Class registration is super confusing. Look over these tips for some help!

Class registration can be one of the most confusing periods of freshman year. For (probably) the first time in your life, you have so many classes to choose from, and not only that, you get to decide your own schedule!! We have compiled a list of tips and things to remember when navigating Vergil, academics, and everything in between!

1. Take a deep breath. You’re going to be super overwhelmed by classes, and that’s okay! Take the time to comb through things and figure out what you’re interested in. You’re not on your own – when you get to school, you’ll meet with an advisor, as well as connect with a ton of upperclassmen who will be more than happy to help out. Do what you can right now, and come with questions in the fall!
2. Waitlists are normal. The amount of yellow classes in your Vergil planner may scare you at first. Don’t worry about waitlists – they’re completely normal, especially as a freshman. If you get into a class the minute you register – congrats! If not, wait a little bit before getting nervous. The first two weeks of classes at the start of every semester are called the shopping period, in which people try out classes and drop things as they end up choosing what their final schedule will look like. This means that waitlists move drastically during those first two weeks.
   • Checking waitlists: you can check your waitlist status by logging into Vergil and going to the “Waitlisted” tab in the “My Planner” section. If the waitlist gives you a numbered position, that’s how many people are ahead of you in line. If it says “instructor managed,” then the instructor decides who will take the class. For these classes, send an email to the professor outlining your interest in the class, and make sure to show up for the first few classes, as some professors track that in order to allow people in. 
3. Get to know Vergil. Vergil is the database which both Columbia and Barnard use to schedule classes. It’s really helpful to get to know the platform both before and after class registration, since you’ll be using it all four years. Take your time navigating through and seeing class descriptions, professors, and more. The more time you spend now, the quicker things will be in the future! 
4. Prioritize requirements. This is especially helpful if you’re not sure what to major in, but even if you are, try to get requirements out of the way. My biggest regret is not starting the language requirement my freshman year, as that is something that is going to follow me into the next couple of years of class registration now. As a freshman, it is unlikely you will get into all of the classes of your choice, so be economical by replacing some spaces where you didn’t get your first choice with a class that will fulfill a requirement your major might not. Who knows, maybe you’ll end up loving it! 
5. Know yourself. You know yourself best. Plan your class timings around what you think you can logically do. If you find it difficult to get up for high school, you’re probably not going to want to schedule an 8:40am class. Just because you can get up at 6:30am for high school does NOT mean you will be able to do the same in college. Additionally, if you know you’re someone who likes structure, schedule classes that start at the same time, such as starting every day at 10:10am, as that provides you with some routine. The timing of your classes is just as important as the classes you take, because it determines how focused and ready you are to actually learn. There’s no point in signing up for an amazing class that you never go to! Use your first semester to figure out what works best for you, then stick with it. 
6. Explore variety. This is not a race to see who can get everything done first. You have four years to take whatever classes you need. Slow down and take some variety in your classes as well! There are more classes offered at Columbia than you could take if you went to school for the rest of your life, and they are all interesting in their own way. Step out of your comfort zone and try something new! If a class doesn’t end up fulfilling any requirements, that’s fine. You learned something new, and that’s so much of what college is about!!

While class registration is scary, it is definitely not insurmountable. With these tips, as well as your own navigation, you are going to do just fine. 

Image via Wikimedia Commons