NIU students should do three things to prepare for registration, said Angie Byrd, assistant director of registration and records.

Byrd said the first thing students should do is know what time they become eligible to register. Second, students should make sure they have no encumbrances. Third, students should make sure they have the required prerequisites for classes they want.

Kenneth Gasser, undergraduate adviser and associate professor of biological sciences, said the two problems students have the most are not having the proper prerequisites and having trouble finding a schedule that fits.

Gasser added that most students know how to handle registration time.

“The majority [of students] are on the ball,” Gasser said. “But there is always a low fraction that wait too long.”

Byrd said online registration has made it easier for students to deal with registration.

“[NIU students] can register from anywhere in the world with online registration,” Byrd said.

NIU introduced online registration in summer 2001 and has kept it since. Byrd said a new course builder has been added to the NIU course finder Web site. The course builder feature allows students to plan and put together their schedule ahead of time. The Web site for the course finder and course builder is www.courselistings.niu.edu/SchedBook/servlet/Schedule.

Christopher Stephens, a junior political science major, said he likes online registration because it is straightforward. Junior biology major Ryan Carley said he is conflicted about online registration.

“Registration is convenient online,” Carley said. “But it would be easier if the paper booklets were offered.”

Gasser also noticed the students’ desire for registration booklets.

“Students like having the paper catalogs,” Gasser said. “But I understand that [the catalogs] are too expensive to print.”