When does class registration begin/ where does it occur for first years?
At orientation, the second day. You get a time assigned when you check in to orientation
There was a great deal of discussion about this process on this part of CC in previous years. You might wish to search for those posts on orientation and class registration. Just keep in mind that some things may change from year to year.
It surprises me that someone would ask this question on CC…doesn’t the admissions office provide accepted students with this information?
Here’s the advice received in past years. The system may have changed.
Do some research on thecourseforum.com about courses and profs. However, grad students typically aren’t listed on that site, and they teach some intro math and writing classes.
Do not expect to get into popular classes as a first year student. You will have plenty of time to take them later, when you have preference in registering for classes. (Note - my understanding is that Echols and Watsons get preference in registering over other first year students, but not over upperclassman).
Have a long list of classes that would work for you, and don’t be disappointed when most of them show up as being full. The system is designed so that first years are mainly taking classes to meet general requirements, and are not likely to get into small or upper level classes. (Note - There are some small seminars that are reserved for first years.)
There is a great deal of changing of class schedules up until the first couple days of classes. Therefore, a seat may open up, even if the wait list appears relatively long.
Schedule your most important classes first, and then work around that schedule.
The system is designed so that some seats are reserved for each cohort of students registering, so that the students who register last still have the same options.
It is easier to get into 8 AM classes, if you are willing to take them.
There is a non-western requirement for some students. My son found that it paid to wait to meet that requirement because the better classes did not have room for 1st and 2nd years. He also found that it made sense to wait to take phys ed classes until his 4th year, because he couldn’t get into the better classes as an underclassman.
The Office of Admission doesn’t…but the Office of Orientation, Dean of Students, and a host of other UVa departments do. 
^^^^^My point, exactly. Someone is not reading their mail [-X
Thank you everyone!
@robertr I was actually thrown off by the fact that there was an option to apparently enroll in classes on SIS, and wanted to make sure first years did sign up for classes during orientation 
Even when you register at UVA in future years, there’s a timing mechanism and an advisor code that prevent you from registering when you’re not supposed to. I’m sure there’s a timing mechanism and code that are inactive for you right now.
+1000
First years always put so much pressure on themselves to make the perfect schedule the first time. Students drop and add at the start of the semester at UVa more than I’ve seen at other schools. I takes a little bit of the pressure off once your realize that!