How to Keep Your Sanity During Registration

Registering for classes can either go one of two ways: AMAZING or totally dreadful. Keep sane with these easy tips:

1. Keep calm and see an advisor in your major
   
   1. Advisor visits may always seem like a hassle, but they are created to help you, not make your life more difficult. Advisors basically do all the dirty working by telling you exactly what you need to take. Major plus: if you like a professor in your major, you can even request him or her to be your advisor! It may also be a good idea to check back post-registration to make sure you’re on track with your “four-year plan.”
2. Check out the RatemMyProfessor site!
   
   1. RateMyProfessor can seem tricky if you’re trying to make your dream schedule, but if every review says that a professor sucks big time, you probably should trust your peers! This can save you from having to decode horrible accents (it happens!), completing unnecessarily heavy workloads, and learning from a Professor who just so happens to be Satan’s second nephew.
3. Make multiple schedules
   
   1. Back-up schedules ensure you won’t have a panic attack if not everything goes according to plan. Especially if you’re a double major or have a minor, this step is key as it’s important to be flexible in your schedule. Plus, if you are an underclassman and don’t have priority registration, this step is a MUST to avoid missing out on classes you need.
4. Check up on your classes during registration!
   
   1. Some classes are required for seniors looking to graduate, so if you’re trying to take a 400 level course when you’re a junior, those classes may fill up easily! Make sure to check periodically before your time slot arrives to avoid scrambling around for other options at the last minute.

5.    Ask the girls!

              a.   Professors can be recommended to you, but if you want to play it safe, talk to your friends and roomies, or even classmates with whom you share similar interests to get as much advice and feedback as possible. Make sure to reach out to people you really    trust and who are most like you. We all can’t have the same golden experience that someone may have had.

6.    If you don’t get into the class you want, don’t panic!

1. Most classes have the ability to override extra students, depending on the space. If you’re looking at a lab or computer class however, there may not be room to squeeze. Still DON’T FREAK because there’s still plenty of time for students to change their minds. Check back over winter break, during the de-registration period, and during add/drop the first few weeks of the semester. Plus, most classes are offered multiple times during the semester and in upcoming school years.