The Unofficial NUS CORS FAQ For Freshmen

(Updated 4th January 2010) Going through my analytics, people are coming to my blog with some questions not really covered in my blog.

Here is a collation of the most frequently asked questions with my best answers. Again, note that this is an unofficial CORS guide.

CORS FAQ

1. Does the NUS CORS system suck?
   Not really. Only when the bidders exceed the vacancy, the closing period sucks as we don't know how much to bid.
   
   
2. How do I check the CORS results? When will it be released?
   Usually by 8pm on the same day of round closing, the results will be sent to your NUS mail. Sometimes, it can (and has) taken up to 1130pm.
   
   
3. How can I get more points in CORS?
   Two avenues - Online Student Feedback Exercise (100 points) and CORS Survey (30 General points). Notifications to take them will be sent to your NUS e-mail when the time arrives.
   
   
4. What do the different CORS rounds mean?
   Go here, scroll all the way to the bottom and download the file under 'Here are the detailed bidding round descriptions and activities'
   
   
5. When should I start bidding for my modules?
   Get the modules as early as possible. If not the MPE (link for SOC students) exercise, secure it during round 1 as the fight for popular modules can get tougher in the later rounds with more competition.
   
   
6. Can I really plan my own timetable in NUS?
   Quite hard to believe that too when I entered NUS, but yes, you can, and you have to. Use the TimeTable Builder to assist you. Be sure to select the correct year and semester! There is one unofficial timetable [outdated?] here and a more recent one here. As with every downloadable software, take security precautions. I have NOT used them personally and am providing links only for those adventurous ones.
   
   
7. Are there any cheats in CORS?
   Of course not, but see my CORS posts for many tips.
   
   
8. What is the CORS Opening Period?
   This is how all rounds start - the opening period. You will be able to see the highest bid points, minimum winning bid and lowest bid for a module once you add the module. Until the closing period comes in...
   
   
9. What is the CORS Closing Period?
   Due to the occurrence of bidders hitting the Refresh key non-stop in the last few minutes, NUS has come up with this 'innovative' strategy of hiding the highest bid points, minimum winning bid and lowest bid in the last few hours of the round. That last few hours is called the 'closing period'. See my post for more information on it.
   
   
10. Any strategies or tips for getting the tutorial slots I want?
    Not much for the first round as it involves only ranking your choices without any information on the current number of balloters. In the later rounds where you are allowed to add/drop your assigned tutorial slot or request Swap slots, do it as early as possible. This means, do it at the time the round opens. This strongly increases your chances to get the desired slot or to get the first slot in the queue for swapping.
    
    
11. How do I declare my major and minor?
    Once you login to CORS, you will be prompted to declare.
    
    
12. How do I drop a module when I can't access CORS?
    Wait for CORS to open if bidding rounds are ongoing. CORS will also be open during the term time after the bidding and tutorial rounds have ended to allow you to drop modules. Note that dropping modules after the 2nd week awards you a W grade in your transcript and dropping a month later than that awards you a 'F' grade and you can't S/U it. See here under Bidding Schedule for 'X grade takes effect from..'. for the exact dates.
    
    
13. How do I ensure my modules don't clash in the time table and exams?
    Use the NUS TimeTable Builder. Note that you cannot bid for a module in CORS if its timetable or exam dates clash with any of the modules you already have or are bidding for.
    
    
14. Where do I bid or ballot for tutorials?
    Once you login to CORS, there is a section for you to ballot and rank your tutorial slots if the round is open. Check the CORS schedule (under 'Tutorial Schedule') for the starting and ending times, as some rounds end as early as 12pm.
    
    
15. How many points should I bid for a module?
    This is a decision you should take independently as there is no one size fit all. See my posts for some CORS tips.
    
    
16. How does the CORS tutorial balloting work?
    Here's the description by CORS. You just need to rank your choices of tutorial groups. No, the first round (and only the first round) is NOT first-come-first-serve basis. You will be given a total of 20 ranks. In CORS, when the balloting is open, place the first rank for the tutorial slot you want most, 2nd rank for the tutorial you want 2nd, and so on. No need to use all 20 ranks.
    
    It is your responsibility to check that the slots you choose do not clash with any lectures or tutorials you already have if not you will not get the slot and lose the rank. CORS does NOT check for clashes when you rank your tutorial groups. After the round is over, the vacancy level of the groups will be published in the main CORS just like the ending of the Opening period in CORS bidding.
    
    In the next round, you are now allowed to instantly add/drop tutorial slots provided there are vacancies. This is a first-come-first-serve basis so be there sharp when the round opens if you want to go to a tutorial with vacancies.
    
    Then there's the Swapping round. You place a request e.g. 'I want to swap Tutorial Group A with Tutorial Group B' - then you wait for someone else to do the same. Once someone has a similar request, you swap tutorial slots with the other person. Otherwise, you wait and try your luck. This is a first-come-first-serve basis as well.
    
    
17. So how does the NUS CORS tutorial ranking assign the vacancies after I ranked my choices?
    Here's a simple guide on how the tutorial balloting is done in CORS. Take for example, there is Student A, B, C and D balloting for a tutorial group Z with only 3 vacancies. Student A and C placed tutorial group Z as first choice. Student B and D placed it as 2nd choice with the first choice for other tutorial groups. This is how it will go:
    
    
    1. CORS will process all the first ranks first. It will see that a total of two students have placed it as first choices. Since it did not exceed vacancy, it assigns Student A and C two slots in tutorial group Z.
       
       
    2. Now CORS processes the 2nd ranks. Uh oh, looks like two students (B,D) have placed it as 2nd choices while only 1 vacancy is left. What happens now is that CORS randomly assigns one student the winning seat.
       
       
    3. In the end, Student A and C get their first choice. Student B gets his 2nd choice due to him winning CORS's random algorithm. Student D loses his 2nd choice preference.
       
       
    So you can see that your first choice if it exceeds vacancy of the total number of balloters who also indicated it as first choices, does not guarantee you a place in the tutorial group. It's a somewhat random way of assigning tutorial groups that you can guide the direction by ranking your choices. No information on the number of balloters is released until the round is over. See another guide here.
    
    
18. How do I find the available tutorial groups for my module?
    It is in the CORS Module Detailed Information module listing. The tutorial code is indicated in square brackets in the first line.
    
    
19. If the exam for module A is in the afternoon and exam for module B is in the evening, will it clash?
    Generally: Morning exam - 9am. Afternoon - 1pm. Evening - 5pm. Two hours each paper, generally.
    Some papers have odd timings and lengths. Check the list for Semester 1 or Semester 2 for the exact exam date and time.
    
    
20. What does getting a 'W' grade in my NUS transcript mean for dropping a module late?
    Pretty much thats it. It won't affect your CAP. The only thing it does is an entry appears in your transcript stating that you got W for the module. A crude way to discourage students from wasting NUS module resources for the additional one month.
    
    
21. When can I start overloading my module allocation?
    In CORS, this is sometimes referred to as "accelerate". Both refer to taking modules more than you are allowed to in the first two rounds. This is usually 20 MCs.
    
    Normally this is allowed from Round 3 onwards. You can get the information from here. Scroll to the bottom and click on the links below the paragraph that says "Here are the detailed bidding round descriptions and activities". Look for the keyword "accelerate" under the round description.
    
    
22. When do I start bidding for my Singapore Studies modules?
    Normally, from Round 2A onwards. You can get the information from here. Scroll to the bottom and click on the links below the paragraph that says "Here are the detailed bidding round descriptions and activities". Look for the keyword "SS" in the round description header.
    
    
23. When do I start bidding for my GEM modules?
    Normally, from Round 2A onwards. You can get the information from here. Scroll to the bottom and click on the links below the paragraph that says "Here are the detailed bidding round descriptions and activities". Look for the keyword "GEM" in the round description header.
    
    
24. My CORS results says "Outbidded"! What's next?
    If you have been outbid, the module has not been allocated to you. Bid for it again in the next round if there's slots for it, or consider other module options. If slots are available in the next round, expect competition to be very tough as there will also be other people like you who may want to rebid for the module.
    
    You may also want to wait for Round 3 onwards, where all vacancies are combined to one. Check the bidding statistics to see whether there are reserved slots for freshmen and the popularity of them.
    
    
25. What is Round 0 for?
    Round Zero is for placing advance bids for the next eligible round you can bid the module for. No actual bidding goes on during this round.
    
    
26. I can't login to CORS / I forgot my NUS username and password? How do I reset it?
    Go here.
    

Any corrections let me know in the comments below.