Helpful Tips for Class Registration
November 13, 2020 • Written by Maverick O’Meara
Registration for next semester's classes are next week! So here are some tips for MassArt Foundation Year students that will ensure a pleasing schedule!
1. Research Your Professors
Different professors have different teaching styles and students have different learning styles. Thus, the first tip for registering for classes is to research every professor that you are considering. Does the professor give a lot of quizzes/tests? Do they assign a lot of reading? Do they provide detailed instructions about assignments or expect you as the artist to determine the direction of the piece? This may seem like overkill, especially if the class description sounds interesting, however it is no joke that the teacher can make or break a class and by ensuring you have a professor whose teaching style matches your learning style, you will be set up for success before you even begin the semester.
2. What Classes Do You Need To Take?
Signing up for classes can get confusing, so here is what you need to take...
-A Time Class
-A Drawing Projects or equivalent (see tip #5)
-Form Study OR an elective (this depends on what you are taking this semester)
-Freshman Seminar or Thinking, Making, Writing (again, this depends on what you are already taking)
Most students take 5 classes a semester - you can discuss what other requirements (History of Art/Liberal Arts) you can take with your faculty advisor or an ARC Advisor. They can also advise you about how many classes/semester is right for you.
3. Accept and Plan Multiple Schedules
As much as we would all love to get into our first choice classes and plan a schedule with four day weekends, that is just not realistic during your first year. On Self Service, plan a few different schedules and have backups for your top choices.
4. Get up early!
This is another important tip. Registration usually opens a couple of minutes early, so be awake, be prepared with all of your schedule options and refresh the registration page frequently for the best chance at getting into your top choice class.
Drawing Projects Equivalents!
Although everyone obviously has the option to take a drawing projects class, there are equivalent classes that you can take that are major-specific and are potentially way more fun! In my personal experience, taking Intro To Printmaking was one of the best decisions I made while registering for classes last year, and was one of the best classes I have taken thus far at MassArt. If you are interested in what other classes count as Drawing Projects Equivalents, you can ask either your faculty advisor or an advisor in the ARC. These equivalents can fill up quickly with upperclassmen, but if the opportunity is still available I would highly recommend registering for one of these classes.
5. Email the Professor!
If the unfortunate event occurs that you did not get into the class you wanted you can do two things. First, add yourself onto the waitlist in Self Service and second (this is the most important step) email the professor the day of registration and explain that you are very interested in the class and you would like to join. More often than not, you will have a better chance of getting into a class if you email a professor over just adding yourself to the waitlist because they now know you are interested. Generally, the professors will have you attend the first class, as they do not always check the waitlist on Self Service, and they want to see who will be dropping the class after the first day.
So there it is, our six tips for a successful registration day! We hope these tips are helpful in your pursuit of getting an optimal schedule and be sure to reach out to your advisor with any questions.
