BRIDGEWATER, Va. – As registration for the next school year approaches, many college students begin preparing weeks in advance. From carefully planning course schedules to setting early alarms on registration day, the process can feel competitive and stressful.

Registration is more than picking classes. Students must consider degree requirements, credit hours, course availability and potential scheduling conflicts. Because popular classes fill up quickly, many students feel pressure to plan ahead and act quickly once registration opens.

Upper-level students often say the process becomes easier with experience, but for first-year students, registration can feel overwhelming as they learn how the system works for the first time.

Navigating classes that fill up fast

For first-year student Sarah Nosar, the process was more overwhelming than she initially expected.

“It was stressful at first because I wasn’t able to get into biology for my major,” Nosar said. “That’s usually a freshman class, but I think next year I should be able to get in the class.”

According to collegevine, first and second year students usually take more general education courses than the classes for their major. This can cause delays in registering for general education classes.

Like many first-year students, Nosar quickly learned how fast classes can fill up and how important it is to understand the registration system. First-year students often face a learning curve when navigating course catalogs, credit requirements and waitlists for the first time. Without experience, many underestimate how quickly classes reach capacity.

Bridgewater Registrar Sherry Phelps said the biggest issues students face during registration are waiting until the last minute to prepare or misunderstanding how the system works. 

Students often see a message saying a class section has a waitlist and mistakenly assume they are automatically added to it. 

“They actually have to go in the section and click the waitlist note if they want to be on the waitlist,” Phelps said.

According to the announcement about advising week and registration on MyBC, the registrar’s office and instructors review waitlist information to add students into classes if seats become available. 

In addition to confusion about waitlists, students are sometimes prevented from registering because of administrative issues. Financial holds, advising holds and unmet prerequisites can all block a student from enrolling in classes.

Because of this, the registrar’s office staff encourages students to check their accounts early and make sure everything is cleared before their registration time opens. Taking a few minutes to review account notifications can prevent delays and frustration when registration begins.

Why meeting with an academic advisor matters

Meeting with an academic advisor is another step that can make a significant difference. 

Department chair of the health and human sciences program, Donna Hoskins, encourages students to think beyond just the next semester when planning their schedules.

“The college has told us to use that advising time to get to know your students,” Hoskins said. “It’s a one-on-one session to listen to their career goals and have them in classes based on what they want to do.”

Hoskins said she helps students map out their academic path and understand the requirements needed to graduate on time. She said planning multiple semesters ahead can reduce stress during registration week and prevent students from falling behind in their programs.

Rising third-year student Mia Flory said experience has taught her how important preparation can be and she has developed a more strategic approach to the process.

“I’ve learned to always have backup classes ready,” Flory said. “One of the struggles I’ve had is not having a class approved that could substitute for a different class.”

Flory said having alternative options ready can save time and frustration if a class fills up quickly. She also recommends checking course availability frequently and talking to upper-level students about professors before finalizing schedules.

Advice from experienced students can help newer students avoid common mistakes, such as registering for too many demanding courses in one semester or overlooking prerequisite requirements.

Madison Poole, who transferred from community college, said transfer students often face additional challenges during registration. She said adjusting to a new system required extra planning and patience. At the same time, she felt some parts of registration were easier.

“It’s a lot easier after doing two years of community college and then transferring,” Poole said. “Because you take the gen ed stuff at community college and then when you transfer you can really focus on your classes for your major and minor.”

However, understanding how previous credits applied toward her major was one of the biggest challenges during the transition. Many transfer students must work closely with advisors to make sure their credits transfer correctly and meet the requirements of their new institution.

“It’s better to get clarification sooner rather than later,” she said.

While the registration process can feel overwhelming, both students and university officials said that preparation is the best way to reduce stress. Checking for holds, meeting with advisors, planning backup courses and understanding degree requirements all play an important role in successfully building a schedule.

Students can find more information on the 2025-2026 college catalog about college programs and registration.