Add/drop season can be tricky for anyone prone to overthinking and chronic indecisiveness (like yours truly). In the fall term of second year, I must have swapped or dropped about 10 courses before settling on a final schedule. Some might call me picky (and honestly, fair); I think I have maximizer tendencies.
As someone with fewer degree requirements and an average of three courses per term, I’m also aware that I have more flexibility to swap and drop courses than some students; a privilege that comes with its own challenges. After all, having more options isn’t always better.
Course registration involves balancing program requirements with various other factors, including your schedule, learning style, and workload. These decisions will shape the next few months and can even impact a degree. Still, moderation is key, and sometimes it’s best to go for “good enough” rather than continue wondering what if? I’ve had terms where prolonged indecision drained my mental energy and wasted valuable time, resulting in me completing assignments for courses I eventually dropped and falling behind in courses I added later.
Over the years, I’ve adopted the following strategies to get each term off to a solid start.
Prep for Course Registration
This is the most crucial step to minimize changes during the add/drop period. A week or two before course registration opens, I make a list of:
- Requirements I must fulfill
- Courses that meet those requirements
- Electives I’m interested in
Workday descriptions can be vague, so I often look up course information on faculty websites, browse professors’ bios and reviews, and search for past syllabi.
Note: Professor reviews tend to be biased. Rather than taking them at face value, I use them to gauge whether an instructor’s teaching style might align with my learning style.
If a course looks promising, I add it to my list along with the professor’s name, meeting times, and location. Then, I transfer my chosen courses to a rough timetable to get a sense of which schedule could realistically work. I usually stick to pen and paper, but this can also be done digitally in a calendar or notes app. Colour-coding courses according to the requirements they fulfill helps me keep track of which ones could serve as alternatives (making it easier to swap courses later on).
Over several days of reflection, I revisit my rough timetable, crossing out courses that no longer appeal to me or circling ones that do. Eventually, I narrow it down to a final timetable with a few backup courses in case some are full or don’t work out. The final step is creating several saved schedules on Workday to make the registration process as smooth as possible.
Combat Indecision During the Add/Drop Period
Even with a thoughtful plan, I tend to change things around once classes start. Sometimes I realize a course isn’t for me or feel the need to lighten my workload. Sometimes I discover an interesting course later on, or a spot becomes available in a previously full course. Usually, I end up overthinking every decision and feel incapable of making the “right” choice.
Here are a few strategies that help me deal with indecision:
- Pros and cons list: simple but effective
- Decision matrix: ideal when there are many options to choose from
- Talking it out with a friend: sometimes saying it aloud is enough
- Tricking yourself into knowing: one of my favourite strategies for when I’m stuck between two options. I flip a coin or ask a friend to make a decision for me and pay attention to my reaction. Was I secretly rooting for the other option? There’s my answer.
Add/drop season may always bring a little chaos, but it shouldn’t feel overwhelming. There’s really no need to dedicate limited brain juice to every possible variable or prolong suffering through indecision. Thoughtful planning, some honest self-reflection, and a few decision-making tools go a long way toward helping me start the term with a lot more energy and confidence! I also make sure to reach out to academic advising whenever I feel like I need extra support.
Drop a comment down below if you have any helpful decision-making tips or recommendations for fun courses 🙂
