Ranking/Pre-Reg Video and General Tips

Dear ’27,

Please find the video from our conversation regarding class ranking and the overall pre-registration process here. It’s a really helpful overview of the pre-registration process.

  • Please keep in mind that this is just the first part of a three-part registration process, with adjustment and drop/add being the next two parts.  You’ll also be able to connect with your liberal arts advisor upon your arrival in August and will still be able to make changes to your schedule after that meeting.
  • I would recommend selecting your courses for your first term with a mind to focused exploration. For example, you should check out the websites for your potential majors, as each department explains the gateway courses for their respective majors.  
  • You also want to take a balanced schedule across the curriculum so that you’re exposed to different kinds of learning and assessment. Students ordinarily take 4.00 credits in their first term.
  • While you are not required to take a First-Year Seminar, it’s a good idea to take one, as it is a lovely opportunity to be in a small course with fellow first-year students that allows you to focus on college-level writing.
  • There are a few different paths that require special attention, such as the dual degree engineering programs. There are also three majors that require declaration during the spring semester of the first year: College of Social StudiesCollege of Letters and the College of East Asian Studies. A video of our conversation about those majors is available here.
    There is also a three-year option.
  • If you’re considering a pre-health path, please check out this video.

Mildred Rodriguez in the Gordon Career Center is an incredible resource, so please be sure to connect with her and look over the recommendations for first-year students interested in a pre-health route as described here.

  • You’ll also want to consider either starting or continuing with a foreign language; particularly if you’d like to study abroad.  Here are some reasons why studying foreign languages is a great idea.
  • The New Student User Guide to Pre-Registration and the APAs are incredibly helpful. Please connect with them via peeradvisors@wesleyan.edu. I’m also available to meet during my live Zoom hours noted below; if those times don’t work, just let me know and we can schedule a meeting.
  • Finally, I know this process can be a bit confusing, but make sure that you’re really taking some time to explore and enjoy looking at all the courses offered at Wes. You also might want to consider taking a course simply because it’s completely new and interesting!

If you have questions at any point, just know that Karri van Blarcom, the APAs and I are here to help.

Take care,

Dean Wood