Fall semester is coming to a close, but the endless circle of classes doesn't end (department of redundancy department? I think so!). Not even close, in fact the last few weeks have been registration, that stressful time when students who care watch classes like a hawk and feel proud when they take the last seat in a given class (e.g. me :) ) and when students who don't care just pray that the easy professor's class doesn't close before they get to register. This is November at Baylor.

There is nothing more traumatizing to a freshman than having something go wrong on registration day. Here are seven tips:

1) Set an alarm for a few minutes before 6 a.m., yeah, it sucks that registration starts at that hour, but we still have to deal. But anyway, wake up a few minutes early so you can login and be clicking that refresh button until your finger wants to fall off, or until you get in.

2) Don't forget to be advised, otherwise you're screwed. Literally. If you don't get advised, you can't register. So that's one big post-it you don't want to forget to write - or notice.

3) Have an alternative. Everyone has a perfect schedule, but this is not a perfect world - especially for freshmen. Have a back-up class or section for every class on your ideal schedule, you'll thank yourself on registration morning.

4) Write down the CRN numbers. Keep them close. Nothing else matters when you're on the registration page.

5) If all of the sections of a class fill up, learn to talk to professors, they can give you a permit to become a negative number. You'll thank yourself for going into a professor's office even for this one time. OR! Wait until the Baylor Bill is due in December and watch the classes you want, because if someone doesn't pay on time, all of their classes are dropped and you can take them up!

6) Study hard to make the Dean's List, you get to register a day early. It makes a world of difference, believe me, it made a 45 minute difference for me in the spring.

7) If you don't get the classes you want, don't bitch about it to upperclassmen. We've been there and know what it's like. You won't get much sympathy from most of us.

Happy Registering!!!