Non-priority course registration begins on Tuesday, April 16, so it’s time to create your schedule for next semester. Taking the time to craft the perfect schedule can make all the difference in having a successful semester. As such, this board would like to provide a few tips and reminders to make sure this process goes smoothly for you.

First and foremost, log into Workday to check for registration holds. If you have any, they’ll appear in a box on your dashboard titled “Awaiting Your Action.” Make sure you complete these tasks before your scheduled registration period or you will not be able to register for classes on time.

The next step is to create a saved schedule. Though not required, making one is especially useful because come registration day, you can register for all of the classes in your saved schedule with just the click of a button. A saved schedule can be created in Workday in the academics section. You can make just one, but this board recommends you have a backup schedule or at the very least, a list of backup classes in case you aren’t able to get all of the ones you want. Though you make saved schedules in Workday, the user interface isn’t the best at allowing you to visualize your schedule. As such, it can be helpful to use a college schedule maker or even just Google calendar to do so.

Now that you’ve handled all the administrative items, it’s time to pick classes! There are a lot of requirements to complete including those for your majors and minors as well as the Brandeis Core. It can be useful to keep track of which requirements you’ve completed via a spreadsheet. Thisspreadsheet will also be extremely helpful for planning out which classes you’d like to take in future semesters. This will help ensure you aren’t forgetting any requirements that you’d have to rush to fulfill in your senior year. 

When crafting your schedule, it’s also important to keep in mind other factors, such as the time of day or the professor teaching the course. Requirements should always be the priority, but if possible, choose a specific time for your class that you know you’ll attend and a professor with good ratings. Don’t take an 8 a.m. class unless you are certain you’ll be able to wake up early! Information on professors can be shared via word of mouth from friends or upperclassmen or through resources like Rate My Professor. The key, if possible, is to create a balanced schedule that is manageable to you on a daily basis. 

In the event a class you desire fills up quickly and you’re placed on the waitlist, don’t fret. Reach out to the professor and explain why you want to be in the class — many times, they’re understanding and willing to add an additional seat for you to join the class. Taking a proactive approach is the best way to ensure you get in. It’s also worth showing up to the first day of class next semester to express your interest. 

This advice is for all students, but especially for first-years: have fun and take advantage of the liberal arts! Brandeis offers classes in so many disciplines and the benefit of going to a liberal arts college is getting to experience all of them, so take something that doesn’t directly relate to your major. As an underclassman, you might find something you like and decide to pursue more of it. Classes like these can be fun and exciting, and also help you complete the Brandeis Core. Make sure you look on Workday or the Brandeis Course Catalog to see which core requirements each class fulfills. Some classes can even knock out a few requirements at the same time to help you finish the Brandeis Core even faster.

While the course registration period can be a stressful and confusing time, we hope this information will be helpful for your course registration endeavors. When in doubt, resources are available online and through your academic advisor to help answer questions. This board wishes you the best of luck in securing the classes you want and that you don’t have to wake up at 8 a.m. next semester!