Don’t Snooze on Your Fall 2014 Registration!

The semester is almost over, and we all know that it is now time to register for your Fall 2014 classes! Scheduling for the next semester can be exciting, but it may also be a tad bit overwhelming. This is why today, I have compiled some useful tips for you to help create a schedule that works best for you!

• Make an appointment with your adviser. Many of us have already made our appointments with our adviser, but if you haven’t done so yet, then this is the first thing you should do!  Academic advisers are very helpful when it comes to scheduling classes, and they will be more than happy to help you with your schedules! Come in with a list of questions you would like to ask. During this time, you will want to talk to your adviser about all the classes that you have taken so far and plan out what you have to take for the following semester. Make sure to look at your degree audit beforehand so you know exactly what classes you are required to take. If you plan on taking a course at your community college over the summer, make sure to tell your adviser and ask what courses easily transfer back to UIC. You can also go to the website transfer.org to see what classes you can take at your community college, and what the equivalent for that class at UIC will be.

• Know when you have to register. Everyone has a different registration time, and it is very important that you know when you register so that you can get the desired class that you want! Registration times are determined by how many credit hours you have; this is why those in senior standing get to pick their classes first. Make sure that you do not put off registering for your classes because popular classes can fill up fast.

• Have a Plan B when it comes to scheduling. Now, let’s say that the class you wanted to sign up for is now full—so what do you do? I usually like to have a Plan B when it comes to picking classes, just in case the first class choices I select are full. Also, another good idea would be to keep checking to see if anyone has dropped the class because remember that these schedules are not set in stone and we have the whole summer to make changes if we need to!

• Don’t over-schedule. In order to be considered a full-time student at UIC, it is important to have a minimum of 12 credit hours. Academic advisers suggest that having 15-16 credit hours (4-5 classes) is ideal because college classes tend to be rigorous, and it may be harder to keep up with all your classes if you are taking more hours. You know yourself the best, so try to schedule accordingly!

• Don’t take morning classes if you aren’t a morning person. We all remember the good old days in high school when class began promptly at 8 am. In college, with everything going on, it may not be the best idea to schedule an 8 am class if you are not a morning person.

• Incorporate breaks in between classes. I have learned that it is a good idea to have a couple breaks throughout your day. Scheduling classes back to back may be a bit difficult for those who don’t have that great of an attention span. The last thing you want is to feel tired during an important lecture. This is why it is important that you have breaks in between! You can use your breaks to complete homework, have lunch, or even just relax your mind before your next class!

I hope you all get the classes you want, and hopefully, these tips help you with your registration process!