Tag Archives: registration

Post Grad Planning while Adjusting to Studying Abroad

Posted on by
Reply

Hello Scripps! I apologize for my hiatus this week. As I’ll discuss further in my post, many schools do not follow our standard when it comes to registration, which can make things very stressful and time-consuming, hence my lack of a post.

I landed in Dublin on Friday the 15th and was greeted by a man in a green sweatshirt who ended up taking me and the thirteen other people on my program to their housing accommodations. That first day is truly a blur, as I was running on about four hours of sleep and trying to cram an obscene amount of information into my brain, all important and all regarding my stay in Ireland. One thing to take away from that was to sleep as much as you possibly can on an international flight. Even if you don’t feel tired, you will be so much better off if you’re as rested as possible.

The next few days were better; I could feel myself retaining more of the information that I was given, I was sleeping through the night, and I was adjusting to my new living space. I am living in an apartment with a roommate and two other flat-mates. My roommate and I get along so well and I’m pleased to report that I don’t think we will have any major issues. But, if we do, I feel that Scripps has prepared me well to combat those issues and discuss them in a respectful and inclusive way. This past week was orientation week, where students register for classes and clubs, entitled “Freshers Week” here in Ireland.
As I mentioned earlier, the registration process is much more traditional than what we experience at Scripps, and even though we often find our process stressful, this experience has brought a whole new level of appreciation for the way Scripps handles registration. At Scripps we can register from the comfort of our desks or beds, commiserating with friends as we do so, but here at Trinity, each class must be physically signed off on by the professor teaching the course.

  vs.  This means that much of the day is spent walking to and from buildings, hoping professor will be in their offices and that they will bestow their signature upon your registration sheet. Although it is much less convenient, it was a great way for me to get to know the campus better and to learn more about the departments I would be taking classes in.

I know that there are many stages of the study abroad experience, and I know that I am still in the honeymoon phase. That means that there will be a point where I don’t feel as excited to be here, and I’m trying to mentally prepare myself for when that time comes. Even though that’s very hard to do, I know that I have a great support system here in Ireland, and back home, that will help me through those feelings.

While I’m enjoying getting settled in my new place and program, I know it’s important too keep moving forward on my post graduate plans and have started a pro/con list about Medical School which I’ll share in an upcoming post. 

For those interested in studying abroad, either at Trinity or elsewhere, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I would love to talk to you about it, or put you in contact with someone else who might know more about a specific program.

Choosing Classes or Picking a Job?

Posted on by
Reply

Picking and registering for classes seems to me (an inexperienced freshman) like picking a job. There are so many potential options, however I still feel so limited in what I am able to do. I have gone over and over the catalog trying to find the right courses to take, figure out timing that will work, and find the best professors. At first I was so excited to be able to take new classes and have a wider variety of options. Then I found out that my registration time was at 4:15, and everything became a little less hopeful.

Going through these steps has been similar to how I’ve approached jobs. At first, I get so excited about considering all of the jobs that I could possibly have. I could be a journalist, the owner of a start-up business, a lawyer, a publisher, a coffee barista, a traveler… The world seems to be at my feet. However, I then realize that I can only have one (or two) majors and that I won’t be automatically given my dream job. And then I realize that when I go into the work field, I will be one of many little fish in a big, big pond. Just like my late 4:15 registration time.

As it is still only my first semester of my first year here, I know that things will eventually work out. I have all five schools here to help me take the classes that I need, I have a great adviser, and I know some tricks to help me get into classes. But it’s a little more daunting when it comes to working after college. Hopefully I will be able to build some connections while here at Scripps and take advantage of all of the resources that I can. That way when I graduate I will not feel too little in the big pond.

Finding a job after college and working for the rest of your life is still a little bit more of a challenge than just registering for classes for next semester. They are still similar, though. You have to remember that eventually things will work out. Even if there is a job that you don’t like, you know that you won’t want to stay in that field or further pursue it. Just like the politics class I took this semester. Even though it hasn’t been my favorite class, it was still good in alerting me to the fact that I don’t want to study politics.

The job process is similar to college, just stretched out on a much larger scale. While things here at Scripps seem to occur so quickly, finding and maintaining a job will take a much longer time. So after graduating from college, that’s the number one thing that I will have to remind myself: things aren’t going to work out right away, and it may take a few tries to get it right. Just like choosing your classes and trying to choose a major. It will all be alright in the end (hopefully).

The Art of the PERM

Posted on by
Reply

While this blog post mostly goes out to current first-years-going-on-sophoromes, I invite any who’ve participated in pre-registration before or need a few extra tips to comment below with questions or advice of your own!

This past week, most of the student population of the 5Cs participated in pre-registration, a long standing tradition which gives us the opportunity to plan out the rest of our four-year plans in detail, manufacturing stress levels that rival those of hall draw. I know that when I was a freshmen, I had little comprehension as to the severity of pre-registration and it’s effects on my academic psyche. It wasn’t until the second semester of my sophomore year when I was required to learn how “pre-reg” operates, and how to use it to get what you need.

As a science major, I was inevitably signing up for second semester Organic Chemistry. *shudder*  That semester, there were at least four different sections of the class and I knew that get into one of them. However, there was a bit of a scheduling conflict with one, and only one, of the sections and, wouldn’t you know it, it happened to be the only section available when my pre-reg time began. I quickly found the information of the professor to contact and emailed him right away. It wasn’t until two or three days later that I heard anything. He claimed to be swamped in something called PERM requests, a tool that I would eventually come to love and revere, and that I would have to submit my concerns and conflicts through the academic portal if I wanted my issue addressed. I was devastated. I’d felt like I had wasted so much time and that there was no way that I would be able to get into any section at that point and that I wouldn’t finish my major requirements and that I wouldn’t graduate… As you can probably guess, long story short, I calmed down, filled out the necessary request, and when the next semester came I was sitting in appropriate OChem class.

Now while this process isn’t always smooth, please be assured that the pre-registration system is a god-send and is set up specifically for the benefit of the students. The two biggest tips to making the system work for you is proper planning and an effective use of PERMs. As many of you may already know, before any of us are allowed to pre-register, all of the scheduled classes for the upcoming semester are displayed on the academic portal. My advice is to take this time to clearly and thoughtfully plan out as many alternate schedules as you feel is necessary. If you’re an underclass student, create back-up schedules in case particular classes fill up. If you need to fulfill major or graduation requirements, find alternate classes that fulfill similar prerequisites. If you want to try lots of different classes, develop schedules that include various disciplines so you won’t get bogged down in a single subject. The other point I’d like to make is to actively utilize PERM requests. For those who are unaware, PERM requests serve as messages to professors as an intent to enroll in a particular class and ask the permission of a professor to allow you into their class. Whether it’s because the class is already full or you don’t meet certain requirements, PERMs become the singular facet through which to communicate with professors. It is through PERM requests that you can actively make a case for your place in a class, which demonstrates initiative and motivation (even when it comes to the smaller issues like selecting your classes). PERMs make a first impression and get your foot in the (classroom) door, setting positive impressions on first-time professors.

I know that I sound like a broken record, calling on students to be proactive and to have a part in shaping their own education, but pre-registration is no different. It is an amazing opportunity to start considering the direction and progression of your academic career. It is a tool that you can actively control and manipulate for your own scholastic gain, something for which I will always advocate.

Registration and Beyond

Posted on by
Reply

Confession #1: I am overwhelmed by not knowing what I want to do in my future.

Confession #2: Confession #1 renders finding a solution virtually impossible.

Last week Scripps students registered for fall 2013 classes. As a first-year, I felt I was taking a big step. As I planned out my fall schedule, all I could think about was that I have a two-semester buffer between where I am now and where I will be when I declare my major after my sophomore year. Two semesters. And I should probably make those semesters count, as I’ll be halfway through college at this time in 2014. GEs, major and minor requirements, double counting courses, and making everything fit into one schedule–how does it all work out? And what makes the most sense, since I still do not know what I’m working towards yet?

I decided to go with Core III, two required introductory courses for the potential minor and major I am considering, my final semester of French, and a course that can double count for my Gender and Women’s Studies and Social Science GEs. While this load should suffice, registration reminded me once again of the fact that I cannot evade the decision that awaits me. What do I want to study, and what do I need to be doing to help me decide?

Thankfully, for all the Scripps students who are in the same irresolute boat as I am, we have the chance to experiment a bit. The ten GEs required to graduate from Scripps are very helpful to any undecided student. Not only do they help give us a well-rounded background, but they force us to take classes in disciplines that we may (or may not) like enough to pursue further in the future. They work in the opposite way too; a once-declared student might redirect their future studies after taking a GE course and discovering another passion.

Uncertainty is tough to face alone. Again, another benefit that Scripps and the Claremont Consortium boast is the intimacy of the education offered to us. I have found that talking to as many people as possible has been the single most reassuring and worthwhile activity to ease my anxieties over being undecided in my future endeavors. Professors, peers and upperclassmen, career advisers, family, colleagues, everyone. You never know what advice they may have, what personal experiences they might share, what information they can provide, what opportunities they can offer that might help you figure out what you want your next step will be. Talking with professors and peers with a myriad of interests has really helped me determine which classes to take and when, formulate a three-year plan, and generally just make sense of the many interests I have that might lead somewhere in the future.

I think about The Great Unknown (my future) often. Rather than channeling my fear about it into stress by wallowing in anxiety and self-pity, I have found proactivity to be much more conducive. No harm can result from being as aware as possible about everything from classes to take to out-of-school activities to try. Accept the challenge of conquering the unknown aspect of the future with gusto, and be adventurous (and that 4:00 registration time will become a lot less disheartening)!