Freshmen Susan Anderson remembers registration at orientation being a breeze. Someone was by her side showing her how to access the Blugold system and recommending general classes for her to take.

“If you had any questions they were willing to help,” Anderson said.

With registration approaching again, Anderson said she is a bit apprehensive about the process.

“I’d like to talk to my adviser first and it would be helpful to have someone guiding me through,” she said.

Connie Russell, assistant registrar, understands that registration can be something that new students dread.

“Incoming freshmen are particularly new to this whole thing and registration is confusing because it is different from how they went through orientation and registration during the summer,” Russell said.

The process is nothing to dread if students prepare. Russell sent an e-mail to new freshmen and first semester transfer students last week to let them know they would be receiving their degree audit via e-mail this week.

It is important for students to go over their degree audit, highlight what classes they need, and begin thinking about what they want to register for before their registration date.

Although the printed class schedule book will not be available until Wednesday, the Blugold System is updated and allows students to see what classes will be available next semester.

“The most accurate information really is from checking the online version of the schedules,” Russell said.

Once registration begins, students can access the Blugold System to check how many seats are open in the classes they are interested in. Freshmen might find that many sections are closed before their registration date since they are generally the last to register.

“I’m kind of preparing for maybe not getting exactly what I want,” Anderson said. “But that wasn’t my experience in the summer,” when registering for fall classes.

The system also allows students to search for a course by a general education category or to search for a course that fulfills service learning, wellness or cultural diversity.

There are other hints that first semester students might not be aware of, so Russell recommends not only seeing an adviser to get the PAC code, but to talk about the registration process.

She suggests students begin scheduling appointments with their advisers soon. It is also important to remember to make the $100 deposit before trying to register. The Blugold System does not allow anyone who hasn’t made their payment enroll for classes.

The only change upper classmen can expect to see in registration this year is that students with 60 or more credits who are on academic warning or academic probation will have to get a personal advising code before registering.

The PAC code is meant to take place of the adviser’s signature, and forces a student to meet with their adviser, Russell said. Previously only freshmen and sophomores were required to get a PAC code.

Registration begins Nov. 4 for students in the honors program, Nov. 5 with seniors and wraps up Dec. 6 with freshmen. Students with the most credits register first and the least credits register last.