by Leigh Goessl

Created on: July 22, 2009   Last Updated: July 29, 2010

A first time student picking out college classes may find the process to be confusing or intimidating. Even seasoned students may experience a bit of apprehension when selecting which classes to take when registration time rolls around. With all the information presented, sorting through pamphlets full of course names, course numbers, and names of professors can feel a bit overwhelming.

It is a good idea to sign up for classes as soon as registration opens. If you wait until the last minute to decide what classes to take, you run the risk on a class either being filled to capacity class or canceled due to lack of enrollment.

A wise idea is to begin planning your schedule ahead of time so you know your options (and also any potential alternatives) in case your first choice isn't available. Once the window for registration opens, sign up for those classes as soon as possible so you don't miss out on the courses you want to take.

Here are a few tips to help you get acquainted with the registration process and some tips to help you pick your classes:

*Know your Major

When you register for college classes it is important to understand the track you are on for a specific degree program. After you choose a major, take the time to understand the requirements and degree criteria. Just earning enough credits isn't enough to complete a degree because your course selection is going to follow a pre-determined schedule of classes which fulfills requirements in specialized areas of study.

Depending on what you've decided to pursue as a degree, you'll need to follow the specific program to meet the criteria that will enable you to graduate. If you are lacking credits in any of the specialized areas of study aligned with your curriculum, this could delay your graduation. It is a good idea to pay careful attention to the courses you select and be sure they fit in with your degree program because you don't want to spend time and money on credits that will not count towards your degree.

A percentage of the student population is unsure what course of study to pursue early in their academic journey. If you fall into this statistic, that is OK; in many colleges you aren't required to select a major right away.

One good course of action is to register for a liberal arts program that allows the flexibility to test the waters in different areas of study. This gives you a semester or two to figure out which direction you want to take your education because of the liberal arts' high flexibility

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