DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Bucknellian.

It is a recurring challenge—the process of course registration. Sometimes, success hinges on skill, particularly when you’ve crafted a well thought out plan that ensures a smooth enrollment in all your desired classes on the first attempt. However, more often than not, it boils down to sheer luck. Variables such as the time slot you’re assigned and the number of competing students vying for the same class can play significant roles in the outcome.

Last year, when I was registering for classes, I encountered a frustrating situation. Despite needing to enroll in four required courses, I couldn’t secure spots in two of them during the initial registration. It forced me to reach out to the registrar’s office, which, thankfully, helped me get into those courses. However, the experience was needlessly stressful and annoying, especially since they were aware of how many students are required to take these classes. Even this year, after choosing my classes in the first time slot for sophomores on Monday, I’m still grappling with scheduling issues for the upcoming semester.

Why does course registration have to be so frustrating, and can we simplify this painful process while still ensuring everyone gets the classes they need? 

Almost everyone I’ve spoken to complains about course registration. From having to register during ongoing classes to facing a 50/50 chance of getting the courses you want, it’s a system that seems flawed and can be a major source of stress and confusion as you try to plan your next semester. 

You can see how much the whole campus despises this on social media platforms used by students. Quotes like, “If there’s a school with an easier way to register for classes, tell me, and I’ll transfer” and, “Course registration has me literally shaking” reflect the shared frustration with course registration. There’s no good reason that something as important as course registration should cause so much stress. 

Despite disliking how course registration works and the amount of stress that it evokes, there is probably no better way to go about it. There are about 4,000 students here at Bucknell, all of whom need to choose from a significantly smaller list of courses. 

There aren’t many fair ways to handle course registration, and this is the system we have. Given our current situation, I can’t think of a better way to rework it.

If you have a brilliant idea to improve the course registration process, please share it with the people who can bring about change! We’d greatly appreciate it. Now, it’s time for me to send an email to the Dean in hopes of securing a spot in the class I want.