No seats for senior interest

We've all seen it. During that both magical and endlessly stressful time of class registration, those two words that could either bring joy or sorrow to prospective students: Seats Remaining.

There are categories for Freshmen, Transfer Freshmen, Honors College Students, Project Renaissance Students, Majors and Minors. But there seems to be no seats reserved for those genuinely interested.

Let me put this out there: I am going to be a senior in the fall. I have no gen-eds left to fulfill. I have enough credits to be able to graduate in December, but since I'm absolutely terrified of the real world, I decided to stick it out and take some classes I don't need but are interested in.

Example A: Art History. Also known as: Survey of Art in the Western World I. Also known as: AARH 170. It's a plus that the section I want to meets after noon and not on Fridays. So, I proceeded to try to register on my registration day of April 2, and I was prompted to enter a permission number. One that I didn't have. Because I'm a senior.

According to Ask MyUAlbany and Interim Provost and Vice President for Student Affairs Susan Phillips, seniors can register for 100-level classes once the semester starts, after the add/drop period, if the class is open. In the fall, the add/drop date is Monday, September 8.

But, here's the thing. I have to wait until two weeks into the semester to register for my class? Okay. This doesn't seem so bad. But I'm currently registered for Growing Up in America. This is my fourth class which makes me a full-time student and thus eligible for housing, my scholarship and health insurance (let's face it, birth control and contact lenses get expensive).

The section I'm registered for meet at the same time as the Art History section I want to take. So, am I supposed to just skip Growing Up in America for the two weeks until I can register for Art History and drop the other one?

Yeah, I could just register for Psych 101 or something instead, but I could be taking that spot away from someone who really wants or needs it. My friend, soon-to-be senior Amanda Buhrer said, "it's almost not worth it."

And, if there's no open seats in the class I want to take and have been sitting in on, I just skipped two weeks of another class that I now need, and are therefore screwed. Are you just as confused as I am?

Anywho, for seniors who need to take 100-level classes to graduate, they can obtain a "Request for Exception to Policy Restricting Seniors From Pre-Registering for 100-Level Courses" on MyUAlbany.

This form requires two permissions, according to the frequently asked questions section on Ask MyUAlbany: permission from the department offering the course and from the Department of Undergraduate Education. These permissions are only granted "if it is needed to meet their degree requirements."

Dear Administration: Why so much red-tape for someone who is genuinely interested in the course material?