The computer labs are full, adviser appointments are filled and an atmosphere of high stress has settled over campus; it is scheduling time.

Scheduling has kicked off this week with a two-day delay because of Hurricane Sandy, which bought some time for many students putting together their last minute schedules and also brought frustration for students ready to schedule.

Either way, the time has now come to gather all the course reference number (CRN) numbers that can fit on a sticky note and hold computer-side vigilance as the clock counts down the minutes to schedule.

As stressful as it is, scheduling does not have to be a time of an impending meltdown.
With a few tips and stress management strategies, you can get the classes you want and keep your composure.

The first tip of a successful scheduling session is to plan out your future schedule complete with all the information you may need.

This includes CRN numbers, professor names, class day and time and the building the class will be held in. Although this may not help you get your dream schedule, it is a smart move to get organized and to prepare for your advising appointment.

Tip two is to plan out a backup schedule. Then plan a backup to the backup schedule.
If you end up not getting any classes on your first schedule, you have a second and third on which you can can rely.

This is really important because instead of looking up classes during scheduling time while classes are filling, you can keep plugging in CRN numbers which gives you a better chance of getting into a class.

The third tip is to take your organized schedule you planned to your advising appointment.
By doing this, your adviser can look over your class choices and advise you which classes would work well for your future semester.

Your adviser is also there to catch mistakes, such as classes you do not need. Do not show up unprepared to your adviser appointment.

Not only does it frustrate your adviser, but it puts you at a major disadvantage to not get the classes you need.

The fourth tip is one of the most important tips of all: cross-check the classes your adviser tells you to take.

Sometimes advisers make mistakes, and you do not want to graduate late because of it.

An easy way to cross check is to log into My Degree Audit under the My Ship section of the Shippensburg University website.

This feature allows you to look up your degree progress and tells you exactly which classes you need to take and which classes do not count.

Tip five is to keep things in perspective. Skipping class to schedule is your choice, but keep in mind that it is not worth failing a class trying to get into another.

If nothing has worked for you and you wind up not getting any classes you want, remember that there will always be some classes you can take, even if they are not your first choice.

Perhaps you can even get some overrides into classes if you are lucky. Also keep in mind that this is just a schedule.

You may feel like your world is collapsing, but it is not. Gather your support group of friends together and talk it out, or talk to a guidance counselor.

Scheduling happens to all students twice a year for at least four years, so learn to cope with it now.

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