Finals

Well, we made it through registration and most of our big projects! And, the bonus for registering and completing the big things is... Finals! The chaos never stops!

After completing these other important parts of our classes, we have to stress through more stuff. Finals are probably the most important part of classes for two reasons. One reason is the fact that these exams are usually a big part of our grade, which makes for a lot of studying. The second reason is that finals sum up all of what you've learned in the class. Finals are a test of your knowledge of what you learned in the class. If you do terrible on a final, what have you really learned from that class? Finals are not something that should be taken lightly. A lot of studying and good rest is needed!

Scheduling

Now is the time! Registering for classes has started, and people seem to be running around like crazy right now just to get their schedules perfect for next semester. My advise to all of you that have not registered yet is to make sure you know what classes you should/plan to take next semester. Take a look at the university Undergraduate Bulletin/Catalog for your specific year you are referring to. For example I am using the 2006-2007 Bulletin, therefore I am always looking in that book to see what classes I should be taking next for my major, minor, and general education courses. I look at all the classes I have completed thus far through my academic stay at Minnesota State University. I keep track of these classes because it helps me know which prerequisites I have satisfied and which ones I have yet to complete.
I set up a list of classes in which I'd like to register for by making a list of these on a sheet a scratch paper. I list the name of the course, course ID and the amount of credits per course. By having the course, I know which one I'm looking at taking. By having the course ID, I am able to use the quick register feature during registeration to make my time registering much easier. I find it very helpful to have this six digit number handy just in case there is a problem when I register. If I have a problem, I just refer to my Advising Center or Department office with that specific number, and they will be able to help me easier and faster. I also list the amount of credits for every course I had written because this action helps me know how many credits I will be taking overall in my next academic semester. One last thing I do for listing my future courses is have an extra or a "substitute" course listed at the end just in case I cannot get into one of my previous courses I have listed.
This method may not be the ideal way for everyone to register, but I encourage you to consider it and possibly give it a try. This method has worked for me in the past, and I have never had a problem registering. I'd also like to note that if you cannot successfully register for all the classes you wanted to take, do not stress. Someone is always willing to help you! If you are patient with your Advsing Center or Department, they will happily be eager to help you with anything that comes their way!

Struggling with a class?

Now is the time of year where life starts to get hectic for students. Many assignments, projects, and registration are all happening at the same time. Sometimes, students don't realize how they are doing in a class. My advice to people who think they may be struggling with a class is to try and talk to the professor of that class and go over grades and assignments. This meeting will then give you a better understanding of where you are at for a grade. If you are failing and feel you will not do any better the rest of the semester, there is the possibility of dropping a class yet this fall. November 14th is the last day to withdraw from a single class. If you do proceed to drop a class that you are enrolled in for fall semester, a "W" will appear on your transcript signifying your withdrawal from the course. For most of us, this status is not a problem, but for some people struggling to make a 67% completion rate or a 2.0 GPA, I encourage you to meet with your faculty advisor and your professor soon to make sure you're still on the right track.

Changes in Registration

Some changes have occurred in the registration area for Minnesota State University students. A new item that may help make the registration process easier is the "shopping cart." This new technique is a little different than the old way and may take some getting used to. I encourage everybody to go to the registration area of the MSU homepage and play around with it for awhile to figure out the details. The new shopping cart is supposed to help make the registering for classes similar to buying things online. There is still options such as "quick add" and "find a class" that will be commonly used, but the shopping cart might be the ideal way to go. This saves time for the student registering in two ways: 1. He or she will not have to take the time and register for the classes individually, typing in his or her password each time; and 2. This makes everything stay online. Some people in the past have written down the course ID on a paper and used the quick add function later. The new registration will help students register easier, but the process will be much easier if you know what your doing. I encourage you all to go out there and play with registering for 10-15 minutes some day to make your life easier later.

Preparing for Registration

As all of you are aware, registration is coming soon for us. Registration starts November 8th for high credit students. As the days go on, so does the amount of students that get to register. The following website shows the dates that you will register according to how many credits you have achieved prior to this semester: http://www.mnsu.edu/registrar/SPRING08WINDOWS.html

I encourage you to check your potential classes considering the class schedule is now available to view. If you are thinking about taking a class, check out the class schedule online to see if the times may work out with other classes you are considering. Sometimes, you don't want to look too far ahead of time just in case the section you want fills up, but checking early doesn't hurt. To check out the possible classes that are available, please visit: https://www.mnsu.edu/eservices/

Family Weekend

Some of you may know by now that this weekend is Family Weekend around campus. There are many events taking place such as theatre events, athletice events, a 5-K run, BBQ, college showcase, movies, and tours. All these events are put on to help the families of the students feel more comfortable around the university. This weekend event gives the families a break to get more involved in their sons' or daughters' lives as well. MSU has scheduled this weekend over the past several years on the weekend of the high school Education Minnesota (EM) weekend. This EM break formerly known as MEA, gives the students a chance to meet and greet people inside the MSU campus. For more information about this great event please click here: http://www.mnsu.edu/news/read/?id=1192463933&paper=topstories

Probation

Sometimes achieving higher than a 2.0 on the grading scale is a tough accomplishment. For these students, a different path needs to be taken when registration comes in November. Students that fall into probation are required to meet with an advisor before they are able to register for his or her classes. Usually a 20-30 minute meeting and a couple forms are filled out in order to follow through with your probation period. Once these simple actions are taken, registration can be done. Refer to your Advising Center or department office of your college to start with this process in order to register for Spring 2008.

Please note that you will/have been informed of your probation status via email.