Midterms are finally over and the end of the semester seems closer than ever. But then it hits you like a truck, anxiety. You just remembered that midterms means it's time to prepare for the "College Hunger Games", otherwise known as class registration.
As a freshman, I thought class registration would get better each time. Don't be fooled, every semester when it comes time to sign up for classes, my anxiety kicks into a level I didn't know was possible. Freshman year you get to pick whatever classes are left, and where three hundred kids are fighting over two spots in a class. Sophomore year it gets a little better, but these are classes are pre-requisites that you need so you can even sign up for classes junior year. Junior year, you've been through the fire enough times that you're practically a professional. And senior year is a breeze.
When it comes to the dynamic between student and advisor, you are the tribute and your academic advisor is your victor mentor. They were there to show you the ropes, provide strategies for success and help in any way they can. After getting approval and clearance from your advisor, the "College Hunger Games" start soon. But at the end of the day, when it comes to entering the arena that is the online registration portal, you are on your own. However, with your advisors approval and a game plan, you start to feel like you might be able to do this thing.
Its finally the big day. There has been so much work preparing for this event and now it's time to see if all that effort was worth it. Registration starts at 7 a.m. and you woke up at 6:30 a.m. to make sure you were online as soon as the clock hit 7 a.m. You have a game plan in mind, and also 12 backups in the very likely event that something doesn't go as planned. You sit waiting for it all to start and the anticipation is building. Finally, the registration is opened and it's every man for themselves.
After it's all over, you feel like 45 minutes have passed when in reality it's only been 15. You get a chance to look at your schedule for next semester. Congratulations, you got none of the classes you needed! However, you did manage to snag that awesome math class at six o'clock on Tuesday and Thursday that you didn't want to take, so that's awesome. The key to getting into the better classes is the old sit and wait tactic. Keep checking after that initial rush of sign-ups to see if people have dropped their spot or if the professor added spots. This is your best shot at getting the schedule you really need.
Good luck to everyone getting ready to sign up for classes and may the odds be ever in your favor.
