Registration week – the time when all the students are scrambling to register for the correct classes with the schedule best suited for them. Everyone knows that registration week is one of the most stressful times in a student’s life, second to finals week. Students spend a lot of their time prepping and coming up with alternate plans for outcomes they might be faced with, and they are stressed out over it. But many students find a way to deal with the stress.
Here are 6 best tips to surviving registration week and succeeding in obtaining a schedule that won’t drive you crazy.
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1. Meet with your advisor.
The first thing you should do to help alleviate the stress of registration week is meet with your advisor. It is your advisor’s responsibility to help you through any academic problems you may have and to answer any questions you have during your time at college. If you meet with your advisor before registration week, you will reduce the stress of figuring out what classes to take on your own.
2. Get your general requirements over with.
Most schools have a general education requirement that all students need to complete before they can graduate. If there are certain lecture or physical education class requirements, you should take them in your freshman or sophomore year, before your classes get more advanced and time consuming. This is an important factor to keep in mind when registering for classes.
3. Have a backup plan.
You should always have a backup plan. Classes fill up fast, so it’s not realistic to expect to get into all your first choices of classes. Making more than one schedule would be a good idea, so you can quickly choose an alternate schedule if you don’t get the courses you want. Remember, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
4. Talk to the professors.
It would also be a good idea to pay a visit to the professors whose courses you are considering taking. This will help you determine what the professors are like and also gives them a chance to get to know you as well. If a class gets closed out, the professor may let you take the course since you’ve already met.
SEE: 3 Reasons You Should Get to Know Your College Professors
5. Have all forms ready.
It’s important to print and fill out all the forms you may need during the registration process. For example, If you don’t get a class you need to take, you will need an override into the class from that professor. If you have your override forms ready before you start registering, you can take care of getting an override right away if you need it.
6. Wake up early.
All the preparation will be of no use if you end up sleeping through the entire registration process. So wake up early to sign up for classes. You have a better chance of getting the classes you want if you get there early before other students make their choice. I know waking up early doesn’t sound fun, but it will save you stress. So set your alarm and show up early for registration.
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Everyone feels the same stress during registration week. It’s not possible for all students to get their desired classes at their chosen times every semester, but there are ways to reduce the amount of stress. Ultimately, registration is only as stressful as you make it, so you can help yourself by being well prepared. You will save yourself from going crazy your next registration week if you follow these 6 tips.
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