(THE PICKET)—Students have trouble registering for required classes because of lack of space and because required classes are offered infrequently.
Issues with registering for class vary. Difficulties include too few seats in the class or the class is offered so sporadically that when it is offered, everyone in the major and/or minor needs to register for it.
The problem is tougher for underclassmen, according to Leah Jenkins, 42, a senior secondary English education major.
“As an underclassman, before you declare, you have absolutely no recourse but to change your whole schedule over and over until you can somehow get the core classes you need. It’s unbelievably frustrating and I dreaded registration,” Jenkins said.
It is a slightly better situation as an upperclassman, but there can still be problems with getting the classes you need. Caroline Kirkpatrick, 20, junior secondary English education major has had difficulty registering for classes as well. “Classes are small and fill up fast which causes a lot of stress. Often times I have had to go through my advisor and the head of the department just to be told no. It always works itself out in the end; it just takes lots of stress and effort to get there,” Kirkpatrick said.
Sometimes, there are no problems with registration or just small difficulties. “As an upperclassmen, I have an amazing department chair, Dr. Ellzey, who takes excellent care of her students. If I have a real issue that will cause a problem affecting my ability to graduate, all I have to do is meet with her. If she cannot get me in the class, she always has a viable option and helps me make it work. So now I don’t worry as much,” Jenkins said.
Danielle Carder, 21, senior secondary English education major, agrees with Jenkins.
“I honestly haven’t had any problems,” said Carder. “I’ve always registered relatively early, and when I did need to get into a class, an override was available.”
Keegan Brewster is a staff writer for The Picket. She can be reached at kbrews01@rams.shepherd.edu and followed on Twitter @keequinnb
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