That time of the year has already crept up where students are looking to enroll in classes for the upcoming semester. Luckily, it’s nothing to be anxious about. Here’s a few tips on how to set yourself up for success when it comes to course registration.
DO check Degree Works.
You can check your degree progress in Degree Works through MyRedDragon.com by entering the “Student” tab, then locating the “Degree Works” section and selecting “Degree Works Audit”. With this, you’ll be able to see your current GPA & earned credits, as well as what credits you need to fulfill your degree & what classes can help you meet your requirements. Alongside this, notes from academic advisors can be viewed at the bottom of the page, which can be very helpful.
DON’T have any outstanding holds.
Outstanding holds will prevent you from being able to register for courses for the next semester. Things like parking tickets & disciplinary holds can be taken care of by either following the instructions in the “Alert” box, or by contacting the “Originator” of the hold to look for a way to resolve it. These can be taken care of ahead of time to make sure they don’t interfere with your given time slot, as some holds may not be cleared instantly.
DO have a rough schedule outline.
Show up to your advisement meeting with a general idea of what courses you would like to take. The number can vary between students depending on credit hour requirements and personal threshold, but selecting a few extra classes along with the desired amount of credits you want to take is a good idea since it gives your advisor more to work with and an increased amount of options. And it doesn’t all have to be for this semester – any classes you’re hoping to take in the future can be mentioned, too. just be sure to use the Schedule Builder to get a look at what your schedule could look like depending on the type and amount of courses you want to take.
DON’T get discouraged or surprised if a specific class fills up.
Classes that are in high demand or that are requirements for majors frequently fill up fast. It’s always important to consider backup classes to take in case one gets too full. Or, sometimes, there are asynchronous offerings of a class over winter/summer breaks. Other options can include looking for different classes that will fulfill the same essential credits, or seeing if the course is offered in a different section. If you’re close to graduating from SUNY Cortland and still need the course to graduate, emailing the professor is not a bad idea, either.
DO make sure you know your registration PIN & time.
When you meet with your advisor, they’ll provide you with a course registration PIN – this unique-to-you four digit code will get you through checkout and sign you up for your classes. Specific registration times are based upon amount of earned credit hours; seniors first, then juniors, followed by sophomores and freshmen. Be sure to obtain both of these vital pieces of information from your advisor in the upcoming weeks.
Arranging a schedule that best works for you while working towards your academic goals can seem challenging. However, it is entirely possible. Finding a plan that’s unique to you can happen with a little guidance and help from your advisor. For further resources, feel free to contact the Advisement and Transition Office, located in the Memorial Library. Good luck!