Selecting and Assigning Priority Ranking to Your Classes at classes.uconn.edu - Incoming Students
Background
Using classes.uconn.edu to register for classes, this article is intended for any incoming Pharmacy and Nursing student in preparation for your first semester at UConn. Following this guide will allow you to enter your preferences for each of the classes you will take in the Fall semester.
You will work closely with your advisor during the registration process as they will provide valuable resources and help documents that will instruct you on which classes you should select and list as preferences.
Map Out Your Primary and Alternatives Carts
Class Mapping
It is strongly recommended that you map out in advance your ideal “first choice” class sections (these will go into your Primary Cart) as well as backups/alternates to those “first choice” class sections (these will go into your Alternatives Cart) before going through the mechanics of adding classes to your Primary and Alternatives carts.
Visual Process Flow
Instructions
Step 1: Identify Ideal “First Choice” Classes You Wish to Take
First, take a moment to identify all ideal classes you wish to take. Be sure to reference any help documents that your advisor has provided to assist you on which classes you should select.
Using classes.uconn.edu, you will add these ideal classes to your Primary Cart. A Primary Cart is used to house your “first choice” classes for the system to review – consider these as the ideal classes you want to get into first. You will go through Class Search and pick those classes to add into your Primary Cart. You can add as many classes to your Primary Cart as you want, keeping in mind how many credits are required for full-time status (e.g., 4, 5, or 6 classes).
Example:
Introduction to Architecture (ART 1162 001)
Design Fundamentals (DRAM 1207 001)
General Chemistry I (CHEM 1127Q, LEC 001, LAB 005L)
General Psychology I (PSYC 1100, LEC 001, LAB 002L)
Add a Class Section to Your Primary Cart
Navigation: Search Classes > Search Results > Class Section
Locate a section of a class in which you wish register (e.g., ARTH 1162 Section 001).
Select the ADD TO CART button.
For the Which Cart prompt, select Primary.
Select OK.
Skip specifying Registration Options for now – you will do this in a future step.
Select Save Changes.
Do not specify any Registration Order or Alternatives (Preferred Ranking) at this time. You will do this in Step 3.
Repeat these steps for as many classes you are interested in adding as “first choice” classes.
Step 2: Identify Backup Classes
Next, take a moment to identify any backup classes you wish to take just in case you can’t get into your ideal classes. You will be adding these backup classes to your Alternatives Cart using classes.uconn.edu.
You will want to add classes to an Alternatives cart for a variety of reasons:
to choose a backup section of a given class: if a given section (e.g., 005L) of a CHEM 1127Q class is not available, try getting me into this other section (e.g., 009L) of CHEM 1127Q;
to choose a backup class – if a class (DRAM 1207, 001) you want is not available, add another class altogether (e.g., ENGL 2405, 331);
to try some additional class(es) that you are interested in and/or need for your graduation requirements.
The advantage of having an Alternatives cart is that you can put as many classes in that Alternatives cart as you want. Adding classes/sections to an Alternatives cart is not required, but it serves as an added tool for you to select and register for additional classes that you want to take.
Example:
If I can’t get into Introduction to Architecture:
Popular Music and Diversity in American Society (MUSI 1003 005D)
If I can’t get into Design Fundamentals:
Drama (ENGL 2405 331)
If I can’t get into Section 005L of General Chemistry I:
Section 009L (CHEM 1127Q, LEC 001, LAB 009L)
If I can’t get into Section 002L of General Psychology I:
Section 003L (PSYC 1100, LEC 001, LAB 003L)
Add a Class Section to Your Alternatives Cart
Navigation: Search Classes > Search Results > Class Section
Locate a section of a class that you want considered as a backup class (e.g., CHEM 1127Q Section 009L).
Select the ADD TO CART button.
For the Which Cart prompt, select Alternatives.
Select OK.
Skip specifying Registration Options for now – you will do this in a future step.
Select Save Changes.
Do not specify any Registration Order or Alternatives (Preferred Ranking) at this time. You will do this in Step 3.
Repeat these steps for as many sections of classes you are interested in that is alternate to the class(es) in your Primary cart.
Step 3: Assign Your Registration Rankings and Preferences
Now that you have added classes to both your Primary and Alternative Carts, you will determine which classes should be assigned according to your priority ranking preferences using classes.uconn.edu.
Locate your Class Mapping to assist you in assigning the desired Registration Order (e.g., first/highest, second, third, etc.) as well as specifying the “backup” classes from your Alternatives Cart to be considered in case you don’t get into your ideal classes.
You will navigate back to your Primary Cart and assign your preferred rankings through the Edit Registration Options on each class – in this example:
My first (highest) priority class choice is ART 1162 001 with an Alternative (backup class) of MUSI 1003 005D
My next highest (second) priority class choice is DRAM 1207 001 with an Alternative (backup class) of ENGL 2405 331
My next highest (third) priority class choice is CHEM 1127Q LEC 001 LAB 005L with a:
First Alternative (backup class) of CHEM 1127Q LEC 001 LAB 009L, and a
Second Alternative (backup class) of any other Section of CHEM 1127Q LEC 001
My last priority class choice is PSYC 1100 LEC 001 LAB 002L with a:
First Alternative (backup class) of PSYC 1100 LEC 001 LAB 003L, and a
Second Alternative (backup class) of any other Section of PSYC 1100 LEC 001
Assigning Registration Options
Navigation: Term+Year > Carts > Primary Cart > first course* > Edit Registration Options
first course* = If the course has a LEC, LAB, and DIS component, always select the LAB section when accessing the Edit Registration Options. If the course has a LEC and DIS component, always select the DIS section when accessing the Edit Registration Options.
Registration Options | |
|---|---|
Field | Value |
Grading Basis | Do not change - accept the defaulted value |
Registration Order | Enter desired ranking: Identify in which order you want the system to assign your preference to this class. First (Highest) = most preferred class Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth = least preferred class Auto = no preference – have the system assign the class automatically wherever it can slot the class into my schedule If you attempt to assign all classes with a Registration Order = First (Highest), this results in the system not using any preferences for any of your classes. Do not do this. |
First Alternative | If the system is unable to assign the Primary class section to your schedule (e.g., the class is full), identify which class section the system should evaluate first as a replacement class from your Alternative Cart. |
Second Alternative | If the system is unable to assign neither the Primary class section nor the First Alternative class section (from your Alternatives Cart) to your schedule (e.g., both sections are full), identify which class section the system should evaluate next as a replacement class from your Alternative Cart. |
Select Save.
Repeat for each of your classes.
After you have completed assigning the desired values for the Registration Order and the First Alternative fields, the result should match your class mapping.