Schedules
It
is rather simplistic to believe that you
will be able to get into the best classes,
with the best professors and at the times
that you prefer. The fact of the matter
is that booking classes can be a frustrating
and time-consuming task. The powers that
be will have no choice but to restrict some
of the choices. To make it easier, here
are some tips:
The
Classes
Research
The Class
Titles
and descriptions seldom do any justice –
if you want a good idea of what some of
the electives cover, either ask the teacher
or an advisor. Find out if any of your classmates
have taken the class and make your decision
an informed one.
Familiarize Yourself With The Professor
More
than anyone else, your professor
will be master of your destiny, so ask around
and see what to expect. Is the teacher tough
or easy? Will the grading be fair or not?
Whatever you do, take the input of students
with a grain of salt. After all, one student
may have never shown up to class and may
opt to slag the teacher to explain his poor
grade.
Credit
Make
sure you understand what it will take to
earn your diploma first. Find out whether
your classes meet the required credits towards
your degree. If you only need three electives
and you have taken three already, taking
a fourth elective may mean that you will
have to take an additional class to meet
the requirements of your major.
Fit
In The Schedule
It
is noble to want to take a class out of
interest, but keep in mind that it should
fit in your overall schedule. There is no
sense in having a huge break because of
one class, unless of course the class is
really worth it. Just don't complain about
it afterwards.
Pick
What You Like
You
should seek to pick classes that you find
interesting. After all, it is one thing
to book a class, it is another to have to
sit through it and do the required work.
The
Booking
Use
Your Head, Call Ahead
Most
of you will probably have to book by phone.
Many will also only be allowed to start
registering by a certain time, say 9am.
But what happens is that everyone gets on
the phone at 9am and this makes it hard
to get through. By the time you get through,
it is 4:20pm
in the afternoon and you have to choose
between "The Life and Times of Martha
Stewart" or "Learning to Sew 101."
What you should do is call at 8:45am, check
out some other features like your payment
status and only choose the register option
at 9am. Since you are already in the system,
you will have secured a free line.
Substitutes
Even
in the best-case scenario, you will have
some of your first picks filled to capacity.
Make sure to have back ups for each choice
based on a) what you need to complete your
degree; b) time preference; c) level of
interest and d) preferred professor.
Go
Over It
Once
you are done, it does not hurt to ask to
hear all of your selections before you hang
up. And even then, the real
work hasn't even begun.
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