A new modification in the schedule pick up process this year allowed students the option to obtain their schedules the week before school started and make changes. Seniors could pick up their schedules on Aug. 20, juniors on Aug. 21 and sophomores on Aug. 22. Freshmen received theirs at Freshman Orientation. Previously, students could only do so on the first day of school. The administration made the change in an effort to reduce the chaos and stress often associated with the schedule-changing process.

However, not many students arrived to collect their schedules—for example, only about half of the junior class came on Aug. 21. Some students complained that the administration did a poor job publicizing the new system to the student body.

In past years, the administration has done its best to prevent students from switching classes solely on their teacher preferences, often referred to “teacher shopping.” However, students were able to manipulate the system and do so this year because only one person was coordinating all desired changes. “We were aware of students teacher shopping this week,” Assistant Principal Kim Cowell said. “But, we decided that we would allow it to happen.”

With only one person working to change the students’ schedules, the wait often reached to well over two hours. “The computer system software doesn’t update automatically, so it’s not fast enough for more than one person to operate it at once,” Cowell said.

Some students felt that although they were able to see their schedule earlier, the actual headache came from the schedule changing procedure, which did not improve. “There is little doubt in my mind that this new method is worth the strain of coming to campus a week before school,” senior Hanson Zhao said. “However, even though we were given the ability to work out kinks, the actual schedule changing was still as bad as before.”

Others were lucky enough to switch into preferred classes without the long wait. “I thought it was a great idea,” junior Jenny Guan said. “I received my schedule and finished all my transfers in less than 20 minutes without any hassle.”

The new modification may be reinstated next year. “We’re looking at this both logistically and in terms of student needs and listen to feedback from both students and parents,” Cowell said. “If it works out, I definitely think that we will try this again next year.”

Aug. 30 is the deadline for student-initiated changes. Only level changes recommended by teachers or counselors will be made after Aug. 30. All schedule changes after the first day of school require a petition and parent and Instructional Supervisor signatures. To simplify this process, Instructional Supervisors will be available together in the Student Activity Center from 2:30-4:30 pm on Aug. 29.