Classes, Schedules, and Registration

=Classes=

Dropping a Class
Drop Day is approaching, and you want to know, "Should I drop this class?"

First of all, know that there's no shame in it, and it usually doesn't hurt you. Most people get out of Tech with one or two W's on their transcript, and probably wish they had dropped a class from first or second year, too.

Dropping a class means you have more time to focus on your remaining classes. So it's likely that not only will you avoid getting a D or F, but you'll also improve your other grades for the semester.

If it's a class that's required for you to graduate, though, you will have to slog through it eventually. Maybe a different proffessor will make it better, or just taking fewer classes. But you can't keep attempting and dropping the same class, or you'll lengthen your stay at Tech.

Dead Week
(From http://www.catalog.gatech.edu/rules/12c.php)

There are strict rules about what's allowable during Dead Week. (Someone fact-check me, I'm doing this from memory.) Profs may not assign any tests, quizes, or labs or lab reports during the last week of classes... period!

They may assign homeworks and projects, but the project can't use any material taught during Dead Week.

If a professor tries to assign/schedule something that violates this, talk to the prof and remind them it goes against policy. If they don't budge, report it to the Dean of Students; the Dean is your friend and watches out for you, and will see to it that things are straightened out. This is your right as a student!

Finals
(From http://www.catalog.gatech.edu/rules/12d.php)

If you end up with 3 finals on the same day, the middle final automatically moves to the Saturday conflict period, unless you and the prof agree to some other time. (If you really want to do it on the same day, the professor probably won't object, but it's your own dumb decision.) You have the right to insist on the Saturday period.

If you have two finals in the same period, the one with the lower course number automatically moves, as above.

In either case, talk to your professor as soon as the finals schedule is released and let them know you have to take the exam on Saturday. If the professor tries to refuse (rare, but it happens), report it to the Dean of Students. (See above... this is your right as a student!)

=Registration=

FASET
You will register for your first semester (Fall semester) classes while you're at FASET. See FASET for more information.

Phases of Registration

 * Phase 1 : This is registration a semester or two before classes start.
 * Phase 2 : This opens up about 1 week before classes start, and runs through the first week of classes until 4pm on Friday.
 * After Phase 2 : Until Drop Day about halfway through the semester (date found on the School Calendar) you can drop classes for a W. A "W" on your transcript does not affect your GPA, and having one or two W's is generally considered better than failing a class, however excessive Ws should be avoided.
 * After Drop Day : Your schedule is now finalized. The only way it can now be changed is by withdrawing from school through the office of the registrar.

Realize that Phase 2 lets you completely rearrange your schedule through the first week of classes.


 * If you no longer wish to take a class, you can drop it during Phase 2 without penalty.
 * If you want to change sections or professors, there are often openings during Phase 2 after the first day or two of classes.
 * If you don't get into a class you want, you have several options:
 * You can of course check manually for openings; many spots will free up after classes start. CourseShark offers a notification program that automates this.
 * Some departments have their own wait-listing programs.
 * If it's a class you really need (meaning it's in your major and/or is a prereq) you can apply for an overload through the department. (You may have to briefly justify why you need the overload; "It will push back my graduation date" is usually fine for juniors and seniors, but freshmen usually can't use that justification.)

If you add a class after classes have started, the professor is obligated to let you make up any work you missed (which shouldn't be much). Just let them know that you added the class late, and find out what you missed and what you need to do to make it up.

Tuition and Schedule Changes
Rearranging your schedule does affect your tuition, if you alter the number of hours you are taking (and are not full-time before and/or after). OSCAR recalculates your tuition overnight.

Regardless of full or part time status, you must make at least a partial tuition payment by the start of the semester, otherwise you will be assessed a late fee. If you know that your schedule will be changing, ask the Bursar for a deferral until your costs are finalized.

Good Schedules
This all depends on what your preferences are.


 * Some people like having a day with no or few classes, either so they can have a long weekend, or so that they have big blocks of time to work on projects and homework. This requires the dedication to actually work on your day off, though.
 * Some people like to have all their classes back-to-back, so they get it over with and can get back to projects and homework. Other people prefer a "swiss cheese" schedule so they have lots of short periods in which to study. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. (The swiss cheese schedule usually turns out badly, because are you really going to sit and study for 1 hour at a time, or are you just going to goof off?)
 * Some people like evening labs; some don't.
 * Don't forget about breakfast/lunch/dinner! I found one hour to be enough time to stop off at North Ave, get a good meal, and get to your next class.  However you have student center options if you aren't on an unlimited meal plan.
 * If you're commuting, think about how it will affect your schedule. Most commuters prefer to avoid long blocks of time when they'd stuck on campus with nowhere to go and not enough time to go home.

Tips

 * There are no classes on TR 11-12, as this time is reserved for faculty meetings.
 * Labs do not meet the first week.
 * The Physics schedule includes a test period on M or T evening. You only have to go to this every couple of weeks when there's a test. (If you have a club activity, you can usually let them know you're in Physics and will have to miss or come late every few weeks, and they'll be okay with it.)
 * Create multiple schedules, and find alternate classes to take. Write down the CRN numbers of your primary and backup classes. When it comes time to register all you have to do is go to registration->add or drop classes and type in your primary schedule's CRN numbers. This will save you time, and decrease the chances of the class filling up.

=External Links=
 * SGA Course Critique &mdash; Look up history of grade distributions by class or professor, and see end-of-semester reviews (just the ratings, not the text).
 * Degreeworks &mdash; See how broken DegreeWorks is, and listen to lies about what you need to graduate.

Online course planners:


 * CourseShark
 * CourseOff