By now, most people have signed up for Spring 2015 classes. Maybe there are some incoming Freshmen who still need to do SOAR, or others who don’t know exactly what to take for that last art credit they need, and may have to take History of Greek Art at 7:30 in the morning. Whatever the situation – whether already signed up for the perfect schedule, or freaking out because every class is full – at some point we have all had some sort of registration frustration.
FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE
This is the fairest way to do things, and it is great to let the seniors get into their classes so they can graduate, so I can’t complain. What sucks is being an early sophomore or freshman. If sophomores and freshmen aren’t online the second 10 p.m. comes around, they are often out of luck. Classes get snatched up faster than free bagels at an office party.
SERVER’S DOWN
It is 9:50 and everyone in the Sophomore class is spamming F5 to enter their CRN’s the second they can. Joe Somebody comes in at 9:55 (plenty of time before the gates open) and Banner won’t load. Better start praying to whomever that Banner will load. If Joe is lucky enough that Banner does let him in, the loading times to process his requests is excruciating.
WAIT-LISTED
The perfect schedule has been mapped out, and it is 9:59 with Banner loaded and ready to go. Ten strikes and the mad dash of punching in numbers begins. Good thing you are well versed in 10 key and it is a given that you will get into the classes you need. I mean, you are a sophomore, and aren’t competing with the hoards of Freshmen. Banner loads and… what is this?!? Waitlisted?!? The class had 20 spots and you get wait listed. Well, at least you aren’t that far on the wait list… until Banner loads again and you are tenth in line! Looks like you have to take it at a different time and change some other classes. (This actually happened to me.)
PREREQUISITES
This isn’t bad for an actual major, because any good student will talk to their adviser to see when they should take what class. This sucks when the electives roll around and nothing looks fun to take. “Hey, this 2000+ class looks interesting… oh, I need to take 1010, and that doesn’t look fun at all”. Too bad most PE classes are only one credit.
CLASHING CLASS TIMES / LACK OF TIME OPTIONS
“I need to take this class either MWF at 7:30, or 10:30. But I can’t take the 10:30 time because this other class is only offered MFW at 10:30 and I have to take it this semester. Plus I’m going to have this weird two hour break on TR.”
Sure, English 1010 is offered almost every hour of every day, it seems, but a lot of classes are offered at only one time *cough* JCOM 1500 *cough*.
This advice may be a week late, but always be prepared to register for classes. Talk to your adviser. It makes the process loads easier.
