Enrollment procedures vary from filling out forms to attending ceremonies, and typically include an orientation session where students receive academic counseling, IDs, and other materials. Some schools hold ceremonies to welcome new students. Non-enrolled students pay higher fees to audit courses.
In the academic community, the term “enrollment” is used to refer to the school enrollment process. Enrollment procedures and traditions vary from school to school. Some schools simply have paperwork that must be filled out, while others enroll students in a ceremony, such as the white coat ceremonies used to celebrate the enrollment of new medical students. Typically, information about the application process is included in admission packets sent to students.
In the simplest version of enrollment, students are required to fill out a form indicating that they plan to attend a school. They may also be required to pay a deposit. The form is sent back to the school and the student is added to the list of formally enrolled students, which means he or she becomes eligible to enroll in school classes and services.
Most commonly, enrollment includes filing an intention to participate and attending an orientation session. During orientation, the student’s completed courses will be reviewed to determine the class ranking, and the student will have access to academic counseling and record. Student IDs are commonly issued, along with dorm keys, student handbooks, and other materials. Students can also go on visits to the school so they can learn about the campus and the procedures students need to follow, ranging from how to check books in the library to how to make an appointment at the health center.
Some schools use enrollment as an excuse to hold a ceremony to welcome and celebrate new students. Students may attend a brief public address by a school official and may receive performances by the school band. Generally, the idea is to generate school spirit and loyalty so that students are excited about the institutions they attend and excited about the new semester at school. These procedures also give students a chance to get to know each other and begin to make connections and relationships that will be useful in the future.
Many schools distinguish between enrolled students who attend a school with the intention of earning a degree and non-enrolled students who are simply auditing courses. Unenrolled students are not entitled to all services available to enrolled students and often pay higher fees to attend classes, paying per unit rather than paying a bulk enrollment fee. People may choose to audit for a variety of reasons, ranging from wanting to expand their horizons to wanting to work with a well-known professor.
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