If you registered for classes during the fall for this semester, you were probably under a little stress about it. Everyone remembers waiting for their registration slot to open; staring at the clock on your computer, counting down the seconds. Staring at a list full of your favorite classes and fearing that they might be full. You are not alone in that.
Anyone who has ever added or dropped a class knows how stressful it can be. And we certainly all know what it’s like to walk into a class and realize that we may be in way over our heads. After digging around a little, it seems like everyone has had their fair share of trouble. Either they can’t take a class because it’s offered at a certain time—or, conversely, not offered—or the class is full, leaving people struggling to find an option for classes to take.
Most people would agree that the “gen ed” classes fill up pretty quickly, and they tend to stay full. The more specific the class, however, the more likely there will be open spots.
Take Intro to Theater, for example. There are three 300+ person classes for theater, and each one is waitlisted. If you look at a class like Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacoimmunology, there are still quite a few spots open. It is a lot less likely that you will have trouble getting into such a specialized class.
Much of what goes into adding and dropping classes, however, is completely dependent on advisors and your major.
Dr. Lucille McCook in the Health Professions Advising Office wants to encourage students to pick their classes based on their academic and professional interests.
“The one thing I always tell my students to do is pick a major [or profession] that they enjoy,” McCook said.
Jenna Artz, an academic advisor, said that if students want to change up their schedules they need to communicate with their advisors.
“We (advisors) would rather you come to our office for assistance than have you drop below twelve credits by accident or drop a class that is essential,” Artz said.
Artz also stated that at the university they see a lot of movement in scheduling during the first days of class each semester.
“Adding a course via the myOleMiss system has a deadline directly after the first week; therefore, many students are trying to adjust their schedule to their liking,” Artz said. “However, we do see an increase in dropping courses near midterms since the last day to drop a course this semester is March 3.”
This is an important date to keep in mind if you are considering dropping a class, as you may have to finish the semester out in that class after the drop deadline.
According to the institutional research source, many students managed to withdraw from a class after the final drop day last semester, but received a W in place of the course grade. In total, around 1300 Ws were administered for students who were unable to complete courses in the university for the fall 2014.
Questions about adding or dropping classes can be answered by a student’s advisor. Even if it seems unimportant, or adding that one extra class sounds like a good idea and you don’t think you need any help, ask your advisor. Advisors have been given their jobs because they are qualified to make informed decisions about what is best for a student.
