This article was updated on June 19, 2025. 

Class registration is swiftly approaching! Whether you’re a returning student who has been through registration before or it’s your first semester and you’re registering at Orientation, we have you covered with the best tips for making your course registration run smoothly. 

If you are a new student 

If you’re new to Temple, you’ll register for classes for the first time at Orientation. There, you’ll have the guidance you need to start off on the right foot. 

But first! To sign up for Orientation, you’ll need to submit your enrollment deposit if you haven’t already. This will allow your to create your TUPortal account and make your reservation for Orientation. After that, you'l be able to complete other steps like filling out placement exams and the New Student Questionnaire, submitting your OWLcard photo and completing Temple Preview, the pre-Orientation module. If this seems like a lot to remember, fear not: Here are the specific steps!  

Note that this is the only time you’ll register this way. Next semester, you’ll be eligible for self-registration, along with the rest of the student body. And, FYI, it comes up sooner than you think! Registration for spring semester courses usually begins in late October/early November. Bookmark this article for when you get there, then read on! 

For returning students 

For everyone other than new students, registration is a self-serve process that you can complete in TUportal. You'll be given a specific time to log on and begin registering based on factors like your year, how many credits you’ve earned, and other criteria. Beware, though—it’s usually early in the morning. And you certainly don’t want to be caught without a plan at 7 a.m. on the day your scheduled self-registration window opens—that’s way too early to be stressed about your classes! To help you prepare, we have a few pieces of advice to ensure you get through the process smoothly so you can close your computer, roll over and fall back asleep when you’re done. 

Plan ahead 
Schedule an appointment with your academic advisor as soon as you can to talk to them about your class schedule (psst—this is an easy way to check off your Fly in 4 checkpoint). But before you go to your academic advisor, you should create a plan of your potential class schedule on TUportal. The portal allows you to plan up to five alternative class schedules to discuss with them. Having alternative plans can be helpful in case some of your classes get filled up before you register. These plans will make it easy when you’re up early trying to register for classes, since the process for returning students goes so quickly. All you have to do is enter the five-digit numbers for your desired courses into the form, hit “register” and presto! You’ll only have to press that one button to sign up. 

Think about your requirements 
Before registering, take a look at your major’s bulletin to see which courses it recommends that you should enroll in each semester. Each major has recommended courses to take each semester. It’s an easy way to make sure you are on the right track with the classes you are planning to take. This is an important step to take before you meet with your advisor about your plans. If you’re undecided, GenEd or elective courses are a good way to test the waters in a specific major. 

“Know” yourself 
Are you a night owl or a morning person? Do you want to stack your schedule on specific days in order to make room for an internship? Do you want to spread out your classes? These are all good questions to ask yourself before thinking about registration.  

Additionally, be intentional when selecting your GenEd and elective choices—choose something you’re interested in. Halfway through the semester, you might be regretting that one boring class. Find subjects that motivate and energize you to learn during class time. 

Look into the details 
Is this an online course? In-person? Hybrid? You have to pay how much? Be familiar with your course’s instructional setting and the additional fees that may come with it. You can identify these details in the left-hand menu during registration under the items “class details” and “fees” on TUportal. 

Also, if you’re not in the Honors Program, make sure you don’t accidentally sign up for one of the program’s tailored courses. If you try to do that by accident, the portal will not allow you to add the class, potentially altering your schedule. 

Count your credits, save your faves 
If you’re a first-year student, you probably don’t have too many credits in the bank just yet and are closer toward the end of the registration line—which means a lot of students are registering before you’re eligible, possibly filling up the courses you’ve chosen. Also note that if you’re an Honors student, you receive priority registration, so you’ll be among the first students to register. 

In order to avoid the disappointment and frustration of finding out at the last minute that a course you had your heart set on has filled up, we recommend saving those popular courses for a future semester where you’re more likely to gain admission. We get it. Dissecting Hollywood’s depictions of catastrophic events sounds like an appealing science course. That being said, Disasters: Geology versus Hollywood fills up quickly, along with other popular favorites. But if you want to take the chance, keep tabs on those courses throughout registration week. That way you’ll know in advance if it reaches capacity. 

Registration can be confusing and overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Following these tips can help make the process smoother. Even if something seems to go wrong, stay calm and don’t hesitate to reach out to an advisor. They are there to support you. And remember: When your alarm goes off at 7 a.m., take a deep breath—you got this!