<p>My daughter is a Monroe scholar and signed up for several classes a few weeks ago. She met with her advisor yesterday and added an additional GER ( economics). She discovered that the discussion section of Bio interfered and when she dropped the discussion section to look for another slot, it dropped her out of Bio, lab and the discussion. Now she reports that Bio is closed. I would have preferred that she worry about electives later and perhaps have signed up for something besides Econ. She cannot get into Bio or physics and was told to just show up to Physics and see if someone drops. Is this typical? I went to a small liberal arts college many years ago and do not recall that this was an issue. She is in tears and I am not to pleased about the situation. Perhaps they need to be informed in more detail about the registration process.</p>
<p>Ponymom,</p>
<p>Your D is very fortunate to have had the advantage of registering early as a Monroe. Without going into details, my D wasn’t able to sign up for any GERs, and was only registered for two classes (a third choice Freshman seminar and an art class that was available) going into registration yesterday. She’s been contacting professors to ask to see if they will let her into classes, and will be going to a class starting tomorrow in which she is not registered hoping the prof takes pity on her. Frankly, we’re a little worried since some of her financial aid is dependent upon taking a full course load.</p>
<p>Hopefully it will all work out, we’re staying out of the way as parents, which is kind of tough to do, and hoping for the best. Maybe that 3rd choice freshman seminar will be life-changing, you never know! And maybe she’ll relish all those GERs she’ll have to take as a senior…</p>
<p>The big picture is that she loves the school so far, and kudos to the whole faculty/administration for such a wonderful orientation for both students and families. We really got a good feeling that she is in the right place for her.</p>
<p>is what typical?</p>
<p>classes filling up? yes
going to class on the first day when you aren’t signed up to try to get a spot? yes</p>
<p>why did she add a class that is at the same time as one of her other classes?</p>
<p>why did she drop her bio discussion without first checking to see if a replacement spot was available?</p>
<p>it is possible that you cannot take a bio lab without the bio discussion, so the computer took care of that for her.</p>
<p>all the information is available and there are many resources to assist your student.</p>
<p>add/drop begins today (when all W&M students can alter their registration) so classes that were closed will become available. No doubt your D will get her full schedule tribeparent (in fact as someone who lives on campus she has to take 12 credits (which is also the minimum to be a full-time student and therefore receive aid) and her advisor and faculty will work with her to ensure she gets the remaining credits.</p>
<p>Thanks W&M Admission. I’m sure she will manage to sort it all out.</p>
<p>Quick question going forward: if she continues to have trouble getting into some of the GER classes, will she have an easier time next semester or next year? We’re just a little worried about what happens if she keeps getting locked out of those classes…she can’t graduate without taking them, will the faculty/administration give scheduling preference to those who won’t graduate in 4 years because they’ve had trouble getting into those classes, even though they are required? Is some of the problem this year because of the additional students admitted/larger class of 2015?</p>
<p>I’ve had two daughters there and neither have had any major problems with schedules. Neither got the first choice freshman seminar, but liked what they ended up in. DD1 had to take a course to fill a GER that she never would have selected, but she was in class at registration time and her sister and I had to pick courses. She ended up with a second major because of it. DD2 requested an override for a class her freshman year that she was not that interested in and that subject may end up being her second major.</p>
<p>soccerguy, I asked all of the same questions…It was foolish, I agree. She was trying to move the discussion to another time according to her and the results were not what she expected… Good to know that she has the potential to fill her schedule. Things have changed since I finished college and graduate programs.</p>
<p>Will the Monroe scholars keep getting registration advantages?</p>
<p>Freshman year is the hardest year to get the ideal schedule. It gets easier every year since registration goes in order–Seniors first, Juniors next, etc. My son is a sophomore and is taking his 1st GER, other than what his AP credits gave him. He isn’t bothered by it since it will only get easier to get the exact classes and times he wants. I’m not sure whether Monroe scholars get registration priority 2nd semester Freshman year, but they definitely do not get any registration advantage Soph-Senior years.</p>
<p>Thanks, Bayberry. Glad to hear that she is not alone in not getting into a GER class, and that seniors, then juniors, then sophomores go in registration order. We speculate that our D just missed out on Monroe scholar status, and it’s not been an easy registration process for her. So a little frustrating to watch as a parent observer. But she is managing fine emotionally – no tears, and no significant distress. Hopefully the experience is building a little character.</p>
<p>W&M admission – do Monroe scholars also get registration priority for 2nd semester?</p>
<p>Has she asked her OA for help? My DD was an OA for three years and did lots of registration “advising.”</p>
<p>Actually, we don’t know, she wants to manage all of it on her own, so we’re not pressing our D for info and she’s not volunteering much…probably all for the best…as long as the W&M community comes through and helps her. </p>
<p>But we won’t be happy if her financial aid all of a sudden runs dry due to failing to register a full course-load, or she can’t graduate in 4 years due to not fulfilling her GERs due to the bumper size class of 2015!</p>
<p>Tribeparent, there is a second round of selections for Monroe Scholar at the beginning of Sophomore year. The number of Sophomores to be selected depends on how many slots are still available, because not all the Freshmen who are offered Monroe actually matriculate at W&M.</p>
<p>New parents, Have no fear. My D has always managed to get 12 to 15 units. If registration has not worked out, she shows up at the first class or emails the professor for permission to add the class. She entered with an AP credit for one GER but actually managed to take many GERS every semester. </p>
<p>I second the suggestion that your children talk to their OAs or even their RAs – an experienced student can help out with practical advice.</p>
<p>tribeparent, Monroe Scholars only get early registration prior to their first semester. As of next semester (or more accurately later this semester when they register for next semester) they will register with their classmates.</p>