View source for How to register for classes

='''''UNDER CONSTRUCTION'''''=

Columbia University offers a wide array of classes that you can take during your time in college; with many departments and majors, Columbia offers opportunities to learn with depth and breadth. This guide will show you how to register for courses and keep you on track during your four years here. 

==How to determine your registration appointment==
#Navigate to [www.ssol.columbia.edu Columbia Student Services Online (SSOL)]. 
#Log in to SSOL (Student Services OnLine) with your UNI and password.
#Scroll down on the screen you are redirected to and click “Registration Appointments”, located under the heading of “Academic Records”. 
#The first date and time in this list is the first chance you will get to register for classes. Make sure to log on in the beginning of this period to ensure that you have the best chance of getting the classes you want.

==How to view the classes offered in a semester==
There are several ways of viewing all the classes that Columbia has to offer. With over 500 choices, looking for the best course may get overwhelming. Here are a few ways to determine what classes are available each semester and which class is right for you. 

#Read the [http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/ Columbia Course Catalogue], which lists all classes offered by Columbia University. The Catalogue also allows you to sift through classes by inputting the name, semester and time of the class you are looking for. Additionally, you can browse through the course catalogue by departments; just click on the letter that the department begins with and go from there. 
# Another course listing site is the [http://college.columbia.edu/bulletin/depts Columbia College Bulletin]. Click on the department you’d like to take classes in. The departments are located on the left-hand side bar.  Click on the “Course Listings” button, located under the department heading on the top of the page. 
3.	Scroll to view all the departmental courses and their times available. Make sure you check to make sure that the class is offered during the appropriate semester you are trying to register for. 
3.	School of Engineering Courses: 
i.	School of Engineering and Sciences has its own, separate website for courses. View it here (http://bulletin.engineering.columbia.edu/key-course-listings)
1.	Click on the department of interest on the left hand side bar.
2.	Click the subheading “Courses” located on the sidebar beneath the department’s title. 

2.   How to Decide Which Section of Each Course to Take
There are many things to consider when choosing which classes to take for your next semester. Make sure to check Columbia’s graduation requirements, your major requirements, and reviews of potential professors to ensure that you graduate happily and on time. 
1.	How to View Your Graduation Requirements
a.	The Graduation Requirements for Columbia College can be found here. (http://www.college.columbia.edu/bulletin/requirements.php)
i.	In order to graduate with a Bachelor’s of the Arts from Columbia College, each student is required to take 124 credits. 
ii.	Each Student must complete the requirements of the Core Curriculum, found on the above page. 
b.	a.	The Graduation Requirements for Columbia School of Engineering can be by a departmental basis. Visit here (http://engineering.columbia.edu/files/engineering/EngineeringMajorsPamphlet.pdf) for degree information on a major-by-major format. 
2.	How to view your major requirements
a.	 Columbia College’s major requirements are listed by department on The Bulletin. 
i.	Click on the department of interest in the left sidebar. 
ii.	Navigate to the “Undergraduate Requirements” page, which is located under the Department heading. 
3.	How to Choose Professors using CULPA
a.	The website CULPA (www.culpa.info) provides reviews of many of Columbia’s professors. Search their last names in the search box on the right.
b.	The best professors are ranked by nuggets, gold being the hugest and silver being next best.  To view professors with golden nuggets, click “Gold” on the right sidebar. 


STEP#3: How to Put Together Your Schedule
It’s not easy to plan out your schedule for the year. Luckily, Columbia has some tools that will help you assemble your student schedule. 
1.   How to Check Your Pre-Registered Classes
ii.	Log into SSOL and click on “Student Schedule”, located under the heading “Academic Records”. 
iii.	Select the semester of interest in the “Viewing Options” box, located at the very top of the screen. Then hit the “Update View” button, to the right. 
iv.	Note the classes and times that you are currently registered for. These classes are components of the Core Curriculum; it is difficult to move them so try to plan your schedule around these course times. 
2.   How to Put Together Your Schedule 
v.	Use Schedule Builder by Adi as a template for your schedule. (http://courses.adicu.com/)
vi.	Enter the title or course number of the class you are looking to take in the search box at the top and click on its title when it shows up below the search box. If you are still deciding on classes, visit the “How to Select Classes” page. 
vii.	All possible sections of the class that you have entered will appear on the schedule builder. Select the timeslot that you prefer. 
viii.	Do this for all your classes. Keep in mind that when you actually register for classes, some of the courses you have selected may be full. Leave some room for flexibility in your schedule so that you can easily select another class section if your top choice is full. 

STEP #4: How to Register for Classes (on Registration Day)
4.	Log into SSOL (ssol.columbia.edu) during the beginning of your registration appointment [link to reg. apt page]. 
5.	Click the “Registration” button under the Academic Records category. 
6.	Enter the code of the class you intend to add. The code can be found when searching for classes in any of Columbia’s class directories. [link to “classes available guide”]