PORT ANGELES — The first day of winter quarter on Jan. 6 at Peninsula College is close to two months away, but it’s not too early to apply if you’ve been thinking about taking classes.
Increased enrollment has meant more competition for popular programs like welding and for appointments with advisors. Students can no longer wait until the last minute to apply, register for classes and jump into coursework.
Take the college’s popular entry-level welding class, for example. By June 2 last summer, it had already filled up well before fall quarter, which began Sept. 23. The college added a second class that filled by August. A third class filled quickly as well.
“Sometimes it can be a little surprising to students when classes are closed,” said Ruth Adams, Peninsula College’s associate dean of enrollment services.
That’s why new students who want to enroll for winter quarter need to apply well before the Dec. 1 deadline.
“For students who are applying now, any time up until the 25th day of November, they’ll be able to register on the second of December when registration for new students opens,” Adams said.
Wait until Dec. 1 and students will have to wait to register for classes because it takes at least five days for the admissions department to process applications. Students also will need to make an appointment to speak with an advisor, which is also required before they register.
Those slots are quickly filling with current students and new students who have been admitted, Adams said.
This fall, Peninsula College began holding new student group orientation for the first time, advising and registration events to handle the jump in enrollment. New students accepted for winter can attend the events from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 3 and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 18.
Another consideration for those thinking about applying: You have to be admitted to Peninsula College in order to receive financial aid.
Adams encourages people to do both at the same time.
“With the new financial aid process, it’s taking a little longer for the federal government to send us files,” she said. “Then we have to get those files loaded into our system so we can then award you. If you get your financial aid application by the priority deadline of the 27th of November, your aid will be available by the start of the quarter.”
Apply after that and there’s no guarantee you’ll have aid when classes start and when the college asks for payment.
Even if you do miss the Dec. 1 new student enrollment deadline, you’ll automatically be enrolled in spring quarter. That means you’ll have plenty of time to line up your financial aid, speak to an advisor and hopefully get the classes you want.
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Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached by email at paula.hunt@peninsuladailynews.com.
