When it comes to preparing for college, class registration probably seems like an afterthought. At that point you’ve already chosen a school and decided on a funding strategy, so what is there to worry about?
But believe it or not, the choices you make during registration can have a significant impact on your student loan burden. We’ll walk you through some of the factors to consider, and give you some tips on how to prepare for registration in advance.
Make sure you hit the enrollment minimum
If you’re receiving financial aid like student loans, grants or scholarships, there may be a minimum enrollment requirement. For federal financial aid, you must at least be a part-time student, which usually equals 12 credit hours.
Some private student loan providers require that borrowers be full-time students to qualify for financial aid, but this depends on the specific company.
Contact the financial aid department if you’re not sure how many credit hours you need. If you miss the limit, your financial aid will be revoked, which could lead to a huge surprise bill. If you have private student loans, read through your loan agreement to see how many credit hours you’re required to take.
Choose classes that count for multiple requirements
When you’re a college student, there are many different degree requirements that you must reach before you can graduate. If possible, try to find classes that count for multiple requirements. For example, if you need to have a cultural class and a history class, see if there’s a class that counts for both.
When you search for classes, write down any that meet multiple requirements. If you’re having trouble finding any that count twice, talk to your academic advisor who may be able to help you. Ask any upperclassmen with the same major if they have recommendations.
Do research in advance
Before registration opens, you can go in and add classes to your shopping cart. Then, you’ll be able to see how your schedule looks and if you need to change anything. If you don’t, then registration will be easy.
Creating a mock schedule in advance can help you figure out if there are any problems with your schedule. For example, you might realize that you’ll never be able to get to one of your classes on time because the class right before it is located too far away.
It’s a good idea to draft a mock schedule early and then check in a few hours before registration opens to see if any classes have filled up and are no longer available.
Try to stack classes together
When you’re a busy student, managing your time is a critical skill. And one of the easiest ways to do that is to plan your class schedule carefully.
For example, try to stack your classes close together to allow more time for you to study. If you have random 30-minute breaks in between, you might have a hard time getting into a study groove before it’s time to head off to your next class.
If you have a part-time job, you might want to consider having all your classes on two or three days of the week so you’re free to work the other days.
Research professors ahead of time
One of the most important aspects of registering for a class is to find the best professor for each class. Before registration, look through reviews on sites like RateMyProfessors.com or Reddit. Ask upperclassmen about which professors they recommend.
Having the right professor can make you more likely to get help, which can result in a better grade. Better professors are more likely to explain the content in a way you’ll understand, which can also improve your grades.
Have holds removed from your account
If you find that you can’t complete registration, it may be because your account has a hold on it. Before it’s time to register, log on to your student account to see if you have any holds.
These holds might require that you pay a certain fee or submit an official document. Sometimes a hold is a mistake that just needs to be manually removed by an advisor.
If you do have a hold, contact your advisor to remove it. It can take a few days to remove a hold, so you should check your account at least a week before registration opens.
Be realistic
When you’re registering for classes, it’s easy to imagine that your future self will be more organized than your current self. But you should be realistic when it comes to picking class times. If you know that you always get tired in the afternoon, don’t pick a 2 p.m. class. If you like working out in the mornings, then don’t choose 9 a.m. classes all week.
Sometimes you may have to compromise if there’s a class you’re interested in or if you have to take a certain class that semester. But otherwise, you should try to choose classes that fit your personality and preferred schedule.
Register ASAP
Signing up for classes before each semester is like buying tickets to a concert from your favorite band – you should be ready to go as soon as possible. The longer you wait after registration opens, the more likely it is that the classes you want to take will not be available. This is especially true if you’re trying to register for a popular class with a limited number of spots.
Note the exact time that registration will open, which may be early in the morning. Set a couple of alarms and have your shopping cart filled with the classes you want to take.
Disclaimers
