Searching for & Enrolling in Classes
College is centered around your academic experience, and choosing classes is a key part of shaping your path.
Our recommendation to make enrollment easier:
Meet with an academic advisor!
Academic advisors can walk you through course options, help you understand prerequisites and timelines, and make sure you’re aware of key enrollment dates and tools. Whether you’re planning your very first semester or adjusting your final credits before graduation, advisors are here to support you at every step.
What to Do Before Enrollment
Enrollment is how you sign up for your classes, and it always happens during the prior semester. The exact date you can enroll in classes depends on things like your class standing, your academic program, and how many credits you’ve earned. It’s important to be prepared for your enrollment time so that you can get the classes you need to progress towards graduation.
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Find your enrollment time
Each student is assigned a specific enrollment time, which is the earliest you can enroll in classes for a semester. Before enrollment begins, your enrollment time will be emailed to you and listed in the “Course Search & Enroll” tile in MyUW.
Enrollment times are managed by the Office of the Registrar. For more information, visit their “Enrollment Appointment Times” webpage.
Note: New undergraduate students will register for classes through a different process at SOAR (Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration). New students work directly with SOAR academic advisors to build a schedule and register for classes. Learn more about advising at SOAR.
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Check for account holds
An account hold is a freeze on your student account that prevents you from enrolling in courses or accessing your transcript. Holds can be put on your account for a variety of reasons, including:
- Outstanding fines or charges
- Unreturned library books
- Required advising meetings
Note: It’s important to check for holds early so that you have time to resolve them before your enrollment appointment time!
To find out if you have any holds, check the “Tasks” tile in MyUW. Then use the listed contact information to determine the steps to have your hold removed.
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Complete the checklist
Before fall and spring semester enrollment, you’ll be required to complete the Pre-Enrollment Checklist.
This checklist includes things like updating your emergency contacts and address, reviewing important university policies, and updating your Intended Completion Term.
View step-by-step instructions on how to complete the Pre-Enrollment Checklist.
Note: A hold will be placed on your account until the checklist is complete. It will be automatically removed once you’ve finished all seven steps.
Schedule an Advising Appointment
Choosing the right courses each semester is key to graduating on your intended timeline. But you don’t need to figure it out alone—advisors are here to help. Making an advising appointment is a great way to ensure that you’re taking the classes you need.
It can also be helpful to check in with an advisor to have big-picture conversations about extracurriculars, updating your graduation timeline, and achieving goals.
Advisors can answer questions like:
- Should I take this class for three credits or four?
- What are the prerequisites for this course?
- How does this course fulfill my degree requirements?
- When is the best time to take an advanced level class?
- Will this course keep me on my graduation timeline?
- And much more!
How to prepare for your advising appointment:
- Research classes: Advisors can make class suggestions and answer questions, but it’s great to have an idea about what you’re looking for.
- Review requirements: Review university and major-specific requirements before your meeting.
- Bring important documents: Do you have an academic plan you want to follow? Bring it! A copy of your DARS report can also be helpful when meeting with an advisor.
Enrolling in Classes
Once you’ve double checked your pre-enrollment requirements and met with your advisor, how do you actually enroll? Check out this helpful step-by-step guide from the Office of the Registrar.
Check out answers to common questions below, and if you still have any questions, academic advisors are a great resource!
Courses appear in the “Course Search & Enroll” tile in MyUW before priority enrollment begins. Check the Office of the Registrar’s Enrollment Appointment Times page to see when they’ll be available. You can also search for classes using Guide at any time during the semester! Courses within Guide are updated three times each year to coincide with registration.
First and foremost, consider how each course will fit into your academic plan. Does it fulfill a degree or graduation requirement, and keep you on track for your intended graduation timeline?
- Look over your DARS report: Check through your DARS report in your Student Center and see what classes you have left to take, and what prerequisites you’ll need for future classes.
- Meet with an advisor: Academic advisors are going to be the best resources to chat about potential courses. It’s a great idea to do your research ahead of an advising appointment so that you can discuss potential options together!
- Check your major’s graduation timeline: If you’ve declared a major, check if your major has a graduation plan for courses on your department’s or major’s website.
It’s also important to find classes that you’re interested in. Generally, you are more likely to do better in courses you are engaged in. Ask yourself the following questions, and discuss your answers with an advisor:
- Is there a particular topic or issue I want to learn more about?
- Is there a particular set of skills I want to develop or explore?
- Does the course help balance out my other courses?
- Does the course offer a teaching format that is different from what I’ve experienced in other courses?
- Is there an instructor I’ve heard great things about?
If a class you’re interested in is full, you might have the option to join the waitlist. That means that if other students in that course decide to drop it, waitlisted students may be given the opportunity to enroll.
When on a waitlist, watch your @wisc.edu email closely. Once you receive a message from the department that you can add the class, you usually only have one to two days to act!
Learn more about waitlists from the Office of the Registrar.
If a class is closed and there’s no waitlist, talk with your advisor. They may have suggestions for gaining access or tips for finding an alternative.
Dropping a class can have a major impact on your education. It can impact your status as a full-time student, access to financial aid, transcript and grades, graduation timeline, and more. It’s important to be intentional before making the decision to drop—especially after the semester has started.
Talking to an advisor before dropping a class can help you navigate this decision.
To learn how to drop a class, visit the Dropping a Class resource from the Office of the Registrar. And to understand deadlines related to dropping a class, visit the Office of the Registrar’s Dates & Deadlines webpage.
When you drop an enrolled class and add one from your cart in one action, it’s called “swapping.” Visit the Swapping a Class resource from the Office of the Registrar.
While the “swap” function makes it easy to change classes or sections, you’ll still want to consider it carefully. Deadlines related to dropping classes still apply, so review the Office of the Registrar’s Dates & Deadlines page and set up an appointment with an advisor.
Ready to connect with an advisor?
Academic advisors are available year-round to introduce you to opportunities and help you make decisions about your academic journey!