Six DO’S and DON’TS of Course Registration

Author: Celina Aalders
Posted on June 15, 2020

Course registration can definitely be kind of nerve wracking, especially when you are doing it for the very first time. Making sure you choose the right classes, trying to get a good schedule, and ensuring that you make it into the classes you want are only a few things students are concerned about when course registration comes around. Below, I have listed a few tips that will make the process of registering for courses significantly easier and stress-free!

DO: Plan in advance and make sure you have your program requirements

In order to ensure you are ready for your course registration day, make sure you have your desired schedule ready to go before registration opens. Take advantage of the blank timetable that Mount A offers on the website to get an organized visual of what your schedule will be. Along with this, make sure you have the specific requirements needed for your program of choice and try to take as many distributions as you can fit into your schedule. In order to make sure you are on the right track with your required courses and distributions, chat with an academic advisor who would be more than happy to help you!

DON’T: Give up if you do not get into a class you wanted to

There have been plenty of times when I was on the wait list for a class I really wanted to get into, but with time and patience, I eventually got into all of them. It definitely helps to attend that class during the first week even if you are not formally enrolled yet. You should also tell the professor that you are eagerly waiting on the waitlist (it will show them how serious you are about getting into the class).

DO: Pick a schedule that suits your lifestyle

Some classes at MtA are offered during several different timeslots. Make sure you choose the one that best suits your schedule and lifestyle. For example, if you are not a morning person and you have a choice available, choose the 1:30pm timeslot instead of the 8:30am one!

DON’T: Choose classes based on what your friends are taking

While knowing someone in your classes can be very comforting during the first week, I promise that you will meet new people in every single class you take. Choose classes that are best suited for you, not your friends. It’s a great way to meet new friends, find study buddies, and be introduced to people who have similar interests.

DO: Branch out and try something new (especially when it comes to distribution credits)

The whole point of distribution credits is to expose students to subjects outside of their primary field of study and to make sure we become more diverse learners. Had it not been for distribution credits, I most likely would not have taken Intro to Political Science and therefore would not be a PoliSci major today. Like they say, you never know until you try! DON’T STRESS!!!

Mount Allison offers so many resources when it comes to picking your classes that there is absolutely no need to overstress about it. Take advantage of the academic advisors every year until you graduate! They are so helpful and will always ensure you are on the right track to getting your degree. Also, do not hesitate to reach out to upper year students; we have been in you choose before and we know it can be scary at first, so we want to help you! Whether you know someone who can offer you advice, or you reach out to a Campus Ambassador through our Welcome to College program, there are always upper year students who want to help you and put you at ease through this new process 😊