Charles Dickens once said that procrastination is the thief of time. For the majority of college students this manifests itself in the form of late registration. From financial aid, living arrangements or class scheduling, students often find themselves scrambling at the semester’s beginning for the things they need to get enrolled. While the onus doesn’t fall squarely one group’s shoulders, this rush leads many people--both students and college faculty--frustrated, irritable and inevitably stressed. Fortunately there are many tips college students can use in an effort to make the college registration process much easier.
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Tip #1: Confirm your enrollment status with admissions
Staying on top of your financial aid and enrollment status can save you a lot of unnecessary stress. Colleges offer online portals that you can access which allow you to stay up to date with practically everything regarding your status as a student. Admission offices extend their office hours during the first week of classes for a reason… On the other hand, if you haven't covered the costs for school or decided against taking them you would also need to log into your student portal in order to drop your classes without getting charged for it. Many schools ever offer useful apps that you can download that assist in keeping you up to date with all the latest info regarding school.
Tip #2: Get registered for your classes
This goes without saying, but get in touch with your counselor as soon as possible. Nobody wants to get caught up in lines that extend outside the door while registering for classes. Even if you aren’t sure what you want to major in your counselor can help you schedule classes in a variety of subjects based on your likes and dislikes. Eventually you’ll gain a better feel for classes that you have an affinity for, which would help indicate a field that could be a potential major.
Tip #3: Speak to your professors
Speaking to your teachers allows you to get a better feel for your instructor and what they’ll be expecting of you. It can also facilitate a point of familiarity for students who are trying to adjust to the college. Sure, this can be done when the teacher is passing out syllabi on the first week of classes, but establishing early contact with your instructor allows for more interpersonal communication that wouldn’t always be possible in a classroom setting. Plus, you don’t want to get caught up in the queue of students standing outside the counselor’s office.
Tip #4: Buy your books early
#3 and #4 go hand-in-hand here. If you took the time to get to know your professors or other students, they could give you more information on whether or not buying a book would be necessary for class or point you in the direction where you could locate a cheaper alternative. Getting your books and other essentials before classes start saves a lot of time and hassle. Book prices tend to accumulate quickly and by shopping early you can compare different prices on the items you need and find the best deals that keep you within your budget all while avoiding the long lines. 
Tip #5: Create a schedule
This is a very simple tip that many people forego, but can be incredibly useful to helping you stay organized. Put together a weekly plan that maps out all the activities that you need to get done. From the classroom to social events, creating time slots for each of these allows you to create a form of structure that’ll help keep you on pace for what you need to do next.
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Each semester comes with its own set of hurdles, but with the right amount of preparation, discipline and guidance, new and current students can manage any hiccups that may occur. By staying on top of everything from registration to final exams, you can navigate each term with ever-increasing ease.
