How to Successfully Register for Courses Without Losing Your Mind

This month I once again had to embark on the monumental task of picking next year's courses. Which ranks pretty high on my list of things I would rather NEVER be doing. It's the worst. This year was absolute mayhem as I tried to figure it out for next year. Some of you might not find course selection stressful, in which case, this post is not for you. You can go on your merry little way, smiling and singing and whatever other happy things you are doing right now. The rest of us who want to curl up in a ball and make it go away - this post is for us. After going through the process 4 times so far, I hope I have learned a thing or two that might be helpful to some people. At least I like to think so...

1. Make a list ahead of your access time. 
BEFORE it's your turn to pick those courses, go through the course listings online and make a list of which ones you need to take, and which ones you want to take, plus a few alternatives juuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuust in case your first picks are full. Which, like, never happens....but better to be safe than sorry. HA!

2. Have snacks.
Everything is easier with snackage. I say, when the going gets tough, the tough bring snackage. Some call it emotional eating, I choose to call it resilience.

3. Stay calm.
Try to relax however you can. Play awesome music, make tea, kick out annoying siblings if you have them, and please, for goodness sake, make sure you are in your PJs. Remember to take a deep breath and not get flustered when it doesn't work out.

4. Prioritize.
Remember that list from #1? Well, it works best if that list is in order of importance...for me, that means I put my mandatory courses for my major, then my mandatory courses for my education degree (because I want to finish up the bulk of my BA first), then my electives (in order of the most fun to the least). In my first two years, my gen-ed courses were above my "fun" electives. However you choose to categorize your classes, it helps to have an order, so you make sure you get those important courses, when you want them.

5. Have a plan B...and C....and D....and E....
It took me days and days and probably 30 e-mails ( at least!) to figure out my classes in a way that was remotely acceptable. There were tears and gnashing of teeth, and don't fool yourself and think plan A was accomplished. I had to re-organize my timetable, find new electives, and pull every trick in the book to make it work this year, but in the end, I think it will be OK. I haven't always had this much trouble, and I don't share this to stress anyone out but simply to let you know that it's good to have some back up plans just in case, or at least the time to figure one out on the spot.

6. Don't be afraid to ask.
If you want a course, e-mail the department, e-mail the professor, show up in their offices. It might actually get things done! Don't be afraid to make phone calls, send e-mails, and make your presence known. Universities are big institutions, and they can't read your mind - you have to ask for what you want

7. Let it go.
Whatever happens, try to just let it go. If you don't end up in that super awesome course you wanted, it's OK. If you end up with classes every day when you wanted Friday off, it's OK. If you end up with a 9 hour day of lectures, it's OK (still trying to convince myself of that one ;). If you have more early morning classes than you wanted, that's OK. In the end, as long as you graduate, it's probably going to be just fine. So take a deep breath and let it all go.

8. Pray.
You can't do it on your own - making a timetable match up when there are thousands of other people trying to get into the same courses is not simple. Not losing it and crying in some lady's office at York is an even bigger miracle (trust me, I would know). Keep calm and cast all your cares on the one who cares for you.