How difficult is it to get into your classes?

you goto a UC?

 

Never a big problem for me, but I went to a smallish Ivey Plus school. A very few classes were lotteried.

Generally, though, I have found that negotiating with professors on the first day of class works. Just because the class is full, doesn't mean it will always be that way. Ask to be able to take it. If the prof. is hessitant, ask to do the assignments and take it officially if someone drops out (highly likely). Should no one drop it by drop date, you will probably be okay if you just explain your situation again. I'm sure the professor would be impressed by your dedication.

 

can you join the honors program? I did this, and now I get to register on the first time slot after grad students, so mostly everything is available.

 

I'm right with you Daisy.

I go to Univ. of Florida and it's basically the same way. You should be happy that you're a Senior atleast, just think about the underclassmen and how long they have to wait. For us, it can be almost a whole month after the seniors register!

 

Thats one of the reasons why I do athletics.

 

why in the world do athletes get priority registration? it seems like your school's priorities are a bit skewed. if they have that many extra students for a class, they should just open up a new section. i know, easier said than done at a budget-strapped state school.

 

I played baseballl my freshman year at a division 1 school in NC. Athletes there had no priority in registration over non athletes. Subsequently I got "stuck" with classes that I didn't want (or need) to take, but had to anyways to maintain eligibility by taking and passing at least 12 credit hours. Well anyways our team played 52 games during the regulars season plus 4 games in the conference tournament, 56 games during the spring semester with half of them on the road at places like Florida state, Tennessee, ECU, Birmingham Southern, VMI, etc etc. By the time freshman could register I had to take the classes that were left even though I knew I wouldn't be able to attend most of them because we would be on the road. Needless to say I missed AT LEAST half of the classes for every course I was enrolled in. All this could have been avoided had I been able to register earlier and set up a schedule so that I would actually be able to my classes. Because of my GPA that semester (3.3, not awful but not med school material) I decided to quit playing baseball and concentrate on getting into med school. Even though I am no longer an athlete I completely support athletes registering before non athlete.

So, basically thats exactly why athletes should be allowed to register first.

 

i go to a large university but i'm in the honors college and we get to register for classes before everyone else.....since i was a freshman i always got first pick. totally rocks

 

You could make a similar argument for just about anybody, though. Some people have kids in school and need to be home at certain times or they will miss class so they should get to register first. Some people have jobs with benefits and need to be at those jobs, so they should get to register first. Some people have to take care of another adult and need to be home for doctor's/PT visits and would miss class otherwise, so they should get to register first....the list goes on....

 

Good point, but, as I was made well aware of when I signed my scholarship letter, I was signing a binding legal document. If I were to quit or be kicked off of the team for any reason (including failing out of school as a side effect of missing too many classes) my scholarship would become null and void and I would owe any money they used to fund my education to the school. That being said, I really don't see how they can have an athlete sign an agreement to play for their school (56 games during spring semester for me) and then deny them the oppurtunity to at least try to make a schedule that they can attend. Also, like it or not, sports programs bring in ridiculous amounts of money and notoriety at some universities. The university would be spoiling this wealth of funding and free publicity that athletics brings if they didn't do everything possible (aside from changing grades and a few more imaginative acts) to make sure that their athletes were given every oppurtunity to succeed, including but not limited to being allowed to register first.

 

Seniors registering for classes for their major that they need to graduate are not registering for classes that freshmen will be registering for. Seniors registering for classes that they need to graduate are going to be registering for 300 or 400 level classes that most freshmen are not allowed to take bc of pre reqs.
As for basic studies needed to graduate, at my university basic study requirements can be fulfilled with a variety of different classes (for example 10 different courses are offered to fulfill our Fine Arts requirement). So there is rarely one single basic studies class that a senior must complete in order to graduate.

 

wait til you're a 5th year senior. it becomes a lot easier getting into classes.
-mota

 

haha, u got that right. go us! =p

 

go us! dang engineering. However I am on my 5th year, it really isn't (8th semester of class) GO co-op 5th year fun!

 

sometimes it can be hard for certain classes at u texas. i dont think thats the way it should be, and i dislike stressing over class availability. but thats what i get for attending an enormous 50k student public school, sigh.

 

im glad i dont gotta deal with no classes anymo. graduated haha

 

I had this same problem in undergrad. The school gave athletes a HUGE preference for both class registration & housing (They basically had first pick for everything)

Most profs are pretty chill about it if you come to class the first day and ask for a permission number (to add the class late through the online portal)

If they can't make an exception for you, they will usually tell you to sit-in on the class and wait until someone drops and a spot opens (usually happens)

Its pretty sad though. When you consider the fact that honors students were fighting for spots in classes because athletes got first pick. Most of them failed the classes and had to re-take, further clogging up the system when they were given first pick the next semester as well. Meanwhile honors students are there to actually learn and get the short end of the stick.

That's public undergrad for ya.

 

11 years