Fun with scheduling

by Amanda Peterka

How to beat the system

It’s a feeling we all know-that disappointment at the bottom of the stomach when the computer screen flashes the message that there are no openings in that one classes you’ve had your eye on the whole semester. 

Ah, scheduling.  It’s that time of year, and students around campus are in a tizzy about what classes to take.  Advisors’ appointment slots are filled as students hope they’ve come up with an academic plan that will allow them to graduate in four years.

But in the end, it’s not about the plan you come up with when meeting with an advisor-it’s about actually getting into the classes when it comes time to enroll. 

“There’s always problems where the section or class was full,” said Jen Harkness, a sophomore English major who worked at AOP over the summer helping others schedule classes.  “It’s nerve-wracking for a couple of days.” 

For some, it’s already over and done with.  Those in the Honors College enrolled on Friday.  Chances are high that they got into the classes they wanted, especially those scheduled to enroll at 8 a.m..

However, that is not always the case, even for Honors College students.  Laurel Nowak-Boyd, a freshman microbiology major, is in the Honors College but has yet to access the enrollment Web site. 

The university has put a hold on her Web enrollment, and she can’t sign up for classes until administration gets a transcript she has sent in twice in the past year.  The form probably won’t get in until the end of the week. 

“I guess I’ll get an override for classes I need, but I’m not sure if I’ll get into the classes I want,” she said. 

For those not in the Honors College, enrollment is still awhile off.  Harkness will be able to access the system on April 16, but others have to wait even longer until April 23.  That wait can be a time of frustration, as there is no logging in early.  The system waits until the second your scheduled appointment time comes around, and no sooner. 

But never fear, there are ways of beating the system: 

1. Make friends with an honors college student.  Have that friend enroll in classes you need.  He or she can then hold them until you enroll and then drop them so you can be assured your spot.
2. Don’t make friends with an honors college student, but log into their account anyway and enroll in the classes you want.  However, remember to then log back into their account before or after you have enrolled in classes to make sure there’s an open spot and that you aren’t stuck in a class with someone who’s not your friend.
3. Make friends with a professor who can reserve a spot in the class for you.  This is different than asking an advisor to put in an override, as they are not always going to do that.  A good way to make friends with a professor is to act interested in the subject he or she is researching at the moment-you might want to pick up a book they published and carry that around for a few days.  You can then strike up a friendly conversation about said subject or book, and then kindly prompt him or her to reserve a place for you in the class.
4. For those good with computers, there’s always hacking into the system.
5. Run in front of a CATA bus.  As compensation for your injuries, demand enrollment in the classes you want.
6. As a last resort, walk into a high-level office, drop a string of expletives and get yourself expelled.  No more worries, then, eh?  

 

Whatever your choose, whether it’s waiting for your enrollment date or jumping through several loopholes, good luck in getting the classes you want!

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