By CLAS Advising
Registration for fall 2025 classes is April 14-May 2, 2025. Your registration date and time are determined based on the number of credits you have earned.
Be sure to check MyUI to see when your registration opens, and don’t forget to schedule an appointment with your academic advisor if you need registration authorization or have questions about your schedule.
It can be stressful watching your preferred courses fill while you wait for your registration to open—but you can do more than wait. There are a few things you can consider to help registration go smoothly once your window opens. Your CLAS advisors also have several strategies you can use to help ensure you stay on track even when things don’t go exactly as planned.
Take time to prioritize
It’s important to know which of your planned classes are most essential next semester.
Look at which courses are prerequisites in your major. Ask your advisor when you should ideally complete these courses and when you must complete them to stay on track for graduation.
Are some courses, especially upper-level requirements, offered only in the fall or the spring?
Identify which major, general education, and elective classes can be taken at another time or have many alternatives. These classes are more flexible, and there is no need to panic if you don’t get your first choice.
Build backup plans
You’ll be prepared to pivot if you already have alternative schedules ready to go.
Use the Schedule Builder to create and save multiple “Preferred Schedules.”
Build schedules that work with alternate sections of your priority classes.
Build plans with second-choice options as backups for popular Gen Eds and electives.
Online classes fill quickly. If you have an online General Education course in your schedule builder, be aware that you will likely need a backup.
Practice using the more detailed search features on the MyUI Courses/Registration tab. You can use this page to find classes in a particular category that are “Open and Available” once registration starts.
Clear your registration holds
Holds will prohibit you from registering at your assigned time and make it more difficult to get into your desired classes.
To check for holds, log in to MyUI and click the Home tab. Holds and contact information will be displayed under “Important Registration Information” in the appropriate session boxes.
If possible, clear your hold before registration. If you are nearing graduation and will not be able to clear a hold (such as a u-bill hold) by your registration time, contact your advisor to think through possible issues in advance.
Your academic advisor cannot lift your hold. Contact the office listed to learn more about the steps required to remove the hold.
U-Bill restriction
Contact the billing office: Phone: 319-335-0071 Email: ubill@uiowa.edu
Unsigned student agreement
This is the notice you get when logging into MyUI. To clear this hold, don't skip the form, click and review, and sign off on the info in MyUI. You need to do this every semester.
Questions for Student Agreement: ubill@uiowa.edu
Missing transcripts
This usually pertains to new transfer students. Be sure to send in all final transcripts as soon as possible.
Contact admissions if you have questions: admissions@uiowa.edu.
Don’t let perfection be the enemy of the good
What happens if you go to register and none of your preferred schedules are fully available?
Don’t wait to enroll! At your registration time, enroll in as many of your planned classes as you can (keeping in mind which classes you need to prioritize). If you wait, more of your classes may fill.
You can continue to tinker with your schedule after initially enrolling, including adding additional classes, switching sections, and taking courses off your schedule.
When you enroll, you can choose an option that puts you on the waitlist for any of your preferred classes that were full. Waitlists are offered on a first-come, first-served basis and remain active through the first week of fall classes.
If you end up on some waitlists, add other courses to your schedule to ensure that you have a full schedule for the semester.
Check your work and reach out to your advisor
Take a minute to double check that you are enrolled in a full schedule. If you have a scheduling issue you can’t resolve on your own, reach out to your academic advisor.
Check your schedule in MyUI under the Courses/Registration tab, noting what you are enrolled in and what is waitlisted.
Try to find an alternative yourself, but if you get stuck, ask your advisor for suggestions.
If you did not get into a required class needed for graduation, get on the waitlist and let your advisor know immediately. They may be able to help you work with the department to ensure you graduate on time.
Request and review an updated degree audit to check that your new courses are showing up where they should, and contact your advisor if you notice any issues
Registration can be stressful, but being prepared and knowing your alternatives will help you stay on track. Remember, if you need a hand, your advisor is an expert who is here to help you.