Tips for Registering for College Classes as a Freshman

You’ve made it through the college application process and have completed all the required documents, now it’s time for one more major step: registering for your classes. Likely, you’ve pored over the course catalog to see what you might take in your first year of college – and that’s a great first step.

Class registration is a slightly intimidating and confusing process, especially for you first-timers. Proper preparation and guidance, however, will help ease a little bit of the tension you may be feeling concerning class registration. Here are some helpful tips for registering for your college classes.

Preparing for Registration

Before you sit down to register, there are a few things you’ll want to check off your list, like meeting with your advisor (which we’ll address later!). Find out when the class registration date and time begins, and set alarms on your phone so you’ll be logged in and ready to go. On the day of, make sure to:

• Test your laptop
• Make sure you have a strong Wi-Fi connection
• Have your course catalog right beside you

Classes will fill up quickly, so it’s important to prep ahead of time to avoid any potential hiccups during the registration process. Before the day arrives, there are some other things you need to do and consider while making your plan.

Clear Any Registration Holds

One common issue that students may encounter when registering is a hold. When a hold is placed on your account, it prevents you from doing things like registering for classes or requesting transcripts. It’s an indicator that there is an issue that must be resolved, such as:

• Unpaid student fees
• Missing admission documents
• Not completing Orientation
• Library fines

Most commonly for freshmen, you are required to meet with your advisor to be able to register for classes. If that hasn’t happened, then you likely will have a hold on your account. You want to make sure that you are not blindsided by any holds on your account when registration day rolls around, so check and make arrangements to clear any holds.

Meet with Your Advisor

Once again, it will likely be required for you to meet with your advisor before you register for classes. In college, you will have an assigned academic advisor whose role is to aid you in achieving your academic goals and ensuring that you progress through your degree program as smoothly as possible. A sit down with your advisor will give you the chance to get any answers to questions you may have surrounding your classes, registering for them and degree progression.

To get the most out of your meeting, come prepared with a list of questions to ask your advisor. To get an idea of the questions you should ask, consider what you want and ask yourself some questions as well. Here are some examples to help give you an idea:

• Am I happy with the major I’ve chosen?
• Do I want to pursue a double major?
• Do I want to pursue a minor?
• Can I maintain a full-time course load?
• Do I want to graduate by my anticipated graduation date? 
• Do I want to graduate early?
• What do I struggle with the most in my classes? 

Your advisor can also give you a quick run-through of how you can navigate the system where you can search, select, and register for courses. They can also help you plan the courses to take during your first semester and beyond.

Pro tip: as you plan with your advisor, add in time to explore other interests – that’s what college is for! Find some electives that interest you and plug those in during your first couple of semesters. You may end up finding a whole new skill set!

Know What Works Best for You

The good thing about self-registering for classes is that you can choose the classes and create the schedule with you and your needs in mind. To pick a schedule that would best accommodate your needs, you must know what those needs are first.

Sit down with yourself and be honest about what is sustainable for you and what is not.

In college, you have complete reign over your course schedule, which may differ from your experience in high school where you followed the schedule put in place by your school. To determine whether that 8 a.m. class or stacking three classes right after one another is right for you, here is something to consider.

• Make note of your daily habits and rituals and base your class schedule around them. For instance, if you typically get to bed much later in the night or like to reserve your early mornings for you, perhaps opt-in for a late morning or early afternoon class. Or if you often find yourself needing a moment to have a meal or recharge in the middle of the day, space your classes out accordingly so you have the opportunity to do so.

Also, become familiar with the various types of courses your college may offer: 

• In-person: This is the most standard class offered in college, where the class has a set meeting time and location. 
• Asynchronous: Most online courses are asynchronous. Asynchronous classes will have an instructor but there won’t be set meeting times. You’ll also have access to all the course materials online, which could vary from recorded lectures to assigned readings.  
• Synchronous: These classes are also online, but unlike asynchronous classes, there are set class times where students meet remotely.
• Hybrid: These courses are a combination of in-person and asynchronous class styles. Your class will almost run like an asynchronous course, except there are several scheduled meeting times throughout the semester.

As you search for and schedule your courses, think about how you learn the best. Would you prefer in-person instruction? Or are you comfortable navigating an online course where you won’t have in-person instruction frequently or at all? 

Also, think about the balance in your first semester. You don’t want to overload yourself with several academically demanding courses and then experience burnout right off the bat. Give yourself a course load you think you can handle, and don’t overbook. Most full-time students will take anywhere from 12-15 hours per semester.

Consider your future self and decide with your best interests in mind so that you can ensure a successful semester.

Know Your Classes Before You Register

Before your registration date arrives, it would be beneficial to know what classes you are registering for. College courses tend to fill up fast, so searching for your courses and establishing your schedule before you register will help you get through the registration process faster, thus ensuring that you get a seat in the classes you want. You can plan these out with your advisor when you meet with them. Having a solid game plan in place beforehand will help you feel calmer when registration day arrives.

Have a Backup

You could do everything correctly but that would not guarantee you a spot in the classes you want. That’s okay, it happens! So, in case the classes you plan to register for are full, have a couple of alternate courses on hand that you can register for. The good news here: most courses are offered on a per-semester basis. So, if you don’t get into a required college algebra course this time, you can always adjust your plan slightly and take it the next semester.

What to Do After Registration

Let’s say you didn’t get the class you really wanted. Most courses have waitlists, so you can sign up for that. This is also a good time to sign up for alerts from the course professor so you’re aware of any changes in the class during the drop/add period. If you make it off the waitlist during this time, then you can drop the backup class.

Don’t Stress – You’ve Got the Help You Need

Class registration can be a little anxiety-inducing, but at USF, people will be willing to walk alongside you in support. Academic advisors across USF are ready to support students in academic planning and success. Make an in-person or virtual appointment with an advisor, who can walk you through the class registration process and answer any additional questions or concerns you may have.