Registration can be a time of great stress, great relief, great joy, or great sorrow. It can be a messy process or perfectly smooth. It all depends on how you handle it. Here are just a few things I have learned about registration, and how to make it has painless as possible.
- Read Your Emails.
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This is something that will help you for registration AND for adult life moving forward. Ideally, you should try to check your email at least every twenty-four hours. This way you can respond quickly to any important messages you may receive, and find out information that may be vitally important. When registration time comes around, there will be a few very important emails that tell you all the information you need, from registration times to new classes to any changes that might make the process different than it was previously.
- Contact Your Academic Advisor.
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Never hesitate to contact your advisor. You aren’t being bothersome or needy, and even if you aren’t sure that they can answer your question, they can point you in the right direction to get your answer. In order to register, you’ll need your PIN. I’m not sure why they always capitalize it, but they do. In order to get your PIN, you’ll have to get in contact with your advisor and, depending on their preferences, may need to meet with them. If you find that your advisor isn’t very helpful, ask for a new one by emailing the head of the department that your major is in.
- Reach Out to Your Community Assistant. That’s What They’re There For!
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Every student that lives on campus has a Community Assistant, and all CAs are at least Sophomores or older, meaning they have all done registration a minimum of two times. They may have tips, tricks, or have taken the professor before, or know someone who has. Ask around or use ratemyprofessors.com to choose the best class for your learning style and don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are no silly questions during registration time.
- Try Something New! That’s What Your Elective Credits are There For!
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Even if you come into your Freshman year thinking that you know exactly what you want to study, challenge yourself to branch out. Take an interesting sociology class here, an optional seminar, or even a yoga class. You never know what might stand out to you, what you mind might end up falling in love with, and what you may be able to take with you to make you more well-rounded in your primary field. Besides all of that, it’s fun! It can also be a way to take classes with friends that you normally wouldn’t have class with.
- Have Backups and Be Flexible.
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You might not get into your first choice and that’s okay. You have plenty of options and plenty of time, even if it doesn’t always feel like it. It’s a great idea to make a plan of exactly what you are going to take when, but it simply isn’t realistic to believe that plan will go exactly the way you want it to. Between conflicting class times, professors on sabbatical and the number of students allowed in each class, your plan will need to be flexible. Remember, you can only control so much and the rest will work itself out. Many students before you have gone through a scheduling mishap that results in panic and many students will come after you who will experience it as well. You are not alone, you are human, and you will graduate on time.
Registration can be some of the most stressful 30 seconds of your college career. As the clock ticks down to those last few minutes before your registration window opens, take a deep breath in, a deep breath out, and remind yourself that in the scheme of life… this is only 30 seconds.
