If I submit my preferences early will that improve my chances of getting one of my top choices?
No. Every student who enters their top five (5) preferences for the tutorial by the June 10 deadline has an equal chance of getting their preferences. This is not a first-come, first-served placement process. After the registration period closes, students will be placed into classes all at once using a sophisticated sorting method developed by mathematicians. (If you are mathematically-minded, check out this journal article to learn more about the used in our process.)
Will I get one of my top 2 or 3 choices?
Not necessarily. You get to pick five (5) different classes that sound interesting to you because any of the five might be the class you are placed into. °µÍøTV has a very strong commitment to holding the class size to as small a group as possible. To distribute students evenly across all of the sections means that we to have to take all five of your preferences into consideration. And, rarely, we have to place students into a section in which they did not express interest. Fortunately, studies comparing students’ initial preferences with their ultimate satisfaction with the class show little to no correlation — which means that students who end up with a class that they weren’t initially as excited about often have a terrific experience.
Should I pick a tutorial based on advice from current students?
With caution. Advice you get from current students should be weighed carefully. All of the faculty teaching tutorial are full-time faculty at °µÍøTV and are well-prepared to teach the class. °µÍøTV has, quite frankly, amazing instructors. And regardless of their departmental affiliation, your professor, who will also be your adviser, will know °µÍøTV’s curriculum well and be positioned to assist you in your first couple of years as you craft your own educational plan.
Will I receive a confirmation email when I submit my form?
Yes. An email message will be sent to your personal email and to your °µÍøTV email accounts from the °µÍøTV Academic Success Center. The absence of confirmation means that there was a hiccup in your internet connection or in the system at the time you tried to register and we do not have your choices. If you do not receive a confirmation email after several minutes, please try again. If you continue to have issues, contact success@grinnell.edu.
Will I only have one chance to enter my choices for this class? What if I change my mind before the deadline of June 10?
The tutorial registration system allows you to change your mind as often as you wish between your first entry and June 10. So, if a different topic appeals to you after you have already registered your 5 preferences, you can still change your preferences or the order of your preferences before 11:59 p.m., Central Daylight Time on June 10.