This web page is a guide for students using PRESTO (Personal Records for Employees and Students at Oberlin) to register for their classes. To log in to PRESTO, click here.


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You may either scroll through this document in its entirety, or you may use the following links to see information on these registration topics:


Quick and dirty guide to registration

To register, you will need your

1. Fill out a Registration Worksheet BEFORE your meeting with your advisor(s). Worksheets are available in the Registrar’s Office or at our website: www.oberlin.edu/regist Go over your schedule with your advisor(s).

2. Look at PRESTO to determine when your registration appointment is scheduled.

3. During your registration window, use any computer on or off campus that has access to the World Wide Web to register. Recommended browser information is available at the welcome page for PRESTO which is located at http://presto.cc.oberlin.edu/ . The most current information on availability and up-to-date information on recommended browser versions is always available there.

4. At the welcome page, click on the Login icon (the light bulb) to begin. The system will ask you for:

5. To register, follow these links:

NOTE: When navigating the PRESTO screens, DO NOT use the Back or Forward buttons on your browser. Using these buttons alerts the system to a potential security breach and will force you to re-enter your User ID and PIN. Use the Return to Menu Link at the top of each page to return to a previous menu or select another option. Once you are finished with registration, use the Exit Link at the top of the page to log out of PRESTO. For security purposes, never leave your PRESTO session logged on.

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Quick and Dirty Guide to PRESTO screens

Two VERY IMPORTANT notes:

The Add/Drop Classes screen allows you to:

The Look Up Class to Add screen allows you to:

The Search Result screen allows you to:

The Student Schedule By Day And Time screen allows you to:

The Student Detail Schedule screen allows you to:

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PRESTO: A COMPLETE GUIDE

We strongly suggest that you read this entire guide before logging in to PRESTO; it will make your registration session much more successful. If you need an answer to a specific question, consult the table of links to find information on specific subjects:



How to login to PRESTO

You may use any computer you wish to register using PRESTO, as long as that computer has access to the web via abrowser which is supported for this function. For an up-to-date listing of supported browsers, always consult the PRESTO welcome page http://presto.cc.oberlin.edu

To get to PRESTO, open your browser and go to http://presto.cc.oberlin.edu. This will take you to the PRESTO home page. Click on the Login icon (the light bulb) to begin.

The system will ask you to enter:

If you have problems logging in, it may be due to one of these factors:

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Navigating PRESTO

DO NOT use the Back or Forward buttons on your browser to navigate PRESTO. Use the Return to Menu link at the top of each page to return to a previous menu, or select another option.


When to register

You may view your registration window online by choosing the following links in PRESTO:

  • Student and Financial Aid Menu; then
  • Registration Menu; then
  • Check Your Registration Status; then
  • Submit Term

    The Registration Status screen will indicate when your registration window will begin and end. This screen will also indicate if a hold has been placed on your registration. A hold will prevent you from registering using PRESTO. If you have a hold, please contact the Student Accounts Office to resolve the situation before you are scheduled to begin registration.

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    Adding courses to your schedule

    Follow these steps to register for classes in PRESTO:

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    Using CRNs to add classes

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    Searching for courses

    You may search the PRESTO database for courses by clicking on the Class Search button in the Add/Drop Classes screen or the Look Up Class to Add link on the Registration Menu. Be aware, however, that you have the capability of bringing back a massive amount of data in a search; be careful to narrow your searches as much as you can, and be aware of your computer's memory limitations when performing searches. Follow these steps to search for classes in PRESTO:

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    Registering for consent courses

    There are two ways to obtain entry into a consent course; your consent will depend on the method the particular instructor chooses to use: web consent or a Schedule Adjustment Request.

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    Registering for variable hour courses

    If a course is listed in the Schedule of Classes with a range of hours (for example, ".50 TO 3.00"), it means that it is a variable hour course and you have the option of choosing the hours. To change the number of hours, follow these steps:

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    Viewing class times


    Checking for open seats in a course

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    Dropping classes from your schedule

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    "Replacing" one class with another

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    Error message definitions

    Message Problem Solution
    Closed Section The course/section is fully enrolled Call the academic department to ask about a waitlist for the course.
    Link Error: xx Required You have attempted to register for a course or section that requires a "linked" CRN. For example, you cannot register for a lab without registering for the associated lecture, and vice-versa. Enter the CRN of the two required "linked" courses (i.e. both the lecture and the lab) in the Add/Drop grid and click Submit Changes. Both courses should appear in your schedule.
    Dupl CRSE with Sec xxxx You have already registered for this course/section. If you want to keep the course that is in your current schedule, do nothing. If you want to switch to the course in your error grid, **Web Drop** the course in your current schedule, put the CRN of the error grid course in your Add Classes grid, and click Submit Changes.
    Time Conflict with xxxx This course/section conflicts with a course for which you are already registered. If you want to keep the course that is in your current schedule, do nothing. If you want to switch to the course in your error grid, **Web Drop** the course in your current schedule, put the CRN of the error grid course in your Add Classes grid, and click Submit Changes.
    CORQ-xxx You must register for a corequisite course to be taken during the same term as this course. Enter the CRNs for both courses into the Add Class grid and click Submit Changes.
    Instructor's Signature This is a course for which you need the consent of the instructor. See the person in charge of consenting the course, who will either web-consent you (you may then register for the course during your registration window), or sign a Schedule Adjustment Request, which you then must submit to the Office of the Registrar.
    CRN does not exist The CRN is not recognized by the system. You may have entered the number incorrectly or the class may have been cancelled. Check the CRN in the Supplement to make sure you have the right one. If it still fails, call the Office of the Registrar.
    Pvt Rdg Card to Registrar Private Readings cannot be handled via PRESTO. Complete your Private Reading card and hand it in to the Office of the Registrar.
    Reserve The only open seats in the course are reserved for students who meet specific criteria (i.e. major or class). If you think you do meet the criteria for the class, contact the Office of the Registrar.
    Reserve Closed Since the seats in the course that have been reserved for your major or class are filled, you cannot register for the class. Check your Registration Status screen to make sure your class and major information is correct in the system. If it is incorrect, contact the Office of the Registrar.
    Class Restriction The course has seats reserved for students who meet specific criteria (i.e. major or class); since you do not meet these criteria, you cannot register for the class. If you think that you do meet the criteria for the class, contact the Registrar's Office.
    Max Hours Exceeded The system will not let you register for the course since it would exceed your maximum allowed credit hours (16 for A&S students, 17 for Conservatory and DD students). Clear your error grid if you have one; the system counts the hours in your error grid againt your max hours. Otherwise, drop a course in your current schedule to make room for the new course. Note: if you have multiple error messages in your grid, ALL of them will revert to "Max Hours Exceeded" once you go over your allowed hours.

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    Managing your error grid

    Your error grid can be a useful tool as long as you keep a few things in mind:

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    Re-entering your User ID and PIN

    PRESTO may require you to re-enter your User ID and PIN during your session if youlet the system idle for fifteen minutes during your registration session. If you don't do anything in the system for more than fifteen minutes while you are logged in to PRESTO, the system will require you to re-login for security purposes.


    Printing your schedule

    Once you have completed the registration process, you may print a copy of your schedule. Note that there may be classes that do not appear on your schedule if the time is TBA. Also note the "schedule for today" and "schedule prior to" links at the bottom of your schedule screen; these links will take you to your module-specific schedules.

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    Exiting PRESTO

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    Using PRESTO outside of registration

    There are a number of functions you will have access to regardless of your registration start and end times. Using your User ID and PIN, you have access to the following at any time:

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    Protecting your PIN


    Where to go for help

    If you: Please contact: Phone extension:
    Need help with PRESTO or some aspect of the registration process The Office of the Registrar 58450
    Need help connecting to Presto The CIT Help Line 58197
    Have questions about a waitlist for a specific course The academic department offering the course will vary
    Need to get consent to register for a course The individual responsible for the consent; the instructor, the department chair, or the Conservatory Associate Dean (for Con courses requiring Dean's Consent) will vary
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