I recently went through another nail-biting, blood-pressure-raising registration process to sign up for a class at the SBCC School of Extended Learning, this time for the summer session.

I have been doing this for years now, and it never gets any easier. A couple of classmates suggested it might be more trouble for us “older adults,” but I submit it is the system itself that is a hot mess.

Also, why would City College make enrollment in courses designed specifically for seniors so difficult? Why, indeed?

My class selection is almost always a ceramics course (it used to be jewelry-making) and, like most of my fellow potters, I prepare in advance for the 8 a.m. sign-up on the designated date.

Weeks before registration for the upcoming session, a key talking point at our clay-covered work table is the inevitable ordeal we face together. And our instructor, who is more than sympathetic to our concerns, implores us to be sure we know how to register. Important dates and other vital information are posted on the chalk board.

As soon as I receive the course catalogue — which for the 2024 summer session arrived in the mail only a couple of days before registration — I flip through the pages and make note of the all-important “CRN number” that indicates my desired course.

The night before registration I do a trial run. I expect anyone who has ever taken more than one SBCC adult ed class does this as well, because there’s nothing more frustrating than trying to sign up on the day of, only to learn you have to re-enroll because you did not take a class the preceding semester. Still not sure what that’s all about. Grrr…

On sign-up day, registration opens at 8 a.m., and you’d better be quick about it. Woe be it to the students (especially those taking a popular class like ceramics) who complete the required form and click on “submit” at 8:01 a.m., because they’ll likely be greeted with the dreaded “class closed” response.

On the other hand, if you try to enroll too early, selections for the upcoming session will not yet be available; and if you try too often (worrying that 8 a.m. SBCC time is not quite the same as 8 a.m. on your timepiece of choice), an error message will likely pop up and — you guessed it — you have to start all over again. Argh!

Well, I could go on, but my misery-loves-company dilemma is much better illustrated in the back-and-forth texting with my ceramics classmates the morning of registration. (FYI, I’m leaving out names.)

If I look back at our old text threads, I’m sure I can find pretty much the same conversation repeated every time sign-up time comes around.

This actually started at 9:12 p.m. Sunday, April 7, ahead of the April 8 registration.

— Hey there, just want to make sure we all know that the sign up for summer tomorrow Monday 4/8 has been changed to 8 a.m. It was 9:00 and is now 8. Good luck in the thunder dome, all.

I wonder why they change the time … Wondering if possibly they’re registering ceramics classes an hour early to relieve the server from becoming impacted … or if they are starting all registrations at 8 a.m.”

— Good thought.

— If you get that question answered, I would be curious to hear.

— Seems like no matter what time I have a terrible time getting in to sign up. Ughh.

— You are not alone with that.

— Thank goodness.

8:01 a.m. Monday, April 8:

— It won’t show me summer term only fall and spring …

— Me, too. Now I am getting error messages. What is the CRN?

— 80310 and 80643. Select the term first.

Next text message is a photo of a piece of paper with several CRN numbers scribbled on it.

— Open a few windows.

— Keep trying

— I think I am in.

— Yeah, let me know if it works for ya.

— Once you press enter, just let it [the system] think for a really long time.

— I must have a bogus class schedule book.

— I heard something a while ago about the online CRN being correct and the book not. Not sure about that though.

— Ridiculous.

— I’m in 80643 and 80310. Hope they are [the classes I wanted]. This never gets any easier, does it?

— Not so far. Us older folks should have an easier path to registering, so it’s not a competition with the young tech whiz generation. Just my opinion.

— I don’t think it is our fault; the system just sucks. Maybe the older adult users should redesign things (with the help of some competent techies).

— One can still sign up. Easy to get on the site now.

— Best of luck everyone! I finally did get in a few minutes ago. (Followed by emoji applause.)

— The website is about as funny as a rubber crutch. I’ve tried both classes. Been at it for a half hr. Seriously frustrated.

– I got into both classes this time. I had to select term and then go down to add or drop classes. I had to keep starting over.

— I wish it weren’t so complicated to get registered.

— I’m right there with you, complicated & nerve wracking.

About this point in the conversation I mentioned that I was thinking of writing a column about this ongoing situation.

Here was one response:

— That might nudge some parties into action. I wrote a letter suggesting an earlier sign-up for over 50, but was told that’s favoritism and it’s not allowed. My thought is older folks are technologically handicapped compared to next generations and should be accommodated as such.

For those of us who got our desired classes, we’re good until next time. Those who didn’t get in will have to come on the first day of class and just hope that a bunch of people don’t show up.