January 18, 2019
Coursework

Scheduling and registering for classes can be a stressful process. It can be time consuming and confusing. We’ve all been there. Here are some tips and tricks to help you out:

- ASK!

Don’t be afraid to ask if you have questions while you schedule and register for classes. Penn staff, faculty, and your cohort are here to help you. Send an email to them to demystify class registration or other concerns regarding classes. Don’t be afraid to email the professor questions you have about a course and you can ask for the class syllabus. If they don’t have a syllabus, try asking for the syllabus from a previous semester.

- Be patient

Once you pre-register for classes, there is a small chance that you won’t be able to register for the classes you want based on popular demand. Be patient, as some students who are in that class may “drop it” or the professor will allow more students to register for the course. Also, request an add code if it is required (it will say in the course description). But don’t worry, it is generally easy to request the add code and enroll in the course.

- Take the classes that interest you

One thing I love about Penn is its emphasis on cross-disciplinary learning. Feel free to explore classes that are outside your field. Taking a course at the law school has given me the opportunity to meet people outside of my program and get out of my comfort zone!

- Check out your textbooks from the library

There are many cheaper options to receive textbooks. Before you rent/buy textbooks from the Penn Bookstore, look up the ISBN on the Van Pelt Library website to see if you can check-out the textbook or view it online for free. If not, explore the “Request options” at Van Pelt to borrow the textbook from somewhere else. BorrowDirect and Interlibrary Loan are my favorite resources to use. If you are unable to find the textbook, ask Patty Lynn, the Librarian for the Graduate School of Education. Or, you can look up the textbook on Amazon and Penn’s bookstore can price match it!

- Consider an Independent Study

This replaces a class you’d normally take, but gives you the opportunity to explore your academic interests on your own time. Find a professor you vibe with, and ask them to be your advisor!
Scheduling and registering for classes isn’t a walk in the park, but hopefully these tips and tricks will help you!