It is the time of the semester for advising and registration. This time can be extremely stressful so here are some tips to make the next weeks easier for you and your adviser.

Get on Banner and check to see if you have any holds that would prevent you from registering.

Now, it is time to schedule an advisory meeting. Many advisers have sign up sheets posted outside their offices, or you can usually email them.

Prior to your meeting, there are a few things you need to do:

1. Check CAPP a. Go to Banner Web and log in b. Go to student information and scroll down to CAPP c. Review your information and be sure it is correct
2. Make a list of courses you need for next term with alternate classes and take this with you to your advisory meeting.
3. Be sure you are being advised under the correct catalog. Following these steps will help to make things easier on you and your adviser.

As for advice from some advisers, “Before students go to see advisers you should already have an idea of what you want or need to take. Also be familiar with the requirements with your major or minor,” said Tomi Parrish, Communications professor.

“Do not put off planning your schedule and registering, last minute decisions tend to be less accurate and more confusing,” said Dr. Thomas Rakes, Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs.

Dr. Eric Pelren received the Outstanding Adviser award and he had some tips of his own.

Top ten list: how NOT to pre-register:

10. Say to your adviser: “Man, there’s some kind of adviser hold on my record! What’s that about?”

11. Assume your adviser has no sign-up sheet (she may not, and you may be able to waltz right into her office…but there may be a long, long line…).

12. Don’t worry about unpaid parking tickets, senior standing unfiled (if you have over 85 hours), etc. Assume there will be no holds on your record.

13. Avoid the hassle of figuring your earliest registration time from the schedule of classes; just register at the last possible moment (you don’t mind Saturday morning classes, do you?).

14. “Pre-requisites? We don't need no stinkin’ prerequisites!”

15. Don’t pay any attention to section information and other notes in the course schedules; special topics honors courses in Selmer are a breeze.

16. Don’t bother with tuition and fee payment (even if you have scholarships, grants, loans, etc.); the purge is a myth.

17. Ignore your adviser and put those 100-level courses off to the senior year! They’ll be a breeze, and they won’t interfere with your upper division required courses at all!

18. Believe all rumors (D always = diploma; the last 30 hours don’t count toward your overall GPA; X is a lousy teacher; etc.).

19. Just let somebody smart tell you what to take and when. Just take required classes to get your education over with as quickly as possible. Whatever you do, don’t get involved in your education. Intelligence, motivation, and excitement in learning are definitely out this year - ignorance and apathy will get you where you need to go!