Class Registration Advice from a Senior

Emily Caroline Sartin
Features Editor

Registering for classes can be an overwhelming task that seems to determine your success in high school. Take a deep breath and inhale and exhale. Here is my advice for the registration process:

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1. Graduation requirements are number one. 

In order to be handed a diploma at the end of senior year, graduation requirements are essential. You should stay on top of the classes you need, and plan when you will take them; avoid the unnecessary stress of procrastination. In addition to the courses required by North Carolina, most colleges have their own needed classes for admission. If you plan to continue your education after high school, be familiar with the courses the schools you are interested in require. While foreign language is not necessary for graduation, North Carolina universities require two units of foreign language.

2. Try new things and have fun.

While it is important to meet the needs of earning a diploma, it is equally important to explore your interests. Don’t take classes because “you’re supposed to;” take them because you want to. Having a variety of classes makes the school day more enjoyable, so try something new and pursue your passions. Don’t compare your schedule to others; everyone is unique.
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3. Challenge yourself, but don’t overwork yourself.

When registering for classes, try to challenge yourself, try new things, and take advantage of the opportunities available to you. Talk to your teachers and friends who have taken the classes you are interested in to learn about them first hand. Also consider the possibility of a lopsided schedule and the homework load; could you manage it along with extracurricular activities? Be conscious of the likelihood of alternates; choose classes you truly want to take.

4. There is no such thing as an “easy” AP class.

AP classes are college level courses with greater workloads than both honors and academic classes. The workload is not just limited to homework, it also includes greater classwork and substantial study time. Some AP classes have a reputation of being “easy;” they may be easier than other AP classes, but they are still at the college level.

5.Be consistent with foreign language classes.
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If you are interested in taking multiple levels of a foreign language, sign up to take them back to back; a large gap, longer than summer break, increases the difficulty due to the hurdle of trying to remember vocabulary and grammar. It is not impossible if you have a gap between language classes, but it does require more effort.

As long as you do what is best for you individually, everything will work out no matter what you want to pursue after graduation.