Registering for Classes

It’s (almost) time to get registered.

Registration for fall classes will take place over the summer. In early July, the Office of the University Registrar will notify you via your WFU Google Mail to let you know when you can check the Registration Portal to find your assigned registration day and time. This section will introduce you to the process of registration.

Where to Start

Registration will occur over the week of July 10. At your designated registration time, you will be permitted to log into the Registration Portal and access registration. You will be allowed to register for up to and including seventeen hours. Registration will remain open until 11:59 p.m. EDT on July 13.

You will receive a Guided Preregistration Survey on May 26 that will help you organize your thoughts regarding choices of courses for which you hope to register. You may submit this survey any time between May 26 and July 13, but it must be received no later than 11:59 P.M. EDT on July 13. Once submitted, this survey will help your lower-division adviser learn more about your academic plans. This survey is due July 13.

The following information and step-by-step guide above will prepare you for the process of registering for classes.

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Wake Information Network (WIN)

WIN is a source for accessing many Wake Forest online services and resources. Most of your academic services are under VirtualCampus in WIN. You can use links in VirtualCampus to view your midterm and final grades, to access DegreeWorks where you can track how each of your credits is applied to your degree, and to access the Registration Portal where you can view the schedule of classes each term, make a plan of classes to take, register for classes, and view your class schedule.

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Common Registration Add Errors

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Class Restriction

Definition: Course or section is restricted to students in a particular classification (e.g., first-year, sophomore, junior).

What do I do?: Your classification level must be the same as the course at the time you take it. Restrictions are listed following the course description in the Undergraduate Bulletin.

Corequisite

Definition: Course has a corequisite; you must be registered for both courses simultaneously.

What do I do?: Corequisites are listed in the course description in the Undergraduate Bulletin (as indicated with a “C”). Select both corequisites simultaneously, and register for them at the same time.

Missing Prerequisite and/or Test Score

Definition: Prerequisite or placement test score is missing or insufficient to register for the course.

What do I do?: Prerequisites are listed in the course description in the Undergraduate Bulletin (as indicated with a “P”). Make sure all AP/IB and prior college credits have been received by WFU and are visible on your academic transcript.

Time Conflict

Definition: Course conflicts with another registered class.

What do I do?: Find another class that meets at a different time.

Duplicate Course

Definition: Course is the same as another registered course.

What do I do?: Register for a different course.

Maximum Hours Exceeded

Definition: Maximum hours for that registration round will be exceeded with addition of the class.

What do I do?: Make adjustments to schedule. Cannot exceed the limit established for the registration round.

Instructor Signature

Definition: Permission of instructor (POI) is required to register for class.

What do I do?: Seek permission of instructor. Contact department for more information.

Closed Section

Definition: Section is at maximum capacity.

What do I do?: Register for another course.

Reserved/Closed

Definition: Reserved seating for entry term is at maximum capacity.

What do I do?: Register for another course.

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Registration FAQs

• How are registration time tickets determined?

  For Fall 2023 registration, time tickets are assigned randomly.

• What do I do if I am traveling or have a conflict when my registration period starts?

  Your registration can be accomplished using any device with internet access. Your access to registration begins at the assigned time and ends July 13 at 11:59 p.m. EDT, so you can register for classes at any time that is most convenient for you once your registration time opens. If you will be unavailable the entire week of registration, please contact the Office of Academic Advising prior to June 30.

• How do I begin to decide what courses to register for during my registration week?

  There are many resources available to help you think about course selection. What you decide to prioritize for registration will depend largely There are many resources available to help you think about course selection. What you decide to prioritize for registration will depend largely on your academic interests. The Guided Preregistration Survey will help you reflect upon those interests and will also guide you through making decisions about courses to fulfill basic, divisional or pre-professional requirements.

  A typical first-semester schedule will include one of two required seminars, Writing Seminar (WRI 111) or First-year Seminar (FYS 100), as guided by your Writing Course Decision Tool.

  Many students choose to begin working on their foreign language requirement along with other divisional requirements, while others choose to delve right into areas of academic interest or electives.

• How many credit hours should I have each semester?

  Your credit hours each semester will be somewhere between 12 and 17 hours; 12 hours is the minimum required to be considered a full-time student. Exceeding 17 hours requires special permission, and is rarely approved for your first semester; 15 credit hours is the average course load per semester to graduate in four years. We typically recommend having 12 to 15 hours for your first semester at Wake Forest. A strong first semester is always better than an overly ambitious plan.

• What should I register for if I am interested in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or an allied health field, such as physician’s assistant, nursing, pharmacy, etc.?

  Consult the pre-health profession’s website.

• What should I register for if I am interested in pre-business?

  If there is availability, you may register for ECN 150 or MTH 111 (MTH 112 for Mathematical Business), but these do not need to be completed until the fall of your sophomore year. In order to maximize potential for academic success in pre-requisite courses, we strongly encourage students to take ECN 150 and MTH 111 in separate semesters.

• What should I register for if I am interested in law school ?

  There are no specific requirements. You are encouraged to take courses that challenge you to think critically and creatively, and prepare you to read, write and communicate well.

  For more information, refer to college.wfu.edu/prelaw.

• Can I wait-list a class?

  No, not for your first fall semester. It is important that you are registered in classes instead of being wait-listed for classes where seats may never become available. In future registration periods, wait-listing will be available to you.

• What is the relevance of the Writing Course Decision Tool for my first writing course?

  The Writing Course Decision Tool will help you make an informed choice about your first writing course by asking you to reflect on previous reading and writing experiences, as well as your expectations and hopes for your first year at Wake Forest. 

• Why am I getting a prerequisite error when I try to register for a foreign language course?

  The results of your Foreign Language Placement test will determine your placement for your first foreign language course. You must register for the course level indicated on your placement test or determined by your AP/IB score. If you are receiving AP/IB credit for a foreign language and still see this error, the Office of the University Registrar has not received your official AP/IB score.

• I know I will be receiving AP/IB or prior college credit, but this credit is not yet in the WFU system. Therefore, I am having difficulty registering for a higher-level class. What should I do?

  Please contact the Office of the University Registrar at registrar@wfu.edu or 336.758.5207.

• What should I register for if I am interested in engineering?

  Refer to the engineering department website.

• What do I do if classes that I need or want are closed?

  We understand that it can be frustrating not to get your first-choice classes, but please do not get discouraged. It is not uncommon for first-year students to find that some classes are already full. Some closed classes might open up during the add/drop period, and if not, most classes will be offered again in the future. As a new student, you will have many classes to take, and many options, therefore, we encourage you to explore them.

• Will changes be made to my schedule?

  While you will be able to make adjustments to your fall schedule after you meet with your lower division academic adviser once you arrive, generally The Office of Academic Advising will not make changes to your fall schedule. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are registering for courses that align with your academic and/or pre-professional interests and goals. The Guided Preregistration Survey and June Advising are designed to help you understand what is required for your unique path at Wake Forest. You are required to complete the former and are strongly encouraged to actively participate in the latter; failure to do so may result in a fall schedule that does not meet your needs.

  The Office of Academic Advising is happy to answer any questions you may have at 336.758.3320 or undergraduateadvising@wfu.edu.