Registration

<p>Is it me or does W&M have the worst registration of any school? Within probably 1 minute of registration opening, virtually every class was filled. Definitely all the good ones. Is this what I can expect for the next 4 years? Having to beg profs to let me in their classes because I was literally a second too late? It doesn't help that Monroe Scholars get like a whole week to choose classes before everyone else. What's the point of giving students a month to register if they know that all the classes will be taken within 5 minutes of registration opening?</p>

<p>We were supposed to have the list of CRNS before us to register and several back-up courses. Since we are freshmen, it is harder for us to register of course. As soon as 1 PM came around, I copied and pasted my 3 CRNS and submitted. One was rejected so I pasted in the backup and now I am all ready to go. </p>

<p>The following is a quote from the official w&m 2014 facebook discussion under “registration”</p>

<p>"many of the classes get expanded capacities almost literally right before freshman registration and then others later right before Add/Drop starts. To get a better idea if a class you want is going to open up more seats later, go to “Look-up Classes to Add” and look for the course offering for the equivalent semester the year prior (in this case, Fall 2009).</p>

<p>Also, to all–don’t get discouraged if first registration doesn’t “go well” and you only get a seat in half the classes you want. As I said above, more seats open later. Also, e-mailing professors about override requests often can get you into a class that’s already full, although you need to do it early after initial registration to get on top of the list.</p>

<p>Barring both those options, you can always show up to the class on the first day of classes and request an override. Even if the professor turns you down, show up the second day and repeat. By about the third day, they’ll usually relent and give you the override since you’re clearly dedicated to taking that course. I’ve only had to do that once though, as most professors are more than willing to give you an override.</p>

<p>Also, keep in mind, you have 4 years to take all the cool classes you want to! Everyone has to take a bunch of lectures and GERs as basic requirements, so if you can’t get into the class you want right now, take a GER class now and shoot for that class again later. It’ll all work out in the end–no one has ever not graduated because they didn’t get into a certain class freshman year."</p>

<p>My DD is a senior this year; the only time she had registration issues was for the second semester of her freshman year and that was because she was in class at her assigned time. She had her older sister who was in college across country register for her and we picked classes for her since her requested ones were all full. One of those classes ending up leading to one of her two majors. </p>

<p>My other DD is freshman this year and had her sister help her get all her ducks in a row. She got all the classes she wanted except for a seminar and will worry about that at add/drop or in the spring. </p>

<p>Don’t lose hope. It is way better than how I registered - stand in line and get a card for the class, then get in another line for the next class. The process took hours.</p>

<p>I’ve e-mailed a lot of teachers asking to override me into their classes, but I’m wondering if any of them are checking their e-mails at this time of the year. Will I just have to wait until I get to W&M? Do they actually check their e-mails in late July/early August?</p>

<p>“Is it me or does W&M have the worst registration of any school?” – Have you registered at any other schools?</p>

<p>You shouldn’t reasonably expect this experience for 4 years, but you should expect it for one. You’re a freshman, and over 1400 of your classmates are in the same situation. Whining won’t do you any good. </p>

<p>The registration period is extended over the course of a few weeks because people change their minds and add/drop classes over that period of time.</p>

<p>My son felt he did well at registration. I don’t know specifics, but he said he was prepared and I think he is happy.</p>

<p>During the year many professors understand if you need to register during class if that is where your time slot falls. Some even give everyone a 5 minute break. Besides for freshmen seminars, there is a lot of movement between classes once everyone gets to campus. If there is a particular class you want, just check banner every couple of days and chances are you can get it. Besides for a few extremely popular classes and seminars, I’ve rarely heard of someone not getting into the classes they wanted.</p>

<p>And yes, they check their emails. Some may be on vacation or teaching summer courses elsewhere, but I would guess that the vast majority are doing research - which usually necessitates the checking of email every once in a while.</p>

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<p>How many schools have you registered at?</p>

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<p>Yep. That’s why I went to Add/Drop the second it turned 1:00. Literally. I watched at my computer for the second it turned 1:00. You needed to be prepared for it. Obviously hundreds and hundreds of other students were.</p>

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<p>Dude, you’re a freshman. Too bad. So sad. Everybody else gets to go before you. That’s how it works.</p>

<p>When you become an upperclassmen, you get first pick.</p>

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<p>You do realize how few Monroe/Murray scholars there are right? There aren’t 1,000, I’ll tell you that.</p>

<p>Yes, most of the classes are taken, but that doesn’t mean all 1,200+ kids register in the first five minutes. Some get there late. Do they get their first, second, or third choices?</p>

<p>Probably not. </p>

<p>Really, it sounds like you’re just whining because you were too slow. Not because “W&M registration sucks.”</p>

<p>Plus, it’s not like no classes will gain seats.</p>

<p>There’s an Add/Drop period during the first couple weeks of school for a reason. Some people will switch classes. Maybe the ones you want will open up.</p>

<p>Just chill. Ask politely for overrides.The typical drill.</p>

<p>And yes, the profs check their emails. I’ve emailed quite a few of them and gotten many prompt responses.</p>

<p>registration is like this at every school.</p>

<p>would you rather each person get a specific time in 5 minute windows? what if you got slot #1400? This gives everyone a fair chance.</p>

<p>My dd plugged in her first 3 class choices at 5 secs after 1pm and got all 3. We couldn’t believe it. We had charts, plans of actions, color codes, etc and didn’t need any of them. Next semester probably won’t be so easy. When older dd was freshman at UVa she didn’t get a single class that was a first choice. She did all the emails, etc needed to get the classes she wanted, and she got them all. Registration is fluid, so you just have to keep after it.</p>

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Weirdly, my d (now a rising junior) had her best luck ever at registration when she was in that same situation. The prof told everyone to go ahead and register when the time came, and somehow she got every first-choice class. And no Friday classes that semester. Sometimes you just need the registration gods to smile on you. :)</p>

<p>coolio, your schedule can change quite a bit when you arrive for orientation and meet with your faculty adviser. Her first year, my d wound up in a freshman seminar she had no initial interest in; she found she loved it and the prof has since become her adviser. She was closed out of an intro chem class at first, but additional slots opened up before her second go-round with registration during orientation.</p>

<p>Every public school has issues with registration (and many private ones do, too).</p>

<p>Wow, imnva! Congrats to your d. Did she buy a lottery ticket afterwards? It really was a lucky day for her. :)</p>

<p>Registration is tough your first few semesters…no doubt about it. Sorry to hear you’re having trouble getting some of the courses you want. But definitely have back-ups like someone mentioned. Sometimes the courses you’re not eager about can be some of the best. Plus, there are likely still several GER courses out there and it’s never a bad idea to start working through all of your GERs.</p>

<p>Then, just be patient. Email professors whose classes you hope to get in to, utilize the add drop periods, and work with your academic advisor and student mentor to find alternatives if things fill up. Your course schedule will gradually fall into place.</p>