Anonymous
07/19/2025 16:59
Subject: Registering for classes as first year student
Have a kid at a large state school and they also add additional sections as some are filled. And they met with their Advisor prior to selecting classes each time as well in between a few times as needed. What I find is that sometimes students just don’t want to take the early 8am-9am class or late start like 4 or want to have a very specific schedule vs they are being completely shut out. And not being prepared with 1-2 backups. I’ve told my DC, I don’t care how cool a class may sound etc, it must meet a requirement towards their majors etc and usually there are a bunch of classes that do, just not their first choice sometimes. I need to see the tracker to see how it meets this goal. My DC is a dual major thus has two advisors and they take advantage and run things by most.
Anonymous
07/19/2025 16:56
Subject: Registering for classes as first year student
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:UMich is difficult. My kid needed a lot of support figuring out a good track for a double major. A big public can be challenging with overcrowding and waitlists.
My friend's with freshman kids at Michigan got not none of their course requests for this fall. One wants to be biology major and is in 3 history classes. The one who wants data science is in nothing related at all. It's not for lack of trying.
My own child is going to UVA and they do course registration during summer orientation while the parents are there. It's hard not to get involved or at glossary care as a parent cause you see your kid 5 minutes later. And most kids are not getting their preferred classes either. Mg kid wants to take biology (wants to be a major) and all sections were full. Considering being pre-med but all sections of chemistry and calculus were full as well. There will be spots that open at the add/drop time but it's a stressful way to start freshman year.
If Michigan is like other state schools, over the summer as other kids decide to not attend, switch classes, etc. all of the class-level wait lists change and kids who got NONE of their first picks are the first ones to move up on the wait lists. Even at the largest universities the registrars have usually systems for making sure every student gets at least something that they want/need.
Not discounting your experiences but my UM DC did not have this experience, and coining from 2 SLAC parents, we were pleasantly surprised at how easy it was. But they did do early July registration. And for the 2nd semester, they were waitlisted for a class, got off the waitlist but somehow did not followup with finishing the registration (🙄) , so they would up with their 2nd back up which meant a Friday class at 4-5. They hated the time slot and think their A- minus was in part bc of missing it 3+ times; but they said it made good use of otherwise wasted Friday afternoons.
My son is a rising LSA sophomore at Umich, and I don't think he had any issues getting the classes he wanted freshman year. He was a little worried for fall term sophomore year because he got a very late registration slot, and a popular class he needs to take either fall or winter term sophomore year was already full for the fall term. He got on the waitlist, and a week or two later he got into the class.
Anonymous
07/19/2025 16:43
Subject: Registering for classes as first year student
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:UMich is difficult. My kid needed a lot of support figuring out a good track for a double major. A big public can be challenging with overcrowding and waitlists.
My friend's with freshman kids at Michigan got not none of their course requests for this fall. One wants to be biology major and is in 3 history classes. The one who wants data science is in nothing related at all. It's not for lack of trying.
My own child is going to UVA and they do course registration during summer orientation while the parents are there. It's hard not to get involved or at glossary care as a parent cause you see your kid 5 minutes later. And most kids are not getting their preferred classes either. Mg kid wants to take biology (wants to be a major) and all sections were full. Considering being pre-med but all sections of chemistry and calculus were full as well. There will be spots that open at the add/drop time but it's a stressful way to start freshman year.
This, and the comments about UCLA, make me very happy we paid for T10 private. They open more sections if they fill. Just like back in the 90s when I went to a different one. No premeds or prelaw or pre anything were shut out or doomed to a 5th yr or summer session. Even in state UVA is 45-55k depending on College or Engineering. Thats unacceptable
Anonymous
07/19/2025 12:21
Subject: Registering for classes as first year student
Very easy at VT. My freshman found his major roadmap, picked major and general ed classes and days/times. Everything was wide-open the morning of the day when registration opened. He picked everything he wanted, then changed his mind in the afternoon and decided to change a class. There were fewer options available in the afternoon, some classes were full, but he was still able to make a switch and pick a convenient class time. He met with his advisor the day after registration to review his class selection.
Anonymous
07/19/2025 09:27
Subject: Registering for classes as first year student
Anonymous wrote:I never told my mommy about the trouble I had registering for classes, my kids never told their mommy, and none of us ever shared it with any other mommies either.
You all reeaallly need to step back.
Why? This is a big deal. It's something people should be evaluating before they choose their college. We are.
Anonymous
07/19/2025 09:25
Subject: Registering for classes as first year student
Anonymous wrote:What schools make this easy? I am appalled at the process at my kid’s school where you can’t even get on a waiting list for a required class. Small school so rather not name here
You want us to name our kid's schools but you won't name yours? No thanks!