Course Registration has been a hot topic around campus with the upcoming spring semester. Even before then, students have been meeting with their academic advisors to ensure the best possible paths for their Rowan academic careers. Spring Course Registration, which has been available since Oct. 27, is needed for all Rowan students who are continuing their education into the spring semester.
Course Registration date is determined by credits, not year. More credits mean an earlier registration date. However, some students have access to priority registration for accommodations.
Katie Delia is a junior English education major who is provided these priority registration accommodations.
“The school does accommodate myself as well as other individuals with learning disabilities, who have better access to planning their schedules. For me, it worked, but for other people, it may not have. I feel for everyone else who has to register after me because it’s a challenge,” said Delia.
Many students stress over registration, as it is competitive. However, Destinny Gonzalez, a sophomore psychology major, did not fret over it.
“I actually don’t even know, I’m pretty sure it’s next week,” said Gonzalez.
Sophomores are at a bit of a disadvantage as they are finishing up their general education requirements while gunning for major-focused classes that juniors and seniors have registration priority for. The sophomore registration date is Nov. 10, which is designated for students with 24-57.99 credits.
Sean Andjel is a junior elementary education major who did not enjoy the registration process this time around. The junior registration date is Nov. 3 for those with 58-89.99 credits.
“I do not feel good about the registration process because on the day of, I have to wake up before I’m allowed to register, have my plan ready with many other students doing the exact same thing as me. Along with the fear of if I’m too late for picking my classes, I have to scramble finding different classes for different times and pray they don’t overlap my other classes, resulting in me having to change my entire schedule,” said Andjel.
Many students feel like Andjel, with available courses or ideal times being competitive. Molly Wagner is also a junior and a psychology and law and justice dual major. Wagner had a much easier time picking classes than Andjel.
“Like picking the actual classes is stressful and trying to make a schedule, but once you have the schedule, it’s totally fine,” said Wagner.
Seniors and graduate students have the first credit-based registration date, on Oct. 28, which qualifies anyone with 90 credits and above. They are prioritized in the class schedule section because they have fewer future opportunities to register.
Aaliyah Jenkins is a senior music and finance dual major. Jenkins was deeply excited to see her progress in Degree Works.
“Yes, I met with both my advisors. It was nice to see my Degree Works see 99.9% and whatever almost to a hundred,” said Jenkins.
Jordan Mason is a senior jazz voice major who plans on taking advantage of the senior privilege Rowan provides to senior students who want to pursue graduate school here.
“I want to do the senior privilege thing and take a grad-level course, but I need signatures, so it’s in the works,” said Mason.
Katherine Lanzerotti, a senior vocal music education major, reflected on course selection for music education majors that builds a sense of community between upperclassmen and freshmen.
“I feel like sometimes advisors kind of leave stuff out every once in a while. Here’s a great example, so in the music program, if you don’t get placed into ‘Music Theory I’ as soon as you get in, that can mess you up for going into student teaching at the correct time. But they fail to mention that,” said Lanzerotti. “And then all of a sudden, you either have to take a summer course for extra money in order to graduate on track, or you are a semester behind. I think sometimes they’ll leave it out accidentally, but I have noticed a recurring trend where each student that does go to the meeting and does do what they need to do – they do not know this. I just know music students do rely on each other to help build our schedules.”
Ashton Rosas-Martinez, a freshman psychology major, agrees with this sentiment from Lanzerotti. Although Rosas-Martinez is not a music education major, she also recommends speaking with those older than you. The freshman registration date is Nov. 17, and it is open for those with 0-23.99 credits.
“I would definitely recommend finding another student who is maybe a year older who has done it before, because they have a different perspective than the professors themselves,” said Rosas-Martinez.
Jordan Storck is a freshman vocal music education major who strongly dislikes the system for ill-informed freshmen, who are out of control of their schedules.
“I hate it, I just didn’t like how it was so confusing, especially for like freshman, who got their schedules picked for them. I didn’t get half the classes that I needed,” said Storck.
Unlike Storck, Alexandra Kross, a sophomore English major, felt good overall, except at the time of registration.
“Other than having to wake up at 7 a.m.,” said Kross.
Gabrielle Bollock, a sophomore law and justice major, felt similarly on the matter as Kross, but Bollock went right back to bed afterwards.
“My advisor is a little busy. I ended up getting my second choice anyway, and it was so nice. I rolled out of bed, I went to my laptop, as soon as registration opened, I clicked in my plan, and once it was done, I went back to bed,” said Bollock.
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