​How to Register for College Classes

There are several steps to take when you register for college classes: checking your student account, getting financial aid in order, meeting with your advisor, and tips on selecting classes.

Sign into your student account.

For new students, take the time to familiarize yourself with your student account. Identify the sections for financial aid, registration, and where alerts or messages are displayed.

For returning students, Clear any holds or blocks on your student account. This could mean fees or tuition that need to be paid. It may also be returning books to the library or returning equipment that was checked out.

Get your financial aid in order.

Log into the financial aid section of your student account and accept or reject any grants or loans. Remember, scholarships and grants don’t have to be paid back, but loans do. If you don’t need to use the full amount of the loan, ask the financial aid office if you can accept some and not all of it. If your financial circumstances have changed, meet with the financial aid office to discuss your options.

Meet with your academic advisor.

Schedule a meeting with your academic advisor to make a plan for the next semester, take a look at degree requirements, and map out specific classes you should sign up for. Do some research on your own to ensure that you are fully aware of your options and opportunities. Remember that your advisor is your partner in ensuring you have success in college. Advisors are your advocates and can help with class waitlists, academic accommodations (accessibility, note taking) and more.

Tips on selecting classes:

• Understand any core requirements your college has and how many core classes you should take in your first year (required courses may take up much of your first year selections).
• There may be classes you need to take to prepare you for higher level classes (these are called prerequisites). In addition, some classes are only available to you if you are in a specific major.
• Try to have a balanced workload. Be mindful of how challenging a course is by asking previous students, your academic advisor, or looking at a past syllabus.
• Have back up classes just in case you are waitlisted, but stay on the waitlist and pay attention to your student email/account. In the event that someone drops the course, the next person on the waitlist will be added to the class (this could be you!).
• If you are considering retaking a class during the second semester/quarter, take this quiz to help you decide if you should retake a class.

Set an alarm to register for classes.

In some schools, it can get pretty competitive when registering for classes and/or getting the class time you want for the perfect class schedule. Look for a registration period alert in your student account/email to know when your registration time is and set an alarm for 10-15 minutes before this time. You will want to be at your computer with a good internet connection with enough time to restart your computer, troubleshoot, or address any student account issues.

Learn more:

• Academic advising
• Tips for Choosing College Classes