#kelciium

041419 //

I’ve been wanting to make this post for awhile -- here it finally is!

For any college students or incoming college students reading this, you know or will soon know the pain and stress that is registering for next term’s classes. :’-) I developed this system my sophomore year and it has not only been the most effective, but also the most successful in getting the classes I need. Of course, every school does their registration process differently, so I’ll briefly explain how my university does it before continuing.

About halfway through each term, registration rolls around for the upcoming term. There are 8 brackets for each year (fr/so/jr/sr) categorized by last name. For example, my last name starts with a C so I fall in the Junior A-C bracket. Each of the brackets has a set time that their registration period opens, and it’s important that you register as soon as your bracket is allowed to register as classes and sections will fill up fast. This is especially true for classes with good meeting times (i.e., not 8-am’s), or classes that are split up over 2-3 days as opposed to having one 3-hour lecture. 

As a sophomore I tried to create 2-3 schedules in the event certain classes filled up before I could register for them, and I highly recommend you also do this if you’re an underclassmen. However, now that I’m a junior/rising senior, I register before a lot of students and am more guaranteed to get the classes I want. 

Now, for the important part: how to stay organized! This is done on Microsoft OneNote, but it can be easily translated into whatever you want to use, whether that be GoodNotes or Google Docs or even a physical notebook.

My general system:

1. If you get given a registration PIN or something similar, write it at the top under the semester you're registering for. That way if you have to go back and change classes or drop them, you have it in an easy-to-access location.

2. Write out all the details of your classes -- including the full name, course code, credits, meeting dates/times, and CRN’s. This helps you fully see if you got everything you need for the next semester.

3. Visualize your classes using colored blocks on a weekly agenda. This helps you see when you’ll have free time, how long you’ll be in class, and which days are your “heavy” days. 

4. Keep your CRNs on an end-column of your table. I do this because I copy and paste my CRNs from my table to my registration page, and it’s easiest if it’s on the end so I don’t have to worry about accidentally copying something else in the rush of registration.

5. Be ready to think on your toes if one of your classes gets full before you can register for it. I used to have several schedules set up because usually only one or two classes will fill up, as opposed to every single one. Account for this.

Most importantly: take deep breaths! You can always talk to your advisor if something goes wrong and they can help you get on waitlists and adjust your schedule so you get what you need. Be open to early morning or late night classes, I found I actually don’t mind evening classes after being forced into one. College is about figuring out how you function best in school, so be open to change and try to go with the flow -- not everything is going to be perfect.