Running your DARS (Degree Audit Reporting System) regularly is important because it shows, in real time, whether you are actually on track to graduate and exactly what requirements you still owe.

What DARS Actually Does

DARS is an automated degree audit that pulls from your official student record and maps every course you’ve taken (and are taking) to your major, minor, and other program requirements.

It displays all required categories—general education, major courses, credits, GPA thresholds—and flags which are completed, in progress, or still missing.

Think of it like a live checklist for graduation that updates itself as your transcript changes.

Why It’s Important To Run Your DARS

  1. To know if you’re on track to graduate
    • DARS shows your real-time progress toward your degree so you can see if you’re actually heading toward graduation or drifting off path.
 * Many universities use the DARS/graduation audit as one of the tools to verify that you’ve met all requirements before they award your degree.
  1. To pick the right classes each term
    • Running DARS before registration helps you see exactly which requirements are still unmet so you can choose classes that “count” instead of wasting credits.
 * Running it again after you register lets you confirm that the courses you picked really apply where you thought they would.
  1. To avoid last‑minute graduation surprises
    • Students sometimes discover in their final semester that they’re missing a category (like a specific upper-division elective or writing-intensive course); a quick DARS run earlier usually reveals that.
 * Since DARS pulls current data from your record, it’s better than relying on memory or old paper checklists.
  1. To have better meetings with your advisor
    • Advisors use DARS as a central tool in academic advising because it puts all your requirements and progress in one place.
 * Bringing a recent DARS report to your advising appointment means you spend less time deciphering rules and more time planning smart strategies (like study abroad, minors, or graduating early).
  1. To explore “what‑if” majors or programs
    • Many schools let you run “what‑if” DARS reports for majors, minors, or certificates you haven’t declared.
 * This shows how your existing courses would apply if you changed paths, which helps you decide if switching majors will add time or fit neatly into your current credits.

How Often Should You Run It?

  • At least once a semester to check your overall trajectory.
  • Before registration to choose classes that fulfill unmet requirements.
  • After you register to double‑check how your new schedule slots into degree requirements.
  • Whenever you change a major, minor, or certificate to see how your old coursework applies to the new plan.

Quick Illustration

Imagine you’re a junior who thinks they’re almost done with general education. You run your DARS and notice:

  • One gen‑ed category is still unmet.
  • A course you assumed counted for your major is actually showing as “elective only.”
  • You’re a few credits short of the required upper‑division total.

By spotting this early through DARS, you can pick next semester’s classes to patch these gaps, instead of discovering the problem in what was supposed to be your final term.

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TL;DR: It’s important to run your DARS because it’s the clearest, most up‑to‑date snapshot of where you stand on every degree requirement, which protects you from wasted credits, bad course choices, and delayed graduation.