Registration
Instructions and Checklist

This rest of this page is a description of the registraton materials, including a checklist that indicates the order in which you should proceed. I suggest downloading and printing a copy of this page, and marking when you finish each step, to help gauge your progress towards registration.

I suggest that you buy and bring to CMU an expandable file folder. In the instructions below I will direct you to put various information in it.

Finally, start by just reading this page completely through to the end, to familiarize yourself with the entire process that you are about to begin; then, start back at the beginning, actually following the instructions. If you have a problem with any item feel free to skip it, and continue with the others, and then come back and complete the skipped item when you understand it better (ask quetions if you are confused).

1. Read the Facts of Life and Frequently Asked Questions document. This document explains some facts you (and every other freshman at CMU) must live with as freshman, and previews some important registration topics (covered more in depth later) that often arise. Carefully read FAQ items 10-13, at the end of this document.

2. Read the Scheduling Booklet document. This document is the primary source for all sorts of information about registration. It contains lots of details, but steps you through all the important topics gently. You will most likely repeatedly refer to the material in this document while actually composing your schedule.

3. Read the Sample Schedules (from Fall 2005 Freshmen) document. This document will give you some idea of what "standard" schedules for freshmen in SCS look like.

4. Using the information you learn from reading item #2, learn how to read and search the Full Fall 2006 Course Schedule document. Try to find the meeting days and times of various courses that many SCS freshmen take: 15-128, 15-100/-200/-123, 21-120/-122/-241/-259, 76-101, 99-101/-102/-103, 33-111/-112, and 09-105/-106.

5. Learn how to use the Selective Searching of Course Schedule/Instructor FCEs
   document. Click on various instructor names to access their Faculty/Course Evaluations (i.e., student ratings).

6. If you are a non-native English speaker, follow the directions in First Year English Placement for Non-Native Enlish Speakers The earlier you do this, the more likely you are to get the English class that you need.

7. Read the following three documents: each tells some useful information about courses for which you may register.
   • Descriptons of Courses SCS Freshmen Commonly Take
   • Descriptions of English (76-101) Sections: Fall 2006
   • Descriptions of Special Topics Courses (SCS): Fall 2006
     (special topics courses are mostly taken by upperclassmen, but some of you might be interested and qualify).

8. Read the Schedule Planning document and print a copy. Use either form of the Course Schedule (items #4 or #5) to build a practice schedule manually. Make some assumptions about your AP/IB/Cambridge (or transfer) credit (see page 10 in item #2 for an overview of CMU's AP/IB/Cambridge policy). This will probably not be your final schedule (see item 14 below) but make a serious attempt at constructing a reasonable one.

   Actually, now is a great time to jump right in and learn to use either/both of the systems that automate the building of schedules: CMU's Pulse Scheduler (tutorial) or Tartan's Schedule Man. The skills that you glean from practicing now will help you when you actually register (not only for the upcoming semester, but throughout your stay at CMU). You'll find each system to have advantages/disadvantages over the other. Learn to use both and decide for yourself which one you like more.

9. Fill out the the following three placement instruments. Fill out each in one sitting. Do not use books, the internet, or compilers to help you (unless specifically allowed in the placment instrument). Remember, the goal is to communicate to me accurately what courses you should be taking in the fall semester. If you "cheat" on this exam, you may get placed in the "wrong" course; this will cause you (and me) all sorts of problems, and it is a dismal way to start at CMU.
   • First Semester Programming Course Selection
   • On-Line Calculus Placement Test Due July 5
   • On-Line Discrete Mathematics Exam
     Login as "Carnegie Mellon User" (take the On-Line Calculus Placement Test first)

10. After you receive you AP/IB/Cambridge scores for this year, fill out the AP/IB/Cambridge (or trasfer) Credit Form for all years of AP/IB/Cambridge credit. If you took AP/IB/Cambridge exams this year, you will probably not be able to complete this form until the middle of July.

    Important: Even after you fill out this form, I will need official verification for all your AP/IB/Cambridge (or transfer) credit forms. For AP/IB/Cambridge, send the official score form (or summary form) that you receive. For transfer credit, send the following materials: (a) a transcript with a final grade for the course and (b) a syllabus for the course; do not send me URLs.

    You can ...

    • ...mail these forms to me.
    • ...fax me these forms at (412) 268-5573. Please put Attn: Richard Pattis on the first page and ensure that your name appears somewhere on the fax.
    • ...digitize these forms and email them to me at pattis@cs.cmu.edu.
    Please put the original form for all your AP/IB/Cambridge scores or transfer credit forms into the expandable file folder that you will bring with you to CMU.

    You can check what credit has been given to you by me by using SIO (Student Information Online) If you have any registration problems involving pre-requisites (you didn't get ther the right AP/IB/Cambridge (or transfer) credit), check here first to see if credit has been awarded.

11. Fill out the Schedule Planning (Online) form.

12. Fill out the Incoming Freshman Survey form.

13. After you have read all these documents and completed all these forms online, send me email (pattis@cs.cmu.edu) to notify me that you have reached this milestone. At that time I will retrieve and review all your forms, and then provide you with whatever feedback I think is necessary to develop a final scehdule. At this point, I will remove the "hold" on your registration, so that you can register. The sooner you reach this step, the more likely you will be able to register for all the courses that you want.

14. Finally, register by using OLR (On-Line Registration), with the aid of CMU's Pulse Scheduler or Tartan's Schedule Man You may find that some classes you planned on taking are filled; you'll have to substitute alternative lectures/sections or different courses. Note that you are guaranteed to get whatever CS courses you need, and most of you should be able to register for all the Math and Science courses (in MCS) as well. If you are having a problems registering for courses in these areas, please contact me.

    But, CIT, Tepper, H&SS, and CFA are a different story. For example, there is room for only about half the SCS freshman to take English (76-101) in the fall; the other half will take it in the Spring. Some language courses (and many CFA courses) will require you to be on campus and talk to someone before registering (maybe taking a placement exam). There is little I can do about this (these restrictions all apply to students in the other schools at CMU as well), so be flexible and have backup plans/courses.

Again, this is the first year that we are following this procedure. For the previous 12 years, all students registered on Academic Day of Freshman Orientation; even after waiting this long, most students got most of the classes that they wanted. I expect this new process to yield even better results, although I expect unforseen problems to arise (and be solved) throughout the summer. Please send me email about any typos, dead-links, inconsistencies, or whatever problems you find with these materials. Watch your email: as earlier students run into problems, I'll inform everyone of corrections or work-arounds.

Please re-read FAQs 10-13. before starting these instructions. They overview my expectations for what you will do over the summer, what your registration status will be by the end of the summer (before you arrive at CMU in August), and how you will finish registration during Freshman Orientation (or even your first few days of school here).

PS: Please print and fill out the following Permissions Form and return it to me by mail, fax, email (digitize it), or just bring it in the fall. If you are interested in joining a group of students who plan on becoming Health Professionals, fill out the Health Professions Program form.