As a freshman, I dreamed of a simple registration. A blissful routine in which I would slip from my bed, jot my course numbers into the online registration boxes, gaze at my completed schedule with a sense of satisfaction, and marvel at my natural genius.
This fantasy does not coincide with the standard Rollins registration. In fact, unless you are registering early, you may face a myriad of issues. These issues stem from various sources including: sudden Internet failure, bad connection, unrealized prerequisites, or something as simple as your class being filled.
Yet, regardless of what mishaps you may have on your registration day, here are some dos and don’ts that insure the registration odds remain in your favor.
Backup Ready:
There is nothing worse than needing a class that only has one available seat. This class started with ten available spots, but by the time you need to register, only two spots remain. Members of the Rollins community who need that spot will be ready, yielding computer mice with the prowess of academic gunslingers. Save yourself the stress and have back up choices just in case you cannot get that class.
Use Your Advisor:
If you are a freshman registering for the first time, there is no ally quite like your Academic Advisor. Show them what classes you are registering for. Academic Advisors and older peers can help to insure that you do not end up registering for the wrong class or attempt to register for a class requiring prerequisites.
Be Ready to Walk:
This may sound crazy, but it has saved me multiple times. Often, FoxLink fails under the massive burden of students desperately and simultaneously clicking. If FoxLink fails, you have to register through paper with Student Records. Be ready to walk to Student Records, located at the back of the Mills building, and save yourself from a semester of miserable classes.
Store Your Pin Somewhere Safe:
The minute you get your pin, write it down and store it. Reliable tricks include: emailing it to yourself, putting it in your phone, and tattooing it onto your forehead. If you lose this precious number, you will be frantically e-mailing your advisor at 8:00 a.m. You probably will not get your pin for days, and by this time those classes you want will be filled.
Register for Classes with the Least Seats First:
Pay attention to how many seats are available in each of class. Be attentive. Forge an attack plan. Which classes are necessary and which can be taken during a different semester. Try to register for the classes with the least seats first, then focus on the classes with large amounts of available spots.
These are your helpful hints to help you survive registration. In short, be ready and have your schedule prepped. Speak to your advisor and keep your pin in a safe place. Registration is not the scary beast some people make it out to be. It is only a nightmare if you roll out of bed registration morning with no plan, no pin, and no academic advising.
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Course Recommendations
Recommendations compiled by Micah Bradley, Marcela Oliviera, Ali Perry, & Peter Ruiz
Anthropological Perspective of Love & Marriage:
Dr. Robert Moore will be teaching Anthropological Perspective of Love and Marriage, an Anthropology 206 course, in the spring. The class focuses on love and marriage through a cultural and anthropological lens. Among other things, it looks at what constitutes a loving relationship in different cultures and the biology behind falling in love. The class will be for freshman and sophomores only, and count as a SWAG elective.
History of American Sexuality:
The History of American Sexuality is one of the most interesting and thought-provoking classes I have ever taken. Through a lens of sexuality, Dr. Claire Strom pierces through the historical narrative of the country. Dissecting misconceptions of sexuality (or lack there-of) at various times in history and paralleling it with historical events outside the realm of sex, this class allows you to look at how sex shaped the course of American history culturally and politically. This class is A++ material if you are looking for an interesting challenge—but do not expect it to be easy.
Intro to Creative Writing:
Intro to Creative Writing is a phenomenal class regardless of your major or minor. Contrary to the title, this class is so much more than creative writing. It is an exploration of culture, history, and the English language. The class is taught by Matthew Forsythe, who despite being relatively new to the English department is one of the best professors I have had at Rollins. The classroom environment is energetic and the material is engaging. You get to read dozens of phenomenal short stories from various authors. Better yet, you get to craft your own creative writing pieces. These pieces are then work shopped by your peers and Professor Forsythe. It is a phenomenal class for both the aspiring creative writer and those who just want to dabble in something fun.
Media & Cultural Studies:
This course is the perfect class for those who still need their A gen. ed. but are not too comfortable with picking up the pencil. The CMC Department recently welcomed new professors who promise to make their classes even more engaging. CMC 100 is a mind-blowing class that urges students to think more deeply about their media consumption behaviors and how our society is portrayed in TV, film, etc. If taking written exams is not your drill, you will be happy to know that the final for this class is making a short video. This class is not only thought provoking but also tremendously fun.
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