. On the other hand, waiting til 9:40 when you have a 9:30 time can mean saying goodbye to the last spot in a class.
2. Sign-in a few minutes before you register.
WebAdvisor is picky and likes to randomly log people out without telling them. Don’t forget to log-in again within 5 minutes of your time so that you don’t get kicked out when you press submit!
3. Register for gym classes.
If you still need gym credits, look at your schedule and pick a few that you could take. Add them to your pre-selected classes and register for them now, even if they don’t meet until the winter! This way you can ensure you have a spot in the class.
4.  Don’t stress.
Registration is annoying and stressful, but you likely will be able to get into the class you really want to take if you talk to the professor, explain why you need to take the class, and express interest now. Good luck!