The Unofficial Scripps College Survival Guide

Everything You Need to Know about the Registrar’s Office Add Deadline Since a majority of classes only meet two or so times a week, you might only get the chance to attend a class three or four times before the add deadline. If you find that you feel indescribably angry or anxious while reading a syllabus, seriously consider dropping that course. Don’t torture yourself.

The deadline comes up really quickly, so keep track of it! Keep in mind that if you need to PERM (ask for permission to enroll in) a class, you should leave the professor enough time to respond, so PERM as soon as you think you may be looking to get into that class! You can always get your PERM accepted and then decide not to enroll-- this is fairly common, so don’t worry about hurting your prof’s feelings.

This is also a good time to look at classes that might have reopened.

Drop Deadline This is about halfway through the semester. If you drop a class later than this day, you will receive a “W” (withdraw) on your transcript, and this will be a waste of a course. It is, however, significantly better than failing a class. If you are between a “W” and an “F,” take the “W.” Also, a lot of people end up dropping classes.

You can be in three classes without being in real danger; keep in mind that, assuming you don’t count any previous credits from AP classes, etc., you need to take a total of 64 credits, which adds up to 4 classes over 16 semesters (4 years). But again, if it is between your well-being and your class, your well-being comes first.

If you drop down to two classes in a semester, you’re technically a part-time student, and this could have serious consequences. If you’re worried about this, talk to your adviser, a trusted professor, or someone in the registrar’s office. They’re here to help you!

If you’re not sure about anything, it might help to communicate with your adviser and/or your professor for the class. ***A note about professors: Many of you probably come from large schools where individual interaction with the teachers was not common-place. In Claremont, chances are that your professor will know your name. While they may not reach out if they think something is off, they will be happy to talk with you. If you are like me and hate asking for things, maybe send an email. If you prefer face-to-face, try going to office hours or setting up an appointment. You might even be able to catch your professor after or before class briefly.

Overloading I have never personally taken more than four classes in a semester. A lot of people don’t. So if you start hearing all your friends talking about extra classes, don’t panic! It may seem like overloading is the norm, but in fact, it is not.

I recommend thinking very carefully and meeting with your adviser if you are considering taking more than four classes in a semester.

58