Registering for classes is like playing one of the worst slot machines in Vegas. Quite literally, you press a button to see how many green check marks you get in a row and how many red Xs you get in a row. Only catch is with the red Xs, you win nothing. I’ve found over the years that registering for classes gets easier as you get older. This is one of those times when seniority really pays off. You almost expect to get a row of green check marks. Unlike freshman year when you prepare for the worst and also expect the worst. Let’s take a look at what register for classes is really like in each year of college.

Freshman Year: "The Hunger Games"

Peace out. May or may not die registering for classes.

It’s true. Registering for classes your freshman year of college is basically the Hunger Games. You ask other people what time their registration date is, begrudgingly stare at your date and time and try to figure out what prereqs you should take so your entire life pans out the way it should, and when worse comes to worse there’s a moment of thinking ‘If I kill this person do I get their enrollment date’? Well it doesn’t work like that but it sure feels that way! Registering as a freshman is the worst. Good luck trying to not have any 8 am classes. You’ll be lucky if you make it out alive.

Sophomore Year: Somewhere in between fighting in the "Star Wars" or just being a politician in the "Star Wars"

Oh that's my enrollment date? Just gonna slide on in and get that done.

Sophomore is weird in and of itself. You’re not new anymore, but you’re also not old, you still live on main campus, and you’re not going abroad yet. It’s the weird year of college. But hey, at least you get away without having to take as many prereqs as last year, right? Registering as a sophomore you start to actually get classes you want to take, but an 8 am may slip in their once or twice. If I had any advice to give, it would probably be to take up that option of being in the honors program, it’s more classes that don’t apply to what you want out of life but hey, that early registration date sure is nice.

Junior Year: Like fighting with "The Avengers"

@MyEnrollment date: is that the best you can do?

Here’s the thing about registering as a junior, you know in the end you’re going to get your classes, somehow but getting them is the worst experience. This is the year where you actually have to pay attention to the classes you’ve taken, make sure you’ve done all your prereqs and get those upper division, pre-1900, Shakespearean, critical writing, blah blah smart classes blah, class. It’s pretty stressful, but your advisor is on your side and you shouldn’t stress, because you’re going to win no matter what.

Senior Year: Spring Break forever

LOL, classes! LOL, enrollment at 8:30 a.m.! I'll get that done in like a week and get everything I want.

Speaking as someone who just registered for her first semester of her senior year, it’s easy; it’s child’s play. By this point, you’ve taken your prereqs, you have a mild idea of where you’re going and you are taking classes you want to take. Say goodbye to Friday, even Thursday, classes. Say hello to feeling like it’s spring break. All of your dreams come true with the touch of a button.

Good luck with registration!