Registration Q&A

For more information, download the document here:

FAQs for students new to the College

Registration & Course Information – Q&A

• How can I find out my registration appointment?
• The system isn’t letting me register/I have a “hold” on my record. What do I do?
• Am I required to see an advisor before registering?
• Can I pick up a copy of this semester’s Schedule of Classes?
• Where can I see my class schedule for a particular semester?
• How do I drop and add courses?
• How do I take a course pass/fail?
• I am interested in taking classes at another IU campus or another university. What do I need to know?
• Can I take correspondence or online courses to fulfill my requirements?
• Waitlist:

  • How long does the waitlist exist?
  • Should I attend my waitlisted course?
  • I’m on a waitlist – will my request be fulfilled?
  • Will it help to ask an advisor to let me into a waitlisted course?
  • Will it help to ask my professor to let me into a waitlisted course?
  • Then, how does the waitlist work?
  • What should I do if I don’t get my waitlist request?
  • I am #1 on the waitlist. Why am I not in the class when there are open seats available?
  • Can the waitlist automatically drop one of my classes if my waitlist request is successful?

• How can I find out my registration appointment?

Go to OneStart at http://www.onestart.iu.edu/, access your “Services” tab, and click on “Self Service” on the left side. Then, at the bottom of the page, click”Registration Appointment.” You may register at any time between the first and last date indicated.

• The system isn’t letting me register/I have a “hold” on my record. What do I do?

If you have tried to register for classes but are blocked, you may have a “hold” on your record. Having a hold on your record means that Indiana University needs you to fulfill an obligation before being allowed to register. For instance, you may have to pay an outstanding tuition bill, turn in immunization records, or return a library book.

To find out what you need to do to be released to register, go to OneStart at http://www.onestart.iu.edu/, access your “Services” tab, then click on “Self Service on the left side. You should see a link that says “Holds on My Record.” There should be more information if you click there.

It is a good idea to check your “holds” list several weeks before your registration date every semester.

If you do not have any holds on your record, contact the College Recorder at 812-855-1821 for more information.

• Am I required to see an advisor before registering?

If you have been admitted to the College of Arts and Sciences as a Biology major (and Biology is your only major), then you are not required to see an advisor. However, we strongly encourage you to visit us before registering. During most of the year, you can call for an appointment or come to walk-in hours (1-2:30pm daily)

If it is approaching peak registration time, we will send you an email with instructions about making an appointment with us. Generally, this means there is a sign-up sheet in our office to allow you to schedule your own appointment during peak times.

If you are not a Biology major (including if you are a University Division student), or if you carry an additional major/degree, you may need to see an advisor before registering. Check your “holds” list on OneStart to see if this is true for you. (See above for a description of a “hold.”)

• Can I pick up a copy of this semester’s Schedule of Classes?

The Indiana Daily Student usually prints a version of the upcoming Schedule of Classes in October and March. Our office may have a copy we can give you; however, the physical copy is likely out-of-date information. For more up-to-date information, check the Registrar’s Schedule of Classes.

• Where can I see my class schedule for a particular semester?

Check your class schedule on OneStart at http://www.onestart.iu.edu/. Check your “Services” tab, click on “Self Service” on the left side of the page, and there is a link to your schedule there.

• How do I drop and add courses?

From the College Recorder:

Prior to 11:30pm on the first Friday of classes: adjust your schedule on OneStart at http://www.onestart.iu.edu/

After 11:30 pm on the first Friday of classes through 4pm on the day of the Automatic W deadline:

• To add a course, use the eDrop/eAdd system through OneStart. You must get the approval of your professor, which will happen electronically once you make the request.  Talk to your professor before trying to add a course through eAdd, so that your professor will expect an electronic request to add the class.
• To drop a course, follow the same procedure. You will receive a “W” grade in your dropped class, and there is a fee.
• If the drop will put your course load below 12 credit hours, you will not be a full-time student.  If you must add a course to maintain your full-time status, use the drop/add pair function of eDrop/eAdd.

More information here:

• eDrop instruction sheet
• eAdd instruction sheet

After the Automatic W deadline: Withdrawals after the automatic W deadline require the Dean’s approval on a petition form. Evidence of urgent reasons related to extended illness or equivalent distress occurring after the Automatic W deadline is required. Students may petition for a late withdrawal at the College Recorder’s Office.

To check the Automatic W deadline, consult the Office of the Registrar’s Official Calendar. The “W” deadline is usually about halfway through the length of the course.

• How do I take a course pass/fail?

From the College Recorder: The Biology advisors have “pass/fail” forms and must sign them prior to your bringing the forms to the College Recorder’s Office, Kirkwood Hall 001, for processing. Deadlines for pass/fail for each semester can be found on the Office of the Registrar’s Official Calendar.

To take a course pass/fail, you must be in good academic standing. You may not take more than two courses pass/fail within an academic year, beginning with each fall semester. A maximum of eight courses may be taken pass/fail during your tenure in the College.

Courses completed with the pass/fail option may only count for elective hours, not toward any general education requirement, major, minor, or area certificate.

• I am interested in taking classes at another IU campus or another university. What do I need to know?

Check out the Q&A at the Recorder’s Office website. Also check the “Transfer” section of the Office of Admissions website.

Many students are concerned about how the credits they earn will transfer to IUB. It is a good idea to determine before you take a course whether/how it will count for your IUB degree.

• If you plan to take a course at another IU campus, see an advisor in the corresponding IUB department for more information about how the courses will transfer. (For instance, if it’s a chemistry course at IUPUI, talk to the IUB Chemistry advisor about how the course will count. If it’s an IUK biology course, talk to one of our Biology advisors.)
• If you plan to take courses at another university, check out the Credit Transfer Service on the IU Office of Admissions website. It lists the course equivalencies of many non-IU courses. If your course is not listed there, take a syllabus to the corresponding IUB department for evaluation. (For instance, a chemistry course from Purdue would be evaluated by the IUB Chemistry department advisor.)
• If you have already taken a non-IU course and need it evaluated, take a syllabus to the corresponding IUB department for evaluation.

Note that most IU coursework from other campuses will automatically appear on your transcript, but non-IU coursework must be transferred. Send a copy of your non-IU transcript to the Office of Admissions.

• Can I take correspondence or online courses to fulfill my requirements?

There are certain courses like COLL-X 112 Traditions and Cultures of IU that are offered online during the regular semester timeframe. These courses may be taken without any prior approval. See an advisor to discuss online offerings during the semester.

Most Biology students cannot take Independent Study courses through the IU School of Continuing Studies for credit toward their degrees without prior approval from the Academic Assistant Deans Office.

If you entered at IU prior to the summer of 2002, you may be eligible to take up to two courses through Independent Study to count toward your College degree. Contact an advisor for details.

See also the College of Arts and Sciences Q&A.

Waitlist:

• How long does the waitlist exist?

During the first week of classes, until about midnight Saturday morning.

• Should I attend my waitlisted course?

Yes! This will allow you to keep up with the content in the class, and it will demonstrate your interest in the course.

• I’m on a waitlist – will my request be fulfilled?

We’re not sure – you will have to use your best judgment. If it is a large lecture course and you are at the top of the waitlist, maybe. If it is a small course (like a seminar class), a lab course (where there is limited space), or you are at the bottom of the waitlist, then it is probably less likely.

• Will it help to ask an advisor to let me into a waitlisted course?

NO!!! We have no power to help you jump ahead in the waitlist.

• Will it help to ask my professor to let me into a waitlisted course?

NO!!! Your professor has no power to help you jump ahead in the waitlist. However, it might help to let your professor know that you are attending the class because you hope to add the class (see below).

• Then, how does the waitlist work?

Until about 12am Saturday morning after the first week of classes, you may place yourself on waitlists and remove yourself from waitlists via OneStart.

Once you’re on a waitlist, the waitlist system is automatic – as students drop classes, others from the waitlists are automatically added, in order of preference on the waitlist.

You can check your class schedule anytime after you make a waitlist request to see if your waitlist request has been successful. (You should also receive an email if your waitlist request is successful.)

If you check your schedule and you are not officially added to your class by about noon on the first Saturday after classes begin, your waitlist request has been probably unsuccessful. Your professor then has the option to add you to the class at his/her discretion. (Be aware that space limitations may not permit your professor to add you to a class, particularly in labs and discussions with limited seating.)

You should let the professor in your waitlisted class know during the first week of classes that you are attending the class and would like to add it. That way, the professor might be able to give you an idea of whether it is realistic to expect to get into the course.

• What should I do if I don’t get my waitlist request?

If you cannot be added to the class, you should continue with your current schedule or talk to an advisor about adjusting your schedule.

• I am #1 on the waitlist. Why am I not in the class when there are open seats available?

Advisors don’t know the answer to the question. Call the Registrar at 855-0121 to get a more definitive answer. Common culprits include:

• You have waitlisted a class session that conflicts with another class. You should check your schedule to make sure that you have no time conflicts with your waitlisted class, including time conflicts with other discussion sections, labs, or exam times.
• You have waitlisted a class time in a course in which you’re already enrolled. You cannot waitlist a course to obtain a preferred class schedule. If you are already enrolled in a course and wish to switch class times, you will need to try to swap classes. (NOTE: this is risky, so be sure that your preferred class is open before you decide to swap! Contact the Registrar at 812-855-0121 to help you with the procedure.)
• The lecture component of the course is open, but the lab or discussion component you waitlisted is not open. If a lecture appears open, but if your discussion or lab is not open, you will not be added to the class.
• Adding you to the course would put you above 19 hours in a regular semester (10 hours in a summer session). You cannot enroll in over 19 (10) hours without the Dean’s permission.
• The waitlist period is over. If it’s after noon on the first Saturday of classes, the waitlist is not working any more. Even if you see your waitlist request, the waitlist period is over. You should speak to your professor about adding the class.

Check and see if any of the above apply to you, and if the reason for your waitlist trouble is still unclear, contact the Registrar.

• Can the waitlist automatically drop one of my classes if my waitlist request is successful?

Yes – however, you must select this option at the time you originally waitlist the course. You cannot arrange for an automatic drop after your waitlist request.

Before waitlisting, make sure that you register for your second-choice course. Then, when you attempt to waitlist your first-choice course, you can request that your second-choice course be dropped if you are enrolled.

If you fail to use this option when you orginally waitlist, you must remove yourself from the waitlist and redo your request.