Turkey and stuffing leftovers fill apartment refrigerators, the first snow flurries have fallen and final exams are knocking at the door. But the spring semester is fast approaching at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and that means it is time for spring course registration.

Before students even begin to think about registering for classes, they should see their adviser, said Michael Meyers, senior adviser in the Student Support Services Program.

“It is important to see your adviser so you know what courses you need to take,” Meyers said. “It’s also important to get information about good instructors or good courses when you have options … They can point you to courses you might be interested in, too.”

Meyers suggested students see their adviser as early as possible, because as registration time nears, advisers become quickly booked. Most advisers hold walk-in appointments before and during this time. Walk-in meetings are very brief and often lack the personal attention of a regularly scheduled appointment.

The printed version of the university timetable is available in many locations on campus and is a good resource for students to do some preplanning, Meyers said. The timetable is also available online and is constantly updated, so it is wise to look for changing information before registering.

Meyers also recommended students incorporate the information from Pick-a-Prof (www.pickaprof.com) into their decision-making process.

“Pick-a-Prof is a great place to look,” he said. “You can read student comments and decide if that instructor is someone you will fit well with or not.”

After students have met with their adviser, paged through the timetable and investigated potential professors, they should begin thinking about their schedule, Meyers said.

“Think about the kind of schedule you want to have,” he said. “Create a schedule over the week that’s manageable. Don’t overload — be realistic.”

Meyers said students should strike a balance in their schedules — some easier courses alongside the more difficult ones, courses that are interesting alongside more boring ones — so they do not become overwhelmed.

Students should also make sure there are no holds on their account before they register for classes. Holds are displayed as soon as you log on to PAWS along with brief instructions for clearing the hold.

Students who do not register by Dec. 30 will have a hold placed on their account that requires a minimum tuition payment of $200. Students must pay this fee by Jan. 13 to retain the classes for which they are registered.

Formal registration for spring courses began on Monday, Nov. 28, and continues through Dec. 16. These assigned appointments are scheduled by year in school and total credits completed.

All registration takes place online through PAWS, which can be accessed at http://paws.uwm.edu. To find your enrollment appointment once you are in the PAWS main menu, click on “Academics,” then “View Enrollment Appointment,” then select “Spring 2006.”

When you are prepared to register for spring courses, click on “Academics,” then “Register/Add/Drop,” then select “Spring 2006.” Click on “Add Classes.”

You may add up to two classes at once.

There are two ways to add a class. First, you can enter the five-digit Class ID number in the “Class Nbr” field. Class ID numbers are found in both the printed and online versions of the timetable.

Alternatively, you can click on the magnifying glass icon next to the “Class Nbr” field to search for a class or section. On the search page, you can specify both subject and catalog number. Click the checkmark next to the class you wish to add, then click “OK.”

After completing one of these methods, click “Submit.”

If your request can be completed, you will see “Success” under the “Add Status” column. If it cannot be completed, you will see the message “Errors Found.” Click that link to view the message. Most often, the class is full or you do not meet the prerequisites for the class.

When you have finished adding classes, you can view your final class schedule by clicking the “View My Schedule” link at the bottom of the page.

The first day of spring classes is Jan. 23.

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