Though there are many stresses that you’ll be introduced to throughout your time in college, you’ll find that the difficulty that comes with scheduling classes may be the most unexpected of them all. There’s few things more disappointing than seeing a class you’ve been meaning to take is filled or that you’ll be forced to take a dreaded 8AM class.
Since we are in January as of writing this, you probably have your schedule set for the next semester and may not be happy with it. If this is the case, then you need to be prepared if your school offers an Add/Drop (or “Course Shopping”) period.
For those new to the process, an Add/Drop period is a period most schools offer at the beginning of each semester where you are allowed to make changes to your schedule. We’ve noted a few tips below you can follow to make sure you make the most of your Add/Drop period.
Tip #1
Map out your schedule based on university/degree requirements
When you begin studying in the U.S., one of the first things you should do is research what coursework you will need to take based on your university/school and major/minor requirements. This information is generally easy to find through your school and will allow you to begin to build the framework of which classes you should take each semester you are in school.
It’s crucial to have this roadmap set as it will allow you to schedule your classes more effortlessly and can give you a better idea when to be active during Add/Drop if you aren’t able to schedule a class you need to take.
Once you know what classes you plan to take, you can research when it is offered, how many sessions there are, etc. From here, you can monitor to see if spots open and can have a better idea if you would need to make subsequent moves to fit it in your schedule.
Your school may offer the option to be waitlisted for a class through their scheduling software and be automatically added if a spot opens. Just note that these waitlists often favor those with higher seniority or special scheduling conflicts (student-athletes, those with handicaps, etc.) so you should keep that in mind.
Tip #2
Research to see if there's any courses you may want to drop
Similar to the last tip, the best preparation to drop classes is to be proactive in researching. For every class you’re targeting, you can see if a class fits your needs based on how people like the professor, what the pass/fail rate is, how the curriculum and course work is structured, etc.
Based on your research, you may think a class will be too hard and want to drop it due to that. However, most schools will allow you to withdraw from classes after the Add/Drop period with a “W” grade if you aren’t performing well. This allows you to drop the class without having an effect on your GPA and you can then attempt to take it again, though you should be selective in doing this.
It may be tempting to drop a course for reasons such as commute to the class or you not liking the professor, but you should always weigh this against how it affects your long-term scheduling and if you have a solid back up option to switch into.
Tip 3
Do not expect things to go according to plan. Prepare for all possibilities.
Here are some additional problems to expect during your Add/Drop period:
Don’t expect to complete every change you want
Adding/dropping classes can be difficult so you shouldn’t assume you’ll be able to make all the changes you want to. It is crucial to attend any classes you are enrolled in during the beginning of the semester.
Don’t assume you will be able to drop a certain class and then fall behind on the work by not attending it. You never know what will happen.
Keep in mind how many credits you are taking
Adding and dropping classes will also have effects on your class credit amount, which is important to know as you’ll need a certain amount to graduate and your tuition amount is based on how many credits you take.
Also, the number of credits you take can change whether you are considered a full-time or part-time student. A change in student status can have effects on scholarships, financial aid, or athletic eligibility.
Certain classes may need special permission
Many classes you want to switch may need permission from an academic advisor, professor, department head, etc. to be approved. There are also occasions where you can request for a class to add a seat for you so make sure to research this prior to Add/Drop.
Deadlines and website malfunctions
The last thing you need to become familiar with are any deadlines you have. A lot of schools use outdated software to keep track of schedule changes so you should always make moves as soon as possible to avoid any potential downfalls with website crashes or something similar.
To verify any of the information above, don’t hesitate to reach out to your academic or international student advisor or a representative from your field of study’s department.
Tip 4
Utilize social media, your advisors and school resources
For almost all of the information listed above, you can find it through your school’s website or by asking an academic advisor. Academic advisors will offer availability at the beginning of every semester just to make sure you are set going into the start of classes so take advantage of this if you can.
Perhaps the best place to get information and up-to-date tips specifically for your school is on social media or online forums. Websites/apps such as Reddit, Quora, and Discord often will have groups set up for students at your school. Reddit is especially helpful as you can ask and search for questions very easily to see if anyone else has the same inquiries as you.
You can also use Facebook groups or review Twitter hashtags for more on what’s going with things such as class openings, closings or websites issues. For more information on where you can reach students form your school, review here.
