Enrolling for Courses and Making Changes
Your schedule is your responsibility. No department or professor can add, change, or drop courses for you. You are officially enrolled in the courses that show in the Student Center and no others. For the most part, you will be able to adjust your schedule yourself, using On-Line Drop/Add. For permission courses you will need to use a drop/add form.
How to Add, Drop or Change Courses
For most courses you will be able to use On-Line Drop/Add.
If you must use a drop/add form (generally only for permission courses), you can get a Drop/Add form in Academic Advising, G-55 Goldwin Smith Hall.
Be sure to fill in your name, seven-digit ID number, and class numbers correctly.
For Arts & Sciences Courses
- A department stamp is required for each add and each drop.
Non-Arts College Courses
- These need to be initialed by the person designated by the offering department.
Grade Option and Credit Hour Change
- These must be signed by the course instructor.
VERY IMPORTANT: check the Course and Time Roster and list the class numbers very carefully for each course component that you are adding, dropping, or changing. For cross-listed courses, make sure you use the correct course number. When dropping a course you must also drop all subcourses associated with that course.
Completed Forms
All completed forms should be hand-carried by you to Academic Advising, G-55 Goldwin Smith Hall. Never leave forms in any other office.
Be sure to keep a copy of your Drop/Add form. It is proof that you have added, dropped, or changed a course.
Avoid Petitioning
Refer to the Student Timeline for deadlines.
Double Check
You must check your schedule regularly in the Student Center to be sure it is accurate.
S/U Option
If you choose the S/U option when pre-registering for a course, be sure that your schedule indicates this. Discuss requirements with your major advisor at the beginning of the term and be certain that the S/U option will be allowed.
Before selecting the S/U option for a course, please check the Course and Time Roster to see if it is available. If the course is coded “Graded” you may not enroll under the S/U option.
Grade options must be finalized no later than the deadline listed in the Student Timeline (3rd week of the term).
Withdrawing from Courses between Weeks 8 and 12 of the Term
Students who wish to withdraw from a course after the 7th week of the term must meet with an assistant dean and submit a petition by the end of the 12th week of the semester. Students who drop below 12 credits will have their records reviewed for academic action.
Keep Your Contact Information Current
Be sure your addresses and phone numbers are always kept up-to-date in the Student Center. We may need to contact you about enrollment problems, graduation requirements, etc. It is vital that we have some means of contacting you. Check regularly for these messages.
Student Timeline

Know what to do and
when to do it.
Important Resources
- Course and Time Roster
- Courses of Study
for courses by department, description, and fulfilling requirements - DUST Report
for checking progress towards your degree (sidecar required) - Cornell Courses, Classes and Exams
- Writing Seminars
- Physical Education