Registration and Scheduling tips for CSU Students

turtlerock
Mon, 15 Jul 2013 13:50:36 +0000

Great tips. I’m still at CC trying to transfer to a CSU, but literally all of the same material applies to both.

It’s important to note that a lot of these tips can actually play off each other. For example, gaining priority registration (which disabled and veteran students are also eligible for by law at CSU) allows you more freedom in selecting the right professors.

I think online GE classes have low registration rates because the online environment for learning is not everyone’s cup of tea. Most students have been in the classroom environment through K-12 education and it is familiar to them. I personally don’t think online education is on par to buck the traditional way . . . yet. But if a student knows they can succeed in an online course, then that’s definitely worth pursuing.

My additions for scheduling: Of course different people are more “active” congnitively during different times of day, so students should learn early on what time is best for their brain (if they are not also juggling other requirements such as a job, etc). If your campus offers a decent amount of evening classes, then consider those as well. Don’t think evening classes will ruin “fun nights out with friends” - if you’re out watching movies, going to concerts, or bar hopping during the time that you know you are most able to critically think and accompish tasks, then you should re-evaluate your priorities as a student. I agree about the 8am ones (my wife proudly claims to have never had a class before 9amfor her BA). I understand that most students hate being on campus at 7:30am (even I’ve learned to enjoy my slow mornings after 4 years of 4:30am wake-ups in the military), but if those are the only ones open for registration, then it’s better to take it then instead of passing and perpetuating your stay in undergrad.

The best advice I can give: take the time to make an educational plan early and edit it as needed.

Do not rely on being hand-held by counselors and advisors. They are nice when you have them, but don’t solely rely on someone else to take responsibility for your education. What I mean by making an educational plan: truly know and understand the requirements to obtain a degree at your specific CSU. This includes knowing core/breadth requirements as well as reqs for your intended major. Then, map out a plan (plug it into an excel spreadsheet, utilize campus website tools for this specific purpose, type it out, write it on the back of a napkin, whatever) that shows, per term, the classes you intend to take to fulfill those education requirements. After each term, you can go in and mark what you’ve completed, analyze what is left to be done, and rearrange your class choices according to what you’ve registered for in the next upcoming term. This also allows you to easily track if you’ve completed prerequisite classes and helps focus on priority categories for you like GE or a major requirement. This does require a bit of effort, but if you stick to it and update it properly as you go along, then you will start to see how much simpler it is making your educational goal. In short, it can be a tool to help utilize the tips above.