First-year registration: An exercise in game theory? (#1427)

Topics/tags: Registration, data

Our new registration process for first-year students went live today. For those who don’t know, our new first-year registration process is something like the following.

• At 10am on Tuesday, registration opens for first-years to register for one course (plus associated lab, I think). Registration is done on a first-come, first-served basis. It looks like varsity sports practice is scheduled for 9–11am; I guess we don’t care about sportos [1] getting their first choice.
• At 2pm on Tuesday, registration opens for first-years to register for their remaining courses (up to 18 credits). Once again, registration is first-come, first-served.

It seems like registration could be an interesting exercise in game theory. After repeatedly refreshing starting at 9:59am, you quickly click the button to register for the course you want that you think is most likely to fill. Then you wait fifteen minutes or so to see where things stand. If that class is far from full, you look to see whether any of your other preferred classes are close to capacity and, if so, you switch your registration. Wash, rinse, and repeat.

Of course, that may not be the optimal strategy, which is why I referred to it as an interesting exercise in game theory. Are there other ways to game the system? I’m not sure. I’ll let the economist think about it.

I discussed this with some colleagues, and they generally suggested that few students are going to spend that much effort. Most will focus on getting one of their top courses and then be satisfied with that. That leads to the other question: What do you put in round one, and what do you leave for subsequent rounds? I know that there was some hypothetical research about that, based on the old yellow cards. However, that research is not public. Hence, I’m going to do my research based on public data.

As you may recall, I made a list of courses open to first-years and the number of seats available. Let’s see where things stand at about 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Sam gathers a lot of data.

Welp, that was interesting. I don’t think it’s worth sharing the individual changes in course enrollments. I’ve come to realize that one of the most important questions is not so much what fills in round one as it is what fills in round two. If a course you really want is likely to fill in round two, you may need to prioritize it in round one.

However, I still saw some things that surprised me or that I’d like to share from round one.

Most importantly, BIO-150, Introduction to Biological Inquiry, completely filled, even with 81 spaces available. All four sections even have waiting lists. Surprisingly, sections 2 and 3 of CHM-129, General Chemistry, did not fill, even after round 2. Did no one tell these students that if they are interested in Biology, they’ll also need to take CHM-129 in their first year? Section 1 of CHM-129 filled in the first round. Perhaps that’s because students are interested in taking workshop-style chemistry. Perhaps they like 8:00 a.m. classes. Or perhaps it’s the instructor, as one student suggested to me.

There were a few multi-section courses in which one or two sections filled in the first round. Again, it might have been an issue of time or a particularly beloved instructor.

The first-round pressure on MAT-215, Linear Algebra, looks like it was also pretty high. Unfortunately, I seem to have recorded my original data for MAT-215 incorrectly, so I can’t be sure. Two of the three sections completely filled in round two, so future first-years might want to prioritize MAT-215 in round one.

What about my course, CSC-151, Functional Problem Solving? We had 56 spots available before round one. We had 19 spots available after round one. We had two spots available after round two (or at least late into round two).

I was surprised at courses that didn’t fill. I expected PHI-111, Introduction to Philosophy, and PHI-121, Philosophy for Life, to fill in round one. I expected the 100-level Studio Art courses to fill. I expected at least one section of GWS-111, Introduction to Gender, Women’s and Sexuality Studies, to fill. Oh, that’s right, one did. I expected at least one of the three cool HIS-100 topics to fill.

Perhaps the most important thing I learned from looking at the round one data is that the first come, first served approach mostly worked, with just one notable exception. It looks like a few people didn’t get their first choice of section for a course, but getting the subject is what should matter most. As I noted, our one notable exception is BIO-150. And, as I noted, many of the students who wanted BIO-150 could probably take CHM-129 instead.

Okay. On to round two. This time, I’ll show you the data. Once again, I’m working with four-credit courses that are open to first-years, or at least the list that I used for the prior musing [2]. Since my goal is to highlight courses that fill to help with planning, and not to pick on any department with low enrollments, I’m only going to call out the courses that filled or nearly filled. I’ll also admit to being incredibly inconsistent in listing waitlists. If it bothers you, you can collect the data yourself.

Fine Arts

• [01/30 available] ART-111, Introduction to the Studio
  • [01/15 available] ART-111-01, Introduction to the Studio
  • [00/15 available] ART-111-02, Introduction to the Studio
• [00/30 available] ART-134, Drawing
  • [00/15 available] ART-134-01, Drawing
  • [00/15 available] ART-134-02, Drawing
• [05/30 available] MUS-100-01, Introduction to Music Studies
• [08/20 available] MUS-201-01, Taylor Swift [3]
• [01/14 available] THD-120-01, Introduction to Acting
• [03/16 available] THD-130-01, Behind the Curtain: Performance Design

Humanities

I’ve placed the fine arts and most languages in separate sections.

• [02/40 available] ENG-120, Literary Analysis
  • [00/20 available] ENG-120-01, Literary Analysis
  • [02/20 available] ENG-120-03, Literary Analysis
• [03/20 available] HUM-101-01, HUM 1: Ancient Greek World
• [01/50 available] PHI-111, Introduction to Philosophy
  • [00/25 available] PHI-111-01, Introduction to Philosophy (1 on waitlist)
  • [01/25 available] PHI-111-02, Introduction to Philosophy
• [08/75 available] PHI-121, Philosophy for Life
  • [00/25 available] PHI-121-01, Philosophy for Life
  • [00/25 available] PHI-121-02, Philosophy for Life
  • [08/25 available] PHI-121-03, Philosophy for Life

Interdisciplinary

• [11/75 available] FMS-155-01, Introduction to Film Studies
  • [11/25 available] FMS-155-01, Introduction to Film Studies
  • [00/25 available] FMS-155-02, Introduction to Film Studies
  • [00/25 available] FMS-155-03, Introduction to Film Studies
• [26/75 available] GWS-111-01, Introduction to Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies
  • [12/25 available] GWS-111-01, Introduction to Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies
  • [00/25 available] GWS-111-02, Introduction to Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies
  • [14/25 available] GWS-111-03, Introduction to Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies
• [05/50 available] LIN-114, Introduction to General Linguistics
  • [00/25 available] LIN-114-01, Introduction to General Linguistics
  • [05/25 available] LIN-114-02, Introduction to General Linguistics

Languages

I’m excluding English, which I put in the Humanities.

• [04/25 available] CHI-101-01, Beginning Chinese
• [14/40 available] GRM-101-01, Introductory German I
  • [02/20 available] GRM-101-01, Introductory German I
  • [12/20 available] GRM-101-02, Introductory German I
• [17/40 available] JPN-101, Beginning Japanese I
  • [00/20 available] JPN-101-01, Beginning Japanese I
  • [17/20 available] JPN-101-02, Beginning Japanese I
• [00/120 available] JPN-120-01, Japanese Pop Culture & Society
• [05/40 available] SPN-106-01, Introduction to Spanish Language II
  • [01/20 available] SPN-106-01, Introduction to Spanish Language II
  • [04/20 available] SPN-106-02, Introduction to Spanish Language II
• [10/48 available] SPN-217, Intermediate Spanish I
  • [00/16 available] SPN-217-01, Intermediate Spanish I (1 on waitlist)
  • [00/16 available] SPN-217-02, Intermediate Spanish I (2 on waitlist)
  • [10/16 available] SPN-217-03, Intermediate Spanish I

Mathematical Sciences

• [01/72 available] CSC-151, Functional Problem Solving
  • [00/24 available] CSC-151-01, Functional Problem Solving
  • [01/24 available] CSC-151-02, Functional Problem Solving (1 on waitlist)
  • [01/24 available] CSC-151-03, Functional Problem Solving
• [05/40 available] MAT-125, Functions and Mathematical Models
  • [02/20 available] MAT-125-01, Functions and Mathematical Models
  • [03/20 available] MAT-125-02, Functions and Mathematical Models
• [25/130 available] MAT-131, Calculus I
  • [11/26 available] MAT-131-01, Calculus I
  • [06/26 available] MAT-131-02, Calculus I
  • [00/26 available] MAT-131-03, Calculus I
  • [00/26 available] MAT-131-04, Calculus I
  • [08/26 available] MAT-131-05, Calculus I
• [12/156 available] MAT-133, Calculus II
  • [04/26 available] MAT-133-01, Calculus II
  • [03/26 available] MAT-133-02, Calculus II
  • [00/26 available] MAT-133-03, Calculus II
  • [00/26 available] MAT-133-04, Calculus II
  • [00/26 available] MAT-133-05, Calculus II
  • [05/26 available] MAT-133-06, Calculus II
• [02/60 available] MAT-215-01, Linear Algebra
  • [02/20 available] MAT-215-01, Linear Algebra
  • [00/20 available] MAT-215-02, Linear Algebra
  • [00/20 available] MAT-215-03, Linear Algebra
• [13/130 available] STA-209, Applied Statistics
  • [00/26 available] STA-209-01, Applied Statistics (3 on waitlist)
  • [00/26 available] STA-209-03, Applied Statistics
  • [-1/26 available] STA-209-04, Applied Statistics (3 on waitlist)
  • [00/26 available] STA-209-05, Applied Statistics (1 on waitlist)
  • [13/26 available] STA-209-06, Applied Statistics

Natural and Experimental Sciences

• [00/96 available] BIO-150, Introduction to Biological Inquiry
  • [00/24 available] BIO-150-01, Introduction to Biological Inquiry
  • [00/24 available] BIO-150-02, Introduction to Biological Inquiry
  • [00/24 available] BIO-150-03, Introduction to Biological Inquiry
  • [00/24 available] BIO-150-04, Introduction to Biological Inquiry
• [18/72 available] CHM-129, General Chemistry
  • [01/24 available] CHM-129-01, General Chemistry (waitlist of 3)
  • [10/24 available] CHM-129-02, General Chemistry
  • [07/24 available] CHM-129-03, General Chemistry
• [12/24 available] CHM-210, Analytical Chemistry
• [00/25 available] ENV-125-01, Introduction to Earth Systems Science
• [06/30 available] PHY-116-01, The Universe and Its Structure
• [01/48 available] PHY-132, General Physics II
  • [00/24 available] PHY-132-01, General Physics II
  • [01/24 available] PHY-132-02, General Physics II
• [04/78 available] PSY-113, Introduction to Psychology
  • [04/26 available] PSY-113-01, Introduction to Psychology
  • [00/26 available] PSY-113-01, Introduction to Psychology
  • [00/26 available] PSY-113-01, Introduction to Psychology
• [00/25 available] PSY-246-01, Brain and Behavior [4]

Social Studies

• [34/125 available] ANT-104, Anthropological Inquiries
  • [00/25 available] ANT-104-01, Anthropological Inquiries (4 person waitlist)
  • [01/25 available] ANT-104-02, Anthropological Inquiries (1 person waitlist)
  • [17/25 available] ANT-104-03, Anthropological Inquiries
  • [03/25 available] ANT-104-04, Anthropological Inquiries
  • [13/25 available] ANT-104-05, Anthropological Inquiries
• [29/182 available] ECN-111, Introduction to Economics
  • [11/26 available] ECN-111-01, Introduction to Economics
  • [07/26 available] ECN-111-02, Introduction to Economics
  • [00/26 available] ECN-111-03, Introduction to Economics
  • [00/26 available] ECN-111-04, Introduction to Economics
  • [00/26 available] ECN-111-05, Introduction to Economics
  • [11/26 available] ECN-111-06, Introduction to Economics
  • [00/26 available] ECN-111-07, Introduction to Economics
• [02/25 available] ECN-236-01, Health Economics
• [0/50 available] EDU-101, Educational Principles in a Pluralistic Society
  • [00/25 available] EDU-101-01, Educational Principles in a Pluralistic Society
  • [00/25 available] EDU-101-02, Educational Principles in a Pluralistic Society
• [02/24 available] EDU-115-01, How to Learn Physics
• [05/25 available] HIS-195-01, ST: Introduction to War Studies
• [00/100 available] POL-101, Introduction to Political Science
  • [00/25 available] POL-101-01, Introduction to Political Science (1 on waitlist)
  • [00/25 available] POL-101-02, Introduction to Political Science (2 on waitlist)
  • [00/25 available] POL-101-03, Introduction to Political Science (3 on waitlist)
  • [00/25 available] POL-101-04, Introduction to Political Science (1 on waitlist)
• [06/125 available] SOC-111, Introduction to Sociology
  • [03/25 available] SOC-111-01, Introduction to Sociology
  • [00/25 available] SOC-111-03, Introduction to Sociology
  • [00/25 available] SOC-111-04, Introduction to Sociology
  • [01/25 available] SOC-111-05, Introduction to Sociology
  • [01/25 available] SOC-111-06, Introduction to Sociology

Wasn’t that interesting? It was for me. Most of the introductory social studies courses filled by the end of round two, but we have a little bit of slack. Most of the introductory math courses filled by the end of round two, but we still have a little bit of slack. Many arts courses filled; I wonder if demand switches between arts disciplines across years. I’m glad I’m not in languages; it must be difficult to predict which courses will have high demand. Still, it’s nice to see that students are still taking language courses. What else? As I expected, the five sections of introductory philosophy filled, or nearly filled. I also remain surprised that CHM-129 didn’t fill.

It was also interesting to see the numbers shift a bit throughout the day. I don’t have good enough data to know how they shifted, but I could tell that they shifted. I also learned some things by comparing data, such as courses that disappeared or switched instructors. Ah, the joy of being an information nerd!

And I learned that we have a course on Taylor Swift! How did I miss that? Why isn’t it full?

What about the game theory? As I said before, I’m not an expert in game theory. I’m not sure how to use these data to advise students on how to optimize the way they use our registration system. I suppose the best answer is If you see a course on here that’s full (or nearly full), make it your first choice in round two and consider it for round one. Another suggestion is Write a ’bot to register you for BIO-150 in round one.

I also realize that the data don’t reveal the individual stories, from the students who happily get all of their classes to those who find that the section they end up in round one forces them to rethink their other courses, and the first course they end up in in round two forces even more rethinking.

On a personal note, I’m happy to see that CSC-151 is right at capacity. I’m looking forward to my cadre of 72 or so students this fall. I’m also glad to see that we didn’t fill early in round one, as we did for many years, and that we didn’t end up far below capacity, as we seemed to do last year.

On to a new semester!

[1] I use the term sportos with fondness. My sons were sportos. Some of my favorite students are sportos.

[2] You may recall that I selectively removed some courses, such as 300-level courses open to first-years, since only a few would take those.

[3] I missed this one on the first pass because it’s hidden between 49 sections of MUS-120 and 49 sections of MUS-220. I wonder how many students missed it for the same reason.

[4] I may have missed this the previous time. Perhaps it was already full.

Version 1.0 of 2026-08-25.