I still remember my first day at UP Diliman, wearing a denim pants and a shirt, carrying a large bag pack and asking a random student about the direction going to New Chemistry building. My first subject then was Chem 16. I was so lost; I did not know my way, nor have any friends to rely on. When I entered the large room, I felt uneasy, all eyes were on me. Adjusting to new people and environment was so hard. I felt like I was all alone during my first semester.

Four years have now passed, I already managed to get my way out of the university. I still could not believe it.

I survived UP.

Hey Isko/Iska! How are you doing?

You must be reading this blog because of this dilemma: to graduate with honors or not. Just to share, during my last undergrad year, I was so distressed about my academic standing (since I'm a transferee from other UP unit). I even scanned and read guidelines, handbooks, and some blogs to keep me worry free. Since I know how you feel, I hope this post will be able to address your questions re latin honors in UP Diliman. You can also read this article from the Office of University Registrar as a starter.




1. What is the basis for graduating with latin honors in UP Diliman?
- As far as I know, it is based on your Curriculum Weighted Average (CWA) and not your General Weighted Average (GWA). GWA is used to assess your performance in one semester; while CWA is used to evaluate your academic performance in N years of studying one undergraduate course.

2. How to compute for CWA?
- You can use this GWA calculator where you can calculate both your GWA and CWA. This is really helpful in tracking your academic standing.

3. How can I compute my CWA if I'm a shiftee/ transferee?
- Just include in the computation all credited subjects from your past degree program to your new curriculum.

4. I have failed grades on my past degree program; are those also included in the computation of CWA?
- If that failed subject is required on your new degree program, it has to be included in the computation of your CWA.

Example:
First take: Chem 16 - 5.00
Second take: Chem 16 - 1.75

If Chem 16 is required on your new course, you need to include all the grades you've got from your first and second take.

5. What will happen if I have an underloaded semester?
- This is really difficult to solve since UP is very strict when it comes to underloading. You have to make an appeal and the faculty has to deliberate whether you will graduate with honors or not. Even if you have a very good reason for underloading, it will not guarantee your spot. So remember, DO NOT UNDERLOAD! If you already did, pray that they will be softhearted enough to allow you to graduate with latin honor.

Hopefully this post helps you! Share your thoughts by commenting below. Good luck on your journey. Remember, grades do not define you but surely will help you land a good job and get started with your professional career.

Padayon!

Basically, I'll be discussing here the enrollment process in College of Home Economics (CHE).  All colleges follow the same enrollment steps but with some variations. The info graphic below shows the summary of the enrollment process (from CHE student council Facebook page).

If this is your first time to enroll, kindly read this catalog first from Office of the University Registrar (OUR): http://our.upd.edu.ph/files/catalogue/ACADEMIC%20INFORMATION.pdf  .


If you have any questions/suggestions, please feel free to leave a comment.

Things to bring:

1. Form 5A - this is the primary document that you need to bring during enrollment period (see below). Your form 5A contains the following: enrollment status (Regular, Graduating, etc), subjects enlisted, remarks (any accountability to settle) and adviser's signature.

NOTE: In case you don't know where to download it, just go to crs.upd.edu.ph, log-in using your username and password, go to Preenlistment (at the left side), then print Form 5A.


2. Ballpen
3. Money
4. List of enlistment centers (in case you need to do manual pre-enlistment or prerog)
5. Water jug (avoid dehydration!)
6. For tuition fee loan: Valid ID of the guarantor (Original and photocopy), 1x1 ID picture


ENROLLMENT PROCESS

1. CRS PRE-ENLISTMENT

This crucial step is done before the actual enrollment period. Just go to crs.upd.edu.ph, log-in using your username, fill-out your student profile, click the Preenlistment tab (left side), then enlist the subjects you need. 

When enlisting, you can rank the subjects according to priority (from most to least priority). However, ranking does not guarantee you to get these subjects after batch run. It really depends on your luck :)

There are two batch run processes during online preenlistment. You are lucky enough if you get all the subjects you needed during the first batch run. If not, there is still a second batch run however it's hard to get a subject at this point.

If you still need a subject and the online preenlistment already ended, you need to do a manual enlistment or prerog.

2. PRINT YOUR FORM 5A.

After the second batch run, you can now print your form 5A. Just go to crs.upd.edu.ph, then click print form 5A tab.

3. PREADVISING

Some colleges assign an adviser to a set of students, while others are not. In my college, the department will assign one adviser per degree program and year level. Before doing manual enlistment, you have to consult first with your adviser. There are two cases in this step:

1. If you got all the subjects you needed:
Your adviser just needs to sign your form 5A.

2. If you still need a subject:
Just tell what subject you are planning to take and your adviser will check the curriculum to ensure that subject is required/will be credited in your degree program.

[For old students]: Bring a copy of your grades from CRS page.

After advising, go to either 4.A enlistment/prerog or 4.B validation step.

4.A. MANUAL ENLISTMENT/PREROG STEP

Manual preenlistment (prerog) refers to the process where the student goes to an enlistment center (or directly to the professor) to get the subject s/he desires. These are the things that you need to take note of when doing a prerog:

1. Enlistment schedule

The university sets an enrollment schedule based on the enrollment status of the students. They usually post this at crs.up.edu.ph. This is how it looks like:

1st day of enrollment: Graduating students, Freshie students, Varsity students
2nd day of enrollment (morning): Regular TRICOLL students (students from CSSP, CAL and CS)
2nd day of enrollment (afternoon): Regular NON-TRICOLL students
3rd day of enrollment: Cross-registrants, non-degrees, special students
4th day of enrollment: All UP students

They are very strict when it comes to enrollment schedule so be sure to follow it :)

2. Enlistment centers

Stay tuned for any Facebook posts of college student councils re enlistment centers for different subjects.

3. Ways to prerog a subject

1. Manual prerog
- going to the enlistment center and enlisting the subject desired

2. Online prerog
- filling-out gdocs form to enlist MST subjects (like STS, Physics 10, etc)

3. Lottery
- the professor asks for the IDs of students doing prerog, then draw from that set of IDs to choose the lucky one

Note: If ever hindi ka talaga nakakuha ng subject during the enrollment period, pwede ka pa ring magprerog sa first day of class. Mas madali to kase hindi ka pipila KASO madami ring nagpreprerog so madami kang kaagaw (lalo na kapag MST) and usually, priority ng mga prof  ay yung mga graduating students. Pero try mo pa rin. May kailangan ka ring tandaan kapag magpreprerog ka sa first day of class, either:

a. Validate your form 5A
As far as I know, there is a rule where the professor can remove a student that is not yet validated in the class AND absent during the first day. Make sure to validate your form 5A to lock the classes you've already enlisted and prevent the professor from removing you (in case you'll be absent during the first day due to prerog)

b. Validate and assess your form 5A
The assessor will print your form 5 and you need to pay the amount of money written on it. You cannot do prerog unless you pay the necessary amount at the cashier's office. After paying, students usually do add-mat (add matriculation) where you add a subject then pay the additional fee at the cashier's office.

Note: If you are planning to apply for tuition fee loan, do not do this step, just validate your form 5A.
Kase, kapag nagpa-assess ka agad, yung mga subjects na naenlist mo lang plus yung other fees ang macocover ng loan. Yung idadagdag mong subject, kailangan mong bayaran yun according sa STS mo. Sayang lang. Don't worry, palaging nag-eextend ang payment period :)


4.B. VALIDATION, ASSESSMENT, AND PRINTING OF FORM 5

Look for the checker and assessor for your department. Give your form 5A to the checker and wait for your form 5. Let your adviser sign your form 5 and fill-out an Enrollment Survey Form (ESF).

5. PAYMENT

If you have to apply for tuition loan, here are the steps:
1. Make sure that you already have your form 5.
2. Go to crs.upd.edu.ph.
3. Click Tuition loan application tab (left side).
4. Follow instructions sa page. Fill-out the tuition loan form and print it.
5.  Attach your recent ID picture. (Yung sa thumb mark, pwedeng sa mismong OSSS ka na maglagay).
6. Go to Vinzons Hall, 3rd floor, OSSS, room 305. Submit the form.
7. If approved, you can now proceed to cashier's office.

Always check the crs page for any announcement regarding payment centers. It looks like this:



Note: I don't submit tuition loan application and pay my tuition during enrollment period due to long lines; I usually do it during the first week of class. It's hassle free. 

May the odds be ever in your favor!