Spring is Coming!
In which Greta registers for spring term classes and manages end-of-winter anxiety.
In which Greta registers for spring term classes and manages end-of-winter anxiety.
Happy ninth week from Carleton!
The weather has been beautiful and WARM (Minnesota code for above freezing), and the snow is melting, and it almost feels like spring. So it’s a perfect time to think about spring classes!
I’ll give you a quick rundown. First of all, Carleton has a trimester schedule, which means that we have three ten-week terms a year. Right now, we’re almost done with trimester two (aka winter term). Then we’ll go on break for two weeks in March and start our last term of the year on Monday, March 30. In preparation, campus is abuzz registering for classes right now. Freshman register ninth week after everyone else in eighth week.
Before registration, every student meets with their advisor: a professor who helps them decide their course schedule and is also a resource for all things academic at Carleton. First-years are assigned to their advisor either based on their Argument and Inquiry Seminar, a type of class everyone takes their first term, or on their academic interests. Once students declare a major at the end of their sophomore year, they get a new advisor in that department.
My current advisor is Greg Hewett, the chair of the English department, which is awesome for me because I love English! Fun fact: I met two of my best friends here during our very first group advising meeting with Greg 😀
Anyway, back to registration. Because I like to plan ahead, I start scoping out classes weeks ago on ENROLL. Then I added ones that looked interesting to my list of preferred sections on the Hub, Carleton’s student portal. Here’s what the main menu looks like:
And an example course search:
And how it displays results:
Then the night of registration comes. Everyone is assigned a priority number that varies term to term. This time I was in the 2nd group of first-years (my best slot yet!) and my time was 7:15 PM on Monday.
Now for the actual classes! Because of the trimester system, Carleton students generally take three classes per term. I chose Spanish 103, Intro to Anthropology, and Queer Literature. I’m really excited about all of them and happy that I could get in—Anthro filled up later on Monday night, and I got the last spot in Queer Lit.
However, I’m feeling a bit anxious about my schedule for next term. The way it currently stands, I will have all three of my classes on Tuesday and Thursday, along with lifeguarding, a PE class which I have to take for my summer job.
I won’t bore you with the details, but it means I’m worried about balancing my time, so I’m looking into getting off the waitlist for some Monday-Wednesday-Friday classes. The main thing I have to keep telling myself is that either way, I’ll have really cool classes, and I’ll make it work!
As you might be able to tell, registration can be a stressful time at Carleton—especially for people like me who tend to overthink everything. So I want to echo what Andriana wrote in her last post: self-care is so important.
Over the past few days, I have been purposefully giving myself time to relax, sleep, and get outside. I’m so grateful for the weather because it’s motivated me to go on some really beautiful runs. Exercise and rest are both critical to making my body feel as energized as my mind in college. So on that note, good night! Take care of yourself, wherever you are.
Greta is a proud Vermonter who has fallen hard enough for Carleton that she’s choosing to spend the next four years without mountains to hike. Instead, you’ll probably find her wandering the Arb with a journal and a pen behind her ear, playing piano in Weitz, or telling another unsuspecting soul about her gap year. And eating dark chocolate. She wants to learn everything, but is particularly interested in Sociology/Anthropology, Geology, and, of course, Creative Writing. Meet the other bloggers!