Step-by-Step Guide: Registering for College Classes Like a Pro

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Get ready for class registration like a pro!

College class registration can be stressful and infuriating if not approached correctly and confidently. If you are a freshman, it’s your first time learning and using your college’s online registration system. This can be intimidating, as different error messages and requirements pop up on your screen each time you attempt to add a course.

If you are an upperclassman, it can be stressful to remember what courses you need to register for, fit in the last graduation requirements, and avoid the dreaded 8 a.m. classes. Keep reading; this post will highlight seven tips I followed or recommend for those registering for classes. These registration tips are for everyone, not just freshmen. When reflecting on my college journey, I found many things I wish I had done when registering for courses that could have improved my experience.

Map Out Your College Four-Year Plan

Many colleges have four-year plans already mapped out for students to use and modify based on their major and transfer credits, such as AP courses or test-out exams. These plans are extremely helpful, as they are one of the easiest ways to visualize your college course experience.

Research your college’s website to see if they have four-year plans pre-made for students. Once you find a plan, sit down and cross out any courses you already completed or have credit for. If you have space to complete a minor, add these to your four-year plan.

The best thing about this plan is that it is just a suggestion. You don’t have to strictly follow this plan, but it serves as a helping hand when understanding what classes have prerequisites to be met before registering. During my college experience, I didn’t deviate from my college’s four-year plan for mechanical engineering students. I added the courses for my minor on top of what was already mapped out for me!

Prepare Backup and Alternative Courses

As annoying as it may sound, your first choices may not be available. The class times you want may have restrictions for certain majors, or the spots fill up before you can register. No matter the barrier, you must ensure you walk into class registration with backups.

Before your college class registration time, I recommend having at least three potential schedules you would be content with before registering for classes. Each of these variations should have different time slots or sections for each class in case the first choice fills up. Additionally, have 2-3 backup classes (either electives or core classes) you can take without issues in case a class you want or need is unavailable.

One of the worst things you can do is start registering for classes and realize a class you want is no longer available, and you have no backups to help you out. Be sure to have a plan B (and plan C if you are like me) and walk into registration prepared for any scenario.

Consult with Your College’s Academic Advisor

Your advisor is your best friend regarding college class registration, finalizing your class schedule, and asking for advice on certain classes. Many colleges allow students to make appointments with their advisors to seek advice on class registration, counseling, etc.

Plan out the classes you want to take each semester and make an appointment to see your advisor to confirm if the classes you want to take are a good combination (and that you are allowed to take them). My advisor has repeatedly saved me by telling me not to mix heavy core classes, such as physics and another math-heavy course. She’s also protected me from registering for courses I wasn’t eligible to take (this is important because colleges can automatically fail students if they enroll in a course without meeting all prerequisite requirements)!

Before you officially register, talk with your advisor to ensure that the tentative class schedule you have mapped out is feasible.

Another note on advisors: I recommend staying close to your adviser. They can sometimes get you into closed or filled classes if the circumstance is appropriate.

Research Your College Professors Before Registering

Professors can often make or break your experience in a class, starting from the very first day. I always make sure to do my research before signing up for classes. I often peruse Reddit, Rate My Professors, and consult my upperclassmen friends before signing up for classes.

When researching professors, look at how long they have been teaching the course, their track record at a university, and what other students think of them. One of your best resources is other college students who have taken a class with them, so seek this type of feedback if possible.

As a warning, take what you find online about professors with a grain of salt. Some students only leave reviews or feedback if they did poorly in a class for reasons unrelated to the professor. This can create a false image and potentially prevent you from signing up for a great teacher. Do thorough research before determining if a professor is a good fit for you.

What are some good resources for researching professors?
Websites like Rate My Professors, Reddit, and feedback from upperclassmen are valuable resources. Just ensure to take online reviews with a grain of salt.

Register For College Classes ASAP

Typically, students are given a time slot when the registration portal opens, and they can start signing up for classes.

Sign up as soon as you can!

A mistake students make is not logging on to register when their registration portal opens. You must remember that hundreds of other students are registering at or around the same time as you. Some students have also registered before you. This makes spots even more limited for the classes you need. Plan and clear out at least 10 minutes from the start time of your registration time to sign up for classes. Almost every year, my registration time has been around 7 a.m., and you bet I set alarms and woke up promptly at 6:59 a.m. to be ready to race to sign up.

Don’t be caught off guard or dismiss your class registration time.

Refrain from Overloading on Credits

One of the biggest mistakes I made during my sophomore year was registering for 19 credits (which was over the credit limit my college allowed for students). I convinced my advisor that I could handle the course load, which was my worst semester yet. I almost had to drop 1 to 2 classes because I was overwhelmed by the amount of homework and exams 19 credits entailed.

A piece of advice to everyone (especially freshmen) is to avoid going over 16 credits. I have found 16 to have a nice balance of time spent in class and doing homework. With 16 credits, I could still be in all my extracurriculars and rarely felt completely overwhelmed with assignments every night.

Once you get to your junior and senior years, you’ll feel more comfortable with higher loads, such as 17 or 18 credits. This is the strategy I wish I had used early in my college career.

I would also shy away from registering for 5+ classes in a semester. A common trap students fall into is seeing classes only worth 1 or 2 credits and thinking they can stack a bunch of these “lower time commitment” courses on top of their core curriculum. This is a huge mistake because lower credit hours don’t always mean less homework or commitment. I have had two-credit courses with homework assignments that take over eight hours to complete. Colleges may advertise lower credits as lower time, but this is not always true. Be aware of this when registering for classes, and avoid falling into the low credit hour advertisement trap.

Keep Checking Back for Class Openings

Don’t give up if the time slot, class, or professor you wanted is unavailable when you register for your classes. College class registration rewards diligent students! Many students drop classes or switch time slots in the weeks leading up to the week classes start. That said, the class you prefer or need could open up after you finish registering.

I made it a habit to check back once a week before the start of classes and then once a day once classes started to see if any of the classes I wanted had spots open up. I was often pleasantly surprised to see a single spot open in a high-demand course the day before classes started.

The biggest thing to remember is that you have the final say in your class registration. Don’t simply register for 8 a.m. courses because that’s what freshmen are “expected” to do. Try not to settle for the professor with low ratings when you can get into a better class. Avoid signing up for a random elective you don’t want to take because you didn’t research backup course options.

Take the initiative and prepare for class registration before the day of. Create a checklist for yourself, use your resources, and prepare to create a schedule that makes you the happiest each semester. These college class registration tips will hopefully make the start of your school year smooth!

Happy planning!