But council member Gary J. Feldman, Bairdprofessor of science, says he wonders ifpreregistration would provide accurate numbers.

"I am a little dubious that preregistrationwould help us very much because students wouldstill shop for courses and enrollments mightchange anyway," Feldman says.

Questions and Drawbacks

Most students interviewed say that are againstpreregistration because it limits theirflexibility to choose classes and delay thosechoices until shopping period.

"It sucks," says Michelle K. Hoffman '95. "Youhave less choice. You have fewer options. It'sreducing us to one of those enormous stateinstitutions where you have very little choice."

Michele R. Kawamoto '95, who transferred fromDartmouth when she was a junior, says she prefersthe freedom Harvard's system gives.

"I like it better the way it is here," Kawamotosays. "You can test out the professors. If you're[signing up] a semester before, you're not goingto get a syllabus and you're not going to see theprofessors."

An add/drop period would be more of a nuisancethan shopping period, many students say.

"I like how it is now," says Jennifer A.Ludovic '97. "Then you don't have to decide untilyou get back to school and you don't have to gothrough the paperwork of add/drop."

Patricia Larash '97 agrees that shopping periodleaves room for procrastination.

"I like the extended period of denial that wehave," Larash says. "Shopping period is nicebecause then you can blow off class withimpunity."

Elizabeth M. Haynes '95-'96, who transferredfrom Georgetown her sophomore year, says Harvardsets an important tone with shopping period.

"By having a shopping period, Harvard is makinga statement on how important it is that you havethe right classes," Haynes says.

But a few students say they see the other sideof the argument.

"I do think professors should knowapproximately how many students they will have,"says Edith A. Replogle '96. "There are also[class] room problems. You miss a day or you can'tfind anyplace to sit."