how to ask a professor for a waitlisted course

Why do professors ask waitlisted students to attend the second class?

Introduce yourself, let them know this class is a priority for you, let them know what number you are on the waitlist, and politely ask them if there is anyway they would be willing to add you into the course (even if you have to wait until the day the class begins to be added in)

How do you ask a professor to add you to waitlist?

Ask about the class, express your interest, ask for a copy of the syllabus, discuss the material. Express interest and enthusiasm. Then, when registration completes if you did not get in, go back to see the professor and politely see if anything can be worked out.

What to do if you are waitlisted for a class?

You may be the first student on the wait list for a course that often sees 20% of enrolled students drop out in the first week, or you might be the 13th person on the wait list for a course that hasn’t seen a student drop out in the past 10 years. The professor can estimate your chances of getting enrolled far better than you can, so ask.

How do you politely ask a professor for a class?

Don’t email me telling me you’ve heard I’m an amazing professor. Makes me feel instantly uncomfortable. Just write an email asking your question in the post title and leave it at that. Simple and straight to the point. “What’s my best chance of getting off the waitlist and into your course?” is sufficient.

How do I ask for a waitlisted class?

Should I email a professor about waitlist?

How do you ask a professor to waive a prerequisite?

How do you ask for permission to take classes?

How do I write a waiting list letter?

How do you email a professor to schedule a meeting?

How do you write an email asking for a course?

Can a professor add you to a full class?

Is professor a designation?

How do I ask my professor for Class permission?

How do I ask my professor for approval?

How do you email a professor about a class?

1. Talk to someone

Call the department head or email the professor for the class you want before the quarter/semester even starts. This can be during your registration period or any time before the first week of class.

3. Approach the professor

At the end of the class you crash, stick around and talk to the professor. Whether they mentioned the waitlist or not, introducing yourself and explaining your situation will help them put a face to your name when deciding who to add and drop from the waitlist.

4. Be persistent

Keep crashing the class for the first week. Not only will you stay on top of the course work, but the professor may drop people who don’t show up, creating room for people who have shown up (you)! Most professors wait until week two to add students because they gauge how many people to admit from the waitlist based on a number of factors.

5. Have a backup class

It’s 10-times more stressful if you’re trying to crash a class and have nothing to fall back on. If possible, attend a lecture or section for the class you’re currently enrolled in. At the least, email the professor and briefly describe your circumstances so they don’t drop you from that class in case you don’t make it into the other one.

6. Know the system

Check the deadlines for adding and dropping classes—typically, this is the last day of week one. Usually there’s a fee for dropping classes after the deadline, so if this happens (i.e., your professor begins adding people at the beginning of week two), it may be a good idea to talk to your school’s registrar and see if the fee can be waived.

What does it mean to attend the first class?

The first class isn't the most important class in terms of what will be taught. However, attending the first class means you are serious about taking the course and aren't going to give up on it.

Is course registration a hassle?

Wikimedia Commons. Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by ...

What is the history of photography?

The history of photography is the recount of inventions, scientific discoveries and technical improvements that allowed human beings to capture an image on a photosensitive surface for the first time, using light and certain chemical elements that react with it.

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Show up anyway

Particularly if it’s a larger class in a lecture environment, showing up on the first day can be an important first step. Some students might be under the impression that the professor will always contact you if a space opens up in the class.

Show the professor you are committed

It is vital to educate yourself on the class and potential material that will be covered to help prove you deserve a spot in the class.

Be prepared to compete for a spot

To your dismay, you might not be the only student trying to get into the class. Depending on the size of your school and classes, the waitlist may have a limit as to how many students can move ahead on the list and ultimately into the class.

Have a backup plan

The unfortunate reality is that all of the students who originally registered for the class could show up on the first day, and the professor might decide the classroom cannot hold any additional students. If this ends up being the case for you, it is crucial to have a backup plan in place.

Be Professional

Perhaps most importantly, you should be professional when emailing your professors. But, what do we mean by this?

Say Something Nice

Yes, really. It doesn’t hurt to be nice when emailing professors, especially when you’re asking for their advice or help.

Give Context (i.e. Who Are You?)

College professors have tons of students. So, oftentimes (if not always), they may need a little reminder on how they know you. This is especially true if you’re not in touch with them frequently. This is exactly what you should do next – explain who you are!

Be Straightforward

Since they have so many students, professors also receive a lot of emails. So, when emailing them, make sure to get straight to the point (no beating around the bush!). Be specific about your question, and provide context if needed. If you’ve already tried to solve your problem or answer your question in a number of ways, mention these.

Sign Off!

After asking your question (or saying whatever you needed to say), it’s time to sign off! Most commonly, people will do this by using a “Best,”, “Thanks,” “Sincerely,” or something along those lines, followed by their name. If your university email does not include your full name, write both your first and last name in your sign off.

Components to include

Before we get into what makes an email to a professor for research different, we should first list the basic components of this type of email (as they largely overlap with a normal email to a professor). Any email to a professor (for research) should:

Do your research!

If you’re interested in doing research, now’s your time to show off your skills! Before you go about emailing any research professor for an opportunity to work in their lab, you must first know what their lab studies.