PAIGE LISTON | pliston@butler.edu | Opinion Columnist

This semester is coming to a close, another is set to begin and students have to schedule classes for the spring.

Students are given a specific time to sign up for their classes. Seniors get the earliest slots, followed by juniors, sophomores and finally freshmen.

Students in the Honors program and student-athletes also get earlier slots.

Sophomore Addie Funderburg said she feels it is difficult to get into desired core classes because those are the quickest to fill.

“More often than not, the times offered for core classes don’t work for me, and the times that do work close up too quickly,” Funderburg said. “It is annoying if you get stuck in a class that doesn’t interest you at all because that is all that was left to choose from.”

Registering for classes each semester continues to create tension for students. They understandably feel their class schedule will ultimately determine the outcome of their entire semester.

Personally, I get discouraged while filling up my enrollment shopping cart with any classes I would like to take. Most of my first choices usually close before I have time to select them. Seeing that dreaded blue box next to one of these courses signifies my worst nightmare.

But Scott Bridge, a student advisor in the College of Communication, said he believes the university’s enrollment system works well even though some students may not agree.

“There is no such thing as the perfect scheduling process, and I don’t know what would work better than the system Butler currently has in place,” Bridge said. “Some students may not agree with me on that, but it is undeniable that Butler’s registration and records office does a tremendous job coordinating all of this.”

I do not personally like the scheduling process, but I agree with Bridge’s opinion. Even if you do not personally like it, Butler’s system is fair.

The only thing that would make the process better would be more sections of certain classes. The cut-off for the number of students allowed in a class could also be higher.

I realize that would be difficult to accomplish because Butler prides itself on having smaller classes to have a strong teacher-student relationship.

With that said, I think the university should still consider adding more sections for classes with a higher demand in order to ease out the process.

Bridge said the best way to prepare for the frustration of scheduling is to always plan ahead.

“Knowing what classes you need to take in order to graduate is your responsibility,” Bridge said. “Your advisor is just your advisor; you are the one making the life decisions.”

Although the scheduling process can be annoying, realize all Butler students that have come before you have gone through the exact same process, and they were still able to graduate.

Do not become overwhelmed at the sight of the little blue box next to your classes. Figure out what classes you need to be taking, and if those close up, have backups on hand just in case.  Plan ahead, search for alternatives, and try to breathe as you complete yet another scheduling process this year.