<p>I'm hoping some parents of Smithies can weigh in here. </p>
<p>My daughter, a first-year, has had trouble both semesters getting into the classes she needs. She is a biochemistry major. She has to take a lot of her science courses during her first two years in order to study abroad her junior year. Also, she has to register for upper level Spanish classes, one of the few first-years who must do so. </p>
<p>By the time she is able to register, after the upperclassmen, some of the classes she needs are full. She has been put on waiting-lists and is attending classes in hopes of eventually enrolling. Rumor has it the upperclassmen over-register then drop a class or two. If true, it seems like a frustrating and inefficient way to conduct registration.</p>
<p>Also, the professors don't seem to order enough textbooks! The bookstore has run out of books for two classes this semester, and one last semester. </p>
<p>Are my daughter's experiences typical or has she simply had a run of bad luck?</p>
<p>That's pretty typical. Upperclassmen do overregister, or sometimes register and change their minds and drop later. The best (only) thing to do is to register for the most important classes/the ones that have enrollment caps literally the first second they become available. When she's a sophomore, this will become much less of an issue, but for now it's the way it is. Spots usually open up, but sometimes the most popular classes will simply not be available to first-years. </p>
<p>And yes, the bookstore often runs out of books. It's happened to me lots of times where they don't have the book or they've run out of used copies. One way to avoid this is to order the books through the bookstore website before the semester starts and they will all be waiting for you to pick up when you arrive. The other option is of course ordering from cheaper websites online. </p>
<p>I know it seems frustrating now, but it's run this way because first-years have many more chances to take courses than upper classmen, especially since many of the lower level courses are offered every semester. Upper classmen only have a few chances left to get their requirements and wishes dealt with, so they get to go first. Tell your daughter to hang in there and look forward to much easier registrations in the future.</p>
<p>If she's on a waitlist, she might want to explain the circumstances to a prof: Needs classes <em>now</em> so that she can go abroad junior year. Might give here a bit of an extra push in getting taken off the waitlist.
At least be the first first-year....</p>
<p>And, yes, upperclassmen do over-register. Happens when you've cut the number of classes you'd like to take down and still can't decide between which two of three (or four!) that you want to take. So you see what the profs and syllabi are like and go from there.</p>
<p>Scheduling multiple science classes with labs AND upper level Spanish classes AND a class to meet the writing requirement is the challenge. My daughter has explained her circumstances to her professors and advisor. They have given her a bit of reassurance. It's a numbers game. She is anxiously awaiting the outcome. </p>
<p>Now, about those textbooks....she seems to have scrounged them up under her own power. </p>
<p>It sounds like her experiences are fairly typical. The silver lining? She is growing in perseverance, ingenuity and self-advocacy!</p>
<p>While this doesn't hold true for all professors at Smith, I did take a few classes where everyone who kept showing up during add/drop period was admitted to the class--even if they were waitlisted for the course (and regardless of the cap). It doesn't hurt to be persistent. Some students register for courses and change their minds and some are waitlisted and never bother to show up (which won't get you off the waitlist -- you have to go to the classes).</p>
<p>Quick update: My daughter emailed her professors, kept going to class, enthusiastically participated, and was admitted to the two courses in question. Persistence paid off!</p>
<p>Thanks again for sharing your ideas and experiences.</p>
<p>JNSQ, if a student isn't pretty resourceful and self-propelled when she arrives at Smith, the odds are heavy that she will be by the time she leaves.</p>
<p>Btw, JNSQ, I don't suppose "Chicagoland" translates as "Evanstonish" or, ghu forbid, Wilmettish (or wherever New Trier) draws it students from.</p>
<p>TheDad: "Chicagoland" doesn't currently translate to Wilmette or Evanston (think farther north and old money), but Wilmette is my hometown, and yes, I am a graduate of New Trier East.</p>
<p>I am exceedingly proud of the way my daughter has adeptly handled the wrinkles of college life. None has dulled the shine of Smith in her eyes. She has never ever been happier. Her mind and spirit have finally found their home.</p>
<p>My D is looking forward to going back to Smith later this year to consult with profs about grad school possibilities. She's really looking forward just to <em>being</em> there, I think....</p>
<p>TheDad: Ah, yes, the rivalry. I remember a few highly politically incorrect chants at some NTE vs. ETHS football and basketball games. </p>
<p>Then I went to Northwestern so Evanston will always hold a special fondness for me, or should I say, I for it. </p>
<p>Though only a first-year, my daughter is already looking for ways to stay in or near Northampton after she graduates. Your daughter's feelings demonstrate how Smith's allure must linger.</p>
<p>Typical, typical, typical. It's a greedy issue too :) I miss that- there are other schools like Colgate which lets you register a MAXIMUM of 4 classes and doesn't do overregister unless you're waitlisted. It's big PAIN when you can't decide between the last two classes.</p>
<p>I never thought of finding out the bookstore's run out of books... I've been shopping online for waaaayyy too long.</p>
<p>I do remember during my first year, my friend showed up for every single class during the add/drop period with a couple of people. A few dropped out and then on the last day, she was there with ONE other person. I remember her being all frustrated, "Why can't that girl just drop out so I can get in the class?!" The prof did admit both. Probably out of sheer humor to see who could last on the waiting list.</p>