Every registration period advisors are bombarded with calls, e-mails, and walk-in advisees with lots of questions. Students who wait to register will find it difficult to get their questions answered in a timely manner because advisors are busy especially during registration.
Plan ahead for the next registration period about one month after current classes start. Unfortunately if you wait to register and you�ll find courses closed/full, and advisors difficult to reach. If you work with your advisor before registration begins, you will be able to make contact easier, the response will be timely, and the advisor will have more time to answer your questions thoroughly.
Check for Holds on your registration. If there are any holds on your registration, you will want to have these released before you can register. You can check for holds by logging into the Web Registration site, click on the "Registration Tab", and click into the left side menu "Check Holds". To find out about the type of hold and what you must do to release the hold, please review Holds on Registration.
Take your assessments. Results from the assessments will offer important insight into your current reading, writing, and math skills and help you select appropriate courses for your first semester.
Plan Your Course Sequence. As a freshman you will want to take level 100 and 200 general education courses such as writing and math -- important skills needed to be successful in college. Be aware of your major prerequisites and incorporate them into your course sequence. Check out Tips for College of Management Majors to know which classes will be offered during different terms.
The major course sequence, on the back of your checklist, shows course prerequisites for the major. For example, FIN 390: Principles of Finance has the following prerequisites: College Algebra, Microeconomics, and Financial Accounting. Make certain to take your prerequisite courses so you are ready to take the upper division courses the term they become available.
All College of Management foundation and core courses are offered every term, so you can plan to take them whenever you need to. Upper division major required courses are not always offered each term. Here are two ways to "predict" what upper division courses will be offered during the year:
- Major required and elective courses are usually offered on a cyclical basis (i.e. what is offered this summer will typically be offered next summer). This isn't a guarantee, but it is an "educated guess". You can look at the registration web site to see archives of previous semester courses.
- Each class schedule has an upcoming term preview.
Know what courses transfer. If there are courses you have taken previously and don't know if they transfer, work with an advisor to have the course evaluated or check out transferring courses from other schools. Don't take a course at Metropolitan State if you think you've already taken a similar course at a previous institution. If you take a course twice, you will not get credit the second time.
Choose your creative learning strategy. Know which classes you don't need to take or shouldn't be taking, complete any waiver exams, CLEP tests, Prior Learning Approvals, Internship approvals, and reading, writing and math assessments before registration begins. Plan ahead and choose the learning options right for you.
Determine your course load. Choose a course load that ensures success.
Students may register for a maximum of 16 credits per term. Advisors must give approval if a student wishes to register for more than 16 credits. Students on financial aid must register for at least 6 credits to be considered part-time. International Students must register for a minimum of 12 credits to be full time students.
To settle on an appropriate course load, determine how you will balance your weekly schedule. Consider family, work load, homework, class time, and commuting time. Plan to study 8 -12 hours a week for a 4 credit course. Also, take into consideration the difficulty of the course: is it upper or lower division, is it a subject area that you enjoy or that you find difficult, what are the expectations of the instructor, how much work is implied by the syllabus?
For more information contact Advising Center at 612-659-7269.