How to properly prepare to register for classes

For many, course registration is a daunting and overwhelming task. It can be nerve-wracking for many to wonder if the classes they still need are going to be offered, if classes might fill up before they get the chance to claim a seat, or if they are even doing this whole registering thing correctly at all. To hopefully quell that stomach-turning tension I would like to offer those in this dilemma some advice from someone who loves registration season. 

My first piece of advice would be to check out your Degreeworks. I tend to have both my Degreeworks and Registration website tabs open at the same time, though I often start the thought process with a sticky note, a pen, and my Degreeworks. On the sticky note, jot down how many credits you aim to take for that given semester and how many total applied credits that will get you at the end of the semester to try and keep you on track with the recommended 30 credits per academic year. 

Once credit count is considered, go through your general education requirements to see if you have loose ends to tie up there. What they say about gen. ed. classes is true—the sooner you get them done the happier you’ll feel. If your general education requirements are still quite lengthy because you are an early-on student, I would recommend taking two general education classes a semester. This will help to maintain a certain degree of balance between the classes you feel drawn to and are likely more invested in for your major and/or minor. Also, be conscious of academic balance and enjoyment while picking out gen. ed. courses. Don’t pick two notoriously work-heavy courses as your general education requirements for two classes that you couldn’t care less about. Maybe apply for one class that might have an increased degree of rigor such as a math, science, or humanities course, and balance it out with a course you feel might be more enjoyable or less rigorous. 

Next, check out what requirements are left for your major. If you have just a major without a second or a minor or two, find the next three or so classes needed to move you up the academic line. Degreeworks tends to scale the work with the foundational aspects being at the top of the menu and the more advanced courses being near the bottom. Following this arrangement as closely as possible is ideal to try and make sure no one enters a class missing foundational knowledge the course assumes you already have. 

For majors like education, there are blocks that indicate what classes should be taken together for a given semester and which semester every year that block’s courses run to guarantee the proper scaffolding of knowledge required for future educators. There are also classes such as the creative writing workshops which require those wishing to participate in them to apply separately on the program’s SUNY Geneseo webpage. 

For those who are double majors, I would suggest taking one class from one major and two from another. Ideally, you would take two classes for the major you have the least amount of applied credits in and one class for the major you are farther along in. 

Lastly, for those with a minor, my recommendation is to take one class per minor per semester. For those with one minor then you would just need about one course per semester for your minor, depending on when you picked up your minor and how many credits you still need for it. It also can be nice for people who decide to switch their major to make their major their previous minor if they find themselves with enough credits early on.

Once the sticky note has been arranged feel free to start making some plans on the registration page and/or schedule a meeting with your academic advisor if you still feel unsure as to what you should be doing to stay on track. Make sure you know what day you register once time tickets are released and set that alarm so you can be one of the first ones to snag up the classes once you can, and keep an eye on courses in your plan to see if upperclassmen take them before you get the chance to and need a change of plan. 

Good luck out there my friends! I know it can be hard, but make the most out of it, and remember that ratemyprofessor.com is your ally!