How is Registering for Classes at Mesa Community College Different from Registering for High School Classes?

Don’t wait to register for classes at Mesa Community College.  Enrolling means that MCC has your name and information set-up in the software.  Registering means that you actually get to create your own schedule.  It is true that the earlier you register the more choices you will have.  Here is some information that may help you make your decisions.

·         Courses – If you wait too long to register, the course may become full and you will not be allowed in. Many courses have a 25:1 ratio of students to instructor, so that means that if 25 people want that class before you get around to registering, then you will have to choose an alternate class. 

o   ‘Sections’ is the word used to describe the specific class you enroll in.  Just like in high school, during 3^rd period Mrs. Smith taught English, but so did Mr. Jones and Ms. Doe.  Also, while Mrs. Smith taught English 3^rd period, she also taught it again 4^th and 5^th period and then a literature class during 6^th period.  All courses will have section numbers assigned. On the other hand, if you make the sudden decision to go to college, you can register even the morning of the first day of classes; you just won’t have as many options.

·         Day of Week – For face-to-face classes you can choose between MWF, T/TR, MW.  Classes that meet three days a week are 50 minutes long; classes that meet twice a week are 1.25 hours long; and classes that meet once a week last 3 hours.  If you work, think about how you function best.  For me, I found that I was much less stressed when I gave an entire day to one event - MWF were for work, while T/TR were for college classes.  This type of schedule meant less driving around and less hustling from one location to another.  However, perhaps your employer wants you to work every morning five days a week, then you can then sign up for all afternoon classes four or five days a week.

Link to MCC Class Schedule

·         Time of Day – Classes begin every hour from 8:00am to 7:00pm.  The 9:00, 10:00, & 11:00 classes fill up the quickest.  The types of students that enroll at various times is also something to think about.  I’m just going to say it.  Sometimes those who plan to have the first classes of the day at 12:00 are the ones that roll out of bed because of partying.  That lifestyle also creates a certain Introduction to Human Communication classes at 10:00, 11:00, and 12:00.  In any/all of my classes, I only allow for five absences before being dropped with loss of credit.  Within my three earlier sections of classes, only 2/60 students are on the edge of losing credit because of missed classes.  Conversely, in my noon class, 8/17 have gone over the allowed absences and are minutes away from being withdrawn. The grades are a very clear reflection of those absences.  You get to plan your own life, so thinking about variables is valuable.

·         Professors – Here’s the secret that is not advertised by campuses, but students should know. RateMyProfessors.com is a student generated website that describes professors from the unedited perspective of former students.  A word of advice.  It is just like Amazon reviews because while one person will adore the item and award 5 stars, another person will hate that same item and give it only one star.  The trick is you need to read what the evaluators say.  

On RateMyProfessors.com, if an instructor gets a low score because he/she assigns homework, and you like homework far better than just four tests a semester, then disregard those comments and put more validity into the comments that discuss the level of difficulty of tests.  If students complain that the class was too hard, consider whether or not the topic will be difficult no matter the teacher.  Calculus is Calculus, but you can read the reviews to see if a student claims that certain instructors explain concepts well and are willing to work with you outside of class.

·         Method of Delivery – You have options of how you would like to learn the material

o   Main Campus Face-to-Face (Southern and Dobson)

o   Red Mountain Face-to-Face (McKellipps and Power)

o   Hybrid (reduced number of face-to-face class sessions combined with Internet work)

o   Online (all class work will be done from a computer)

o   Late-Start (start several times during the semester in 8, 10, or 14 week class options)

Link to MCC Choices Page

So what are you waiting for?  With just a wee bit of looking, you can have your ideal semester schedule - you just have to do it now.  Don't sacrifice the things you want more for the things you want right now!

Road Sign: https://www.unigo.com/in-college/college-experience/help-i-need-to-choose-a-college-major

Line: http://www.careerquest.edu/blog/2011/06/be-first-line

Same Clothes Meme: https://memegenerator.net/instance/54759157/the-lazy-college-senior-wearing-the-same-outfit-two-days-in-a-row-because-no-one-from-your-tthu-clas

Books and Clock: http://www.thecollegejuice.com/2016/07/5-reasons-early-morning-classes-secretly-best/

MCC Class Schedule Images: https://www.mesacc.edu/schedule/

Rate My Professor Images: http://www.ratemyprofessors.com