Got a Registration Game Plan?

Registration already?

Yup.  Those signs you've been seeing around campus about spring registration are for real. Registration has begun.  Time to sit down with your advisor and talk about next semester.

But first, develop a registration game plan for yourself.  Think about

--what courses you want to take next semester;
--how many classes you should take;
--when you want to come to school;
--what professors you would like to study with.

All are important.

If you're not sure what to take this spring, find your curriculum in NCC's online catalog. You can access the catalog from the homepage-- www.ncc.edu  (see "College Catalog") --and you can find your specific curriculum by clicking the "Programs of Study" link.  It's all there; you just have to look.

As for the number of courses/credits you should take, ask yourself how busy (with jobs, family stuff, etc.) you expect to be next semester.  Be honest.  Can you handle a full-time program? If so, should you take four courses? Five? More?

What's the best time of day to take classes? Do you like getting up early?  Are you at your best in the morning? Or are you not really "on" until the sun is halfway across the sky?  P.S. No matter what time you're starting school, a) avoid scheduling too many classes back to back (a formula for being mentally MIA by your last class) and b) remember your commute, especially if you're starting early and have a long trip from home.  You may not want to be on the road or at a bus stop at 6:30 a.m. in January.  

Should professors figure into your registration decisions?  Absolutely. A professor can make the difference between a great classroom experience and a so-so one.  Ask friends and classmates for recommendations.  Find out about teaching styles, workload (papers, exams, etc.), grading policies, and whatever else is important.  But above all, look for profs with good reps. 

Lots of important decisions here, some easier than others (and some you may want to make after talking with your advisor).  But think about these questions now--no time like the  present.  And be sure to register early!  If you hibernate until January, you may not like the choices you have at that point.