For Mark Pan's Advisees: Add/Drop Prep Video

Tips for post Advance Registration and pre Add/Drop period.

Transcript:

Hey Peer Advisees,

If you haven't stalked me on Facebook yet, my name is Mark, and this is what your Peer Advisor and the guy who's been spamming you really looks like.

So congrats on making it so far through Advance Registration, which is really the more difficult complex tedious part. Just wanted to take a couple minutes to share some points, so get ready and take notes.

First, schedules come out on August 8th, and add/drop period should begin by August 12th. Thats what they're saying, but I've been told by some super secret sources that it's possible that the system will be available as early as August 10th. So make sure you check on that, and I'll let you know if I find out.

Second, as mentioned in the really really long letter that I wrote, for courses that are cross-listed, for example, HIST 012 Globalization, you may want to check under ANTH 012 as well, because it maybe available under one department and not the other.

Third, dont forget to add both the lecture and the recitation. The system will let you add it at first, but will automatically kick you out after a day or so.

Fourth, make friends. No, really. Say you sit surrounded by two computers for 23 hours a day straight. That might not be the best thing for your health, though Im just an Urban Studies major. But strategically, you might want to make some friends with those 23 hours. Ask some friends to check in on courses you really really want and do the same for that friend as well. Just so you can let each other know.

Fifth, it's completely doable to get into a course that requires special permission. It's really not that special. Just email the professor, express your interest, make sure you dont smell, and the professor (9 times out of 10) will let you in. It's also completely possible to get into a course thats already full. There are some strategies behind this; talk to me (I can't publicize this yet, but let me know and Ill get in touch with you).

Sixth, show up to all the courses youre considering during the first two weeks to weed out the classes you arent sure about, the worse ones, to keeping the door open for courses you may be interested in. Even if you have the perfect schedule (which we all know is just 4 urban studies courses), show up to extra courses to discover new ones. Maybe the one you really wanted isnt so great or as good of a fit for you as you thought it would be. So try them out. And it'll help for next semester as well.

Seventh, make sure you continue to speak to upperclassmen. I know I'm not perfect (surprise surprise), so speak with other majors and other people with different perspectives throughout the process.

So those are the basic tips I have for add/drop period. It's really not as complicated as advance registration. So a few quick announcements:

Two great packing lists:
http://www.business-services.upenn.edu/housing/movein.html
http://www.collegeboard.com/parents/apply/college-applications/21381.html

The one thing I would add to the CollegeBoard one is to bring/buy a bike, long underwear, and bins to ward off the terrifyingly abundant mice from your food.

Get connected to Penn. Check out websites such as:
http://www.dailypennsylvanian.com/
http://pennua.org/
http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/civichouse/
http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/

Also, make sure you become a fan of the College on Facebook. Join for deadlines, events, reminders, resources, happiness; if you want to stay one of my advisees, join the fan group.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Philadelphia-PA/University-of-Pennsylvania-Coll...

So final words, just in case you didnt catch my sarcasm on checking Penn inTouch 23 hours a day, please do remember that you can have an enjoyable first semester regardless of the courses you are taking. Academics are just one part of college, so take advantage of the last few weeks before you begin your journey into college. Make some friends; try something new. Instead of browsing through your 5,000 page textbooks, say goodbye to people. Enjoy the last few weeks of summer before college, and keep in touch. Contact me via email, phone, Facebook, any way you want.

Email: markpan@sas.upenn.edu or markpeterpan@gmail.com
Phone: 58-MARKPAN-8
Facebook: facebook.com/markpan

Thanks a lot!

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• UPenn
• College
• Peer Advising
• Mark Pan advisees
• add/drop period
• advance registration

[aznmikelo]

thanks dude