Registration & closed classes

<p>Is there a CCer out there with some insight into the Muhlenberg College registration process?</p>

<p>My daughter will be a sophomore next year. This year and at recent registration for next year she was closed out of practically every course she wanted. Is this a common problem at Berg?</p>

<p>It seems to me, she may not even get enough credits to graduate in 4 years. Is there something I am missing? She tells me it is pointless to speak with profs or the adviser to get into these classes. </p>

<p>She is 19, but I am tempted to call the school.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

<p>I just read in one of the guide books (I think it was the Insiders Guide to Colleges) that Muhlenberg has a frustrating registration system....it goes by alphabetical order and seniority. I would definately encourage your daughter to speak to her advisor.</p>

<p>Thanks! I appreciate the response.</p>

<p>My D is also a rising sophomore there. She also ended up in classes she was less than happy with, but plans to try to switch in the fall. The good news is things should get better for them, as upperclsasmen register before lower classmen. And by Fall 2008 the registrars office is planning to enter the 21st century with online registration.
By the way, kids can check online during the days preceding thier registration to see what classes are filling up and to make alternative plans.</p>

<p>It certainly isn't a common problem. Very popular general req classes or upper level classes may have filled up quickly but that's to be expected since upperclassmen register first and likely have to fill certain graduation requirements. The first registration can be frustrating- even the first person in the freshmen class is about 1500th in line. It isn't by alphabetical order- they do groupings of letters (such as P-R) and rotate the order ever semester. If your D was near the end of the list this time, she will probably be moving up. </p>

<p>Some good news:
Most profs ARE really good about signing students in. There should be a waiting list that she can sign up for if the class is full. If, as I mentioned, she's trying to get into upper-level or really popular classes, she may just have to wait. (random side note: One of my film profs refuses to sign freshmen into classes she offers every year. She figures that spaces should go to those who may not be able to take it later. It's possible your D only ran into those kinds of profs. If that's the case, sorry! It's certainly not the norm) Rest assured, if she needs it to graduate, she will be able to get in sooner or later. In the meantime, there are PLENTY of general reqs to be taking.</p>

<p>During add/drop I'm sure seats will open up. This semester I changed half my classes and ended up in ones I really wanted. They had been closed before but enough people dropped them so that I could add.</p>

<p>Sometimes there are enough students interested in the class that another section is created. This essentially will open 20-25 more seats. Your D should let the profs know (she can e-mail if she doesn't have time to track them all down) she'd like a spot.</p>

<p>Many thanks to you both</p>

<p>Sushirox, You mentioned some very popular gen ed classes being hard to get into. Do you know any incoming freshman who came in with lots of credits from AP classes/tests? How did this effect the classes they chose to register for and their availability?</p>