WWW.QNS.COM RIDGEWOOD TIMES JANUARY 21, 2021 15
The clock is ticking to register for spring classes at NYC colleges
BY ROBERT POZARYCKI
RPOZARYCKI@QNS.COM
@ROBBPOZ
Colleges and universities across
the New York City area are registering
students for the spring
semester now, so you’ll need to move
quickly to sign up for the classes you
want. If you want to complete your application
and registration process on
time, act now, by checking the details
of your desired college’s application
deadlines.
Registration deadlines for new
students at most institutions are
mid- to late January, and the ongoing
COVID-19 pandemic will likely result
in most, if not all, spring classes being
held online.
With vaccine developments progressing,
the spring 2021 semester
will hopefully be the last of the
pandemic era, and if the rollout is
successful, in-person classes may
return in the fall. For the moment,
however, virtual courses offer personal
safety and education from the
comfort of your home.
For New Yorkers who are looking
to enter or expand their education,
enrolling now, and locally, is a great
idea. Courses can be completed right
from your living room or bedroom —
no need to spend thousands of dollars
a year on dorm rooms or supplies.
Even so, enrolling in college —
whether it’s your first time, or your
return after years away from the
classroom — can be overwhelming.
The selection of courses offered at
most colleges and universities are
vast, and it can be quite challenging
to find the right ones in balance with
your core requirements to create the
ideal education schedule.
The College Board, a nonprofit organization
that aims to expand higher
education access to Americans, offers
some advice for prospective
students as they consider registering
classes for the spring:
Consider all your options available.
Don’t just settle on one college
right away; consider several candidates
and choose the one that’s right
for you based on access, affordability
and educational opportunities,
among other criteria.
Create the schedule that’s right for
you. The path to a college degree is
a marathon, not a sprint. Try not to
schedule too many classes early on
to avoid burnout. Choose a schedule
that meets the requisite number of
semester credits, but also allows
you the time to rest, study, prepare
reports and refine your skills.
Seek out an adviser’s help. This is
especially true for first-time college
students who might find difficulty
creating a schedule. Reach out to a
college adviser in your field of interest
to help you determine the best
path forward.
Clear the core requirements early.
Your first years in college should not
just focus primarily on your field
of study, but also meeting the core
curriculum so you can concentrate
more on your major as graduation
day draws nearer.
Maintain balance in your course
schedule. Try not to challenge
yourself early on by taking more
advanced classes. Save those for
later in your academic career.
Seek out college credits and financial
aid. Visit the College Board
website, collegeboard.org, to find
resources.
Take a writing course to help you
better prepare for term papers and
adopt your writing style.
Register early. The earlier you
register, the better chance you have
to obtain the classes you want.
With additional reporting by Hazel
Shahgholi.
KIDS & EDUCATION
/collegeboard.org
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