By Jessy Lee Saas BA ‘20, former Arts Peer Advisor
Winter Session registration happens each year in the summer, and while it might feel a little daunting at first, you won’t have to navitage it alone.
When I started at UBC, I was so nervous I’d miss my registration time that I set six different alarms on my phone! But have no fear! UBC has many resources to help you feel more prepared. Below are the ones that helped me the most, and I hope they’ll make the process smoother for you too.
Know your registration dates
Prior to registration, you’ll get an email from Enrolment Services with your exact registration date and time, and you can always double check in Workday Student.
It’s a good idea to know your registration dates early so that you can plan ahead, like making sure that you have internet access and time to focus when registration opens.
Prepare a course plan
When I came to UBC, I didn’t know how to build a saved schedule, so I planned my entire year on a piece of paper. It wasn’t anything fancy, but starting early helped me feel more in control.
If you haven’t started thinking about your course plan yet, now is a good time to start. Giving yourself time to plan will help registration feel less stressful.
Changing your course plan
Don’t worry if you’re not sure whether your course plan is perfect for you — you’ll be able to change your registration choices anytime before the add/drop deadline. Try your best to choose courses that interest you, but know that you’ll have about two weeks at the start of term to try things out and adjust if needed.
Your major
The road to my major had plenty of speed bumps and detours. I started my first year convinced that I’d double major in Creative Writing and Political Science. After my first term, I switched to English and Political Science. Then, I dropped Poli Sci entirely. By the following summer, I had landed on a History major and a Creative Writing minor, and I’m so happy I did!
Plan for the major you think you might enjoy, and be open-minded if your plans change, or your interests shift. Many students apply for or declare their major in their second year. I declared late because I needed more time to explore my interests and that turned out to be just right for me. Don’t worry if you don’t have it all figured out— the important thing is to explore different topics in your first and second years to find a major you are passionate about, even if you don’t know what that is yet!
Registration support
You don’t need to figure everything out alone when it comes to registration. Arts Academic Advising is here to help, and there are lots of resources to guide you through the process.
Check out the Faculty of Arts website to learn more about degree requirements, year-level promotions, and how to read your academic progress report. You can also explore UBC’s step-by-step tutorials on creating saved schedules and registering for courses in Workday.
Arts Advising for registration
Before and during the registration period, Arts Academic Advising offers workshops and extended drop-in services.
Register for an online workshop, or join drop-in advising to talk to an advisor. They can walk you through understanding transfer credits, creating saved schedules, choosing courses, registering for classes, and knowing what to expect after registration.
Jessy Lee Saas BA ‘20, former Arts Peer Advisor
