You didn't come to the "Work Hard, Play Harder," ivy to cut your Thursday night social life short for something like Friday morning class. Don't get screwed by Penn InTouch; here's how to use the add/drop period to your advantage and emerge with the schedule you want.
USE YOUR
LUCKY CHARM
Instead of constantly refreshing the Penn InTouch page to see if that class you want so badly has opened up, try going to the class and talking to the professor. In the case of large classes, most professors do not mind adding a few more eager beavers to their roster. Professors are looking to see that you are dedicated and truly interested in the class, so showing up is a good start. and a little brown-nosing can't hurt either.
CHILL OUT
The only thing worse than an 8 a.m. math recitation is finding out that said recitation is all the way in DRL. Before you curse the scheduling powers that be and set the alarm for the crack of dawn, relax. Many students will end up changing their schedule within the first few weeks of classes - people switch in and out of recitations all the time - so chances are someone will drop and a spot will open.
TASTE TEST
Maybe "British Poetry 1660-1914" doesn't sound like it will keep you awake with excitement the night before class, but you may be surprised. When people say that college is all about trying new things, they aren't just talking about sex and experimental drugs. Give the class a chance instead of blowing the course off when you hear the name John Keats; you've got five long weeks to drop it.
HE SAID SHE SAID
Don't ignore your roommate when she tells you that Psych 001 is the reason she gets up every morning. Also, use the Penn Course Review to compare professors and TAs. Warning: Don't try to justify a rating of 1.2 with the idea that "only a few students must have voted." Extreme ratings do not lie.
