Spring Course Request

As October is speeding by, we come upon the week of Spring Course Requests. This is an exciting time for many students, as they begin to sign up for classes that are more specific to their major, but many students have not yet experienced signing up for classes and may be confused as to how this process works. There are many things that you can to to make sure that you are able to sign up for the classes that you need and want. With a little preparation, you can ensure that this process is quick and painless.
First, know what classes you are required to take for your major. The Graduation Requirements and Checksheets are very helpful in determining this. Take  few minutes and map out what required classes you plan to take each semester according to how quickly you plan on graduating. This way you will know what classes you need to take to stay on track and how many "fun" classes you can slip in along the way. Speaking of "fun" classes, it is a good idea to schedule at least one class a semester that you are taking purely for your own enjoyment. This will help you to de-stress and also should help boost your GPA.
After you know what classes are required and what areas you can choose from, do some exploring. Utilize the Undergraduate Course Catalog to find out what classes there are and what you want to take, as well as what each one encompasses. Write down the course number for each of the classes you plan on taking, as well as a couple of alternates in case the classes you want are full.
Now, you should do a little looking into the Course Request Process. See what day Course Request opens, and learn about the Course Request process in general. You want to make sure that you request your classes early in this process, or the classes you wish to take may be full. A good reference is the Registration Overview, but here's the quick run-down:

1. Log into Hokie Spa, and click on the tab entitled "Registration and Schedule."
2. You should see a section entitled "Registration Links," and when Course Request opens, an "Add Courses" link will be listed to the right of the "Spring" term. Click on this tab, as it will allow you to enter the course request numbers for the classes you wish to take.
3. Open the Timetable of Classes in a separate window.
4. Using the list of classes and course numbers you created, enter the course numbers into the Timetable of Classes to search for available courses. Each of these will have a Course Request Number. Type this number into a box on the "Add Courses" page. Pay close attention to class times, to make sure that they do not overlap.
5. Once you have looked up all the classes you wish to take, submit your course request by clicking the appropriate button.
6. You will be able to monitor your scheduling through Hokie Spa by using either the "Detail Schedule for Spring Semester 2011" link, or the "Schedule by Day and Time" link on the "Registration and Schedule" page. The link entitled "Course Request Results" lists which, if any, classes were not scheduled.

One final thing to remember during Course Request is to schedule a meeting with your advisor. This should be done during Course Request, so that you can talk with your advisor about what classes you should be taking, and you can make changes to your schedule if needed. Your advisor can also point you in the direction you need to go according to your specific career plans.
Perhaps this was a lengthy explanation, but if you follow these tips, I feel that you will certainly have a successful effort to sign up for your classes. See, I told you it was quick and painless!