GCSU students have mixed reactions to Registration Week
By Natalie Ross
From freshman to seniors at Georgia College & State University, everyone goes through the process of registration. This year’s registration process was met with mixed reactions from students.
More than 7,000 GC students registered Oct. 27-30 for spring 2026 classes. The week began with priority registration on Monday, including seniors, honors and those with accommodations. Tuesday is registration for juniors. Wednesday and Thursday are designated for sophomores and freshmen, respectively. Prior to the week, university officials warned students via email of possible registration issues, including waitlisting due to class capacities being reached. Officials also advised students to be prepared to register by meeting with academic advisors and completing pre-registration steps.
For freshman Kelly Finnegan, registration was daunting, specifically as it related to her required courses. At GC, students are required to complete a set of CORE classes, including English, history, psychology, science and art.
“I was so overwhelmed going into it after hearing all my friends say how hard it is to get any classes you want as a freshman.” Finnegan said.
But Finnegan was prepared. She said before actual registration she had been warned several times by her older peers not to bank on her first-choice schedule- a lesson Taylor Prior, a sophomore, also knows too well.
“ I knew to come prepared to register with several plans based on how my freshman year registration went,” Prior said. “I understood what I needed to take as a sophomore, and I did not feel nearly as prepared last year.”
Across campus, students of differing years and majors share a variety of struggles. Some students said they experienced primarily full classes and departments not adding new sections because of lack of campus space. Earlier this fall, university officials acknowledged campus space would be limited this year due to renovations of Herty Hall, a space primarily used for classes and labs surrounding science related studies.
Limited space and classes became an issue for Prior.
“I thought sophomore year would be so much easier, but the morning of registration I still got waitlisted for three of my courses I absolutely needed to take.” Prior, a marketing major, said.
As of press time, Prior said she was still waitlisted for three classes she needed for the spring semester.
While several students faced registration challenges, Ivey Bowling, a junior, was relieved she got the schedule she had hoped for.
“My junior year was the very first year I got the classes I needed, due to my courses becoming very specific for me personally,” Bowling said.
According to registration information provided by the university, keys to successful registration include; meeting with academic advisor to receive direction and relieve holds, use the PAWS site to create three plans for registration, and visit the registrar office for questions.
Registration for summer 2026 and fall 2026 will begin Monday, March 10, 2026 at 7:00am. For more information, visit https://www.gcsu.edu/registrar/registration