Course Registration

Academic course registration happens once a year

First-year students will complete registration for their fall semester courses during New Student Orientation in August, and their spring semester courses in Block 3. Transfer students will work with the Registrar's office to register for their academic year courses during the summer prior to entering Cornell.

Returning students register for the next year's courses in Block 7  each academic year. Registration should start with a conversation between you and your Academic Advisor to discuss where your coursework is leading you, what you're most excited to pursue, and what you need to meet your major and minor degree requirements. Together you'll use the Stellic degree audit tool to track your progress towards your desired program(s).

Registration is completed online through Self-Service and registration opens based on your accumulated academic credits. Please do not log in more than 30 minutes prior to your scheduled registration time or you risk getting an account locked error message.

Self-Service REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONSRegistration helpRegistration Worksheet

Registration timeline

Dates for students returning for the 2024-25 academic year. (Refer to your Unofficial Transcript in Self-Service to verify your credit count to identify the right registration day.)

21+ credits
Monday
March 25, 2024
8 a.m.
11-20.99 credits
Tuesday
March 26, 2024
8 a.m.
1-10.99 credits
Thursday
March 28, 2024
8 a.m.
Add/drop for all students
Monday
April 1, 2024
12 p.m.

Wait lists for courses

If you are trying to register for a course that is full, you can add yourself to the wait list for the course once registration week is over and continue registration with an alternative course for that block. When a spot opens up in the wait listed course, you will be notified by email and you will have 48 hours to claim your seat in that course before it is offered to someone else. To claim your seat in the course, follow our detailed wait list instructions.

Preparing for course registration - Stellic degree audit tool

Use Stellic to assess your progress towards your degree program and to plan your schedule for the upcoming academic year prior to meeting with your academic advisor. You can access Stellic at any time. To prepare for course registration advising, you should plan to review courses in Stellic in where you can create trial degree audits to share with your advisor.

Stellic

Course planning - Ingenuity requirements

When planning to meet your Ingenuity curriculum requirements, this information will come in handy:

Changes to registered courses (add or drop)

You may add or drop courses online (directions in PDF format), or be put on the wait list for a course (wait list instructions). 

Use the online add/drop form if:

  • You want to add/drop a current or future course during the first three days of a term. This period begins at 4:30 p.m. on the Friday before the term.
  • You have received permission from an instructor to go over the posted course capacity or to waive a prerequisite.

Add/drop instructionsAdd/drop form

Need help with course registration?

If you have questions during registration, please don't hesitate to ask for help: