The first two weeks of school can be almost as stressful as finals period. After an idyllic week of Camp Amherst, the harsh reality of class and a regular schedule can be a rude jolt, even without difficulties registering for classes.

This year's registration period has been aggravated by the outrageously high number of over-enrolled and closed classes. Students have reported having more difficulty this semester finding and keeping classes that they really want to take, and many have been forced to settle for less desirable classes that just happen to fit into their schedules.

The sheer number of professors on leave this semester has not only limited the range of available classes, but has also directly contributed to the difficulty in gaining admittance to those classes that are available. Upper-level psychology seminars, for example, are so full that the department is waiving the major requirement of taking a seminar for some seniors. Also, in English 35, the perenially popular Shakespeare, over 50 students were cut from the class, including all five-college students and freshmen, both of whom were not informed about this pre-made decision until the first class.

For those popular classes that are over-enrolled, we strongly suggest a warning system in which students pre-registered for these classes receive letters from the registrar informing them that the class is over-enrolled and that cuts will be made. This may help to weed out students who are merely shopping the course from those who seriously want to take the class, and both groups can begin to look for alternatives before the mad confusion of registration period.

Furthermore, the registrar's letter should include the general criteria that the professor will use to make any necessary cuts. Giving a heads up to those students in jeopardy of being dropped would save them from unnecessary pain which comes from the hurried last-minute search for a fourth class.

Realizing that every class is different and that professors have myriad ideas about the ideal class composition, we are reluctant to advance one precise criterion over another for cutting a student. We do, however, believe that the most reasonable considerations for making such cuts include class, major requirements, familiarity with the subject, home college and, of course, whether or not the student bothered to pre-register in the first place.