First-year Writing Registration FAQ
Where Can I Find Out My Writing Placement During Orientation?
During orientation week just before the start of fall term, when incoming students get access to DartWorks via DartHub, information about your writing placement and which term you are assigned to take Writing 5 (if relevant) will appear in the DartWorks degree audit section labelled "Prematriculation Credits and Exemptions."
Information on interpreting the information in this section of DartWorks can be found on the Registrar's website at: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~reg/guides/credits/qrg_placement.pdf
Please note that students who have been accepted into an approved equivalent of Writing 5 (such as fall Humanities 1 or the special winter section of Writing 5 for prospective writing tutors) will receive notification and additional instructions for registration via email but may still show a term assignment for Writing 5 in the system. This is normal and expected. This represents your term assignment for Writing 5 should you change your mind about participation in the approved equivalent of Writing 5 and decide to take Writing 5 instead.
More information about the writing placement process can be found on our website here.
Where can I find descriptions for Writing 5 sections or First-year Seminar courses?
For descriptions for the current or upcoming term, view the following pages on the website of the Office of the Registrar. These pages update to display information for the next term shortly before registration begins for the next term.
- Individual Writing 5 section descriptions for the current or upcoming term
- First-year Seminar course descriptions for the current or upcoming term
For archived descriptions from past terms, visit these pages on our website:
- Archived Writing 5 section descriptions from recent past terms
- Archived First-year Seminar course descriptions from recent past terms
The Writing 5 sections and First-year Seminar courses offered vary from year to year, but each year there is a similarly wide array of topics offered.
How do I know whether I got into the Writing 5 or First-year Seminar I elected?
Check in the BannerStudent registration system on the day that initial course election results become available.
Details on the dates for initial course election, the date and time when course results become available, and the dates for course changes and add-drop periods can be found on the Registrar's website.
If you didn’t get into the Writing 5 section you asked for, you will need to register ASAP for another Writing 5 section with space available as early as you can after the course changes period opens.
Similarly, if you didn't get into the First-year Seminar you asked for, you will need to register ASAP for another First-year Seminar with space available as early as you can after the course changes period opens.
For additional advice about switching between sections of Writing 5 or between First-year Seminar courses, please visit our switch page.
Does it matter what time of day I enter my course elections in the course registration system?
During initial course election, anytime before the deadline is fine (although don’t wait too late in case you run into technical difficulties that need resolving).
BUT once course changes period and the add-drop period begin, course election is first-come, first-served, so earlier is better if you want to have the most choices.
The Writing 5 or First-year Seminar course I wanted to take is full. Should I try asking the professor to let me in above the limit?
No. Professors are not allowed to add students above the enrollment limit in a Writing 5 or First-year Seminar class. Writing 5 and First-year Seminar class sizes are limited to 16 students to allow for individualized attention. Enrollment above the limit is never allowed in a Writing 5 or First-year Seminar course. Open slots are first-come, first-served. No waiting lists are maintained.
For additional advice about switching between sections of Writing 5 or between First-year Seminar courses, please visit our switch page.
Questions about the online directed self-placement process for first-year writing?
Please visit our page which explains about the writing placement process, including a FAQ section at: