how to ask to be put on a waitlist for course

How can I increase my chances of getting on the waitlist?

What to write when you get waitlisted?

Should I email a professor about waitlist?

What are my chances of getting into a Waitlisted class?

How do you write an effective waitlist letter?

How do you send an email to a waiting list?

How do you email a professor to schedule a meeting?

How do you ask a professor to waive a prerequisite?

How do you tell a professor you like their class?

How do colleges decide who gets off the waitlist?

Should I accept waitlist offer?

Is being waitlisted better than rejected?

What happens if a class is full?

Many PCC classes have a waitlist - a line to get into a full class. When a student in the class drops, a student from the waitlist will be automatically added. You can see if a class has seats available on its waitlist in MyPCC.

I'm on a waitlist, now what?

If a seat opens up, the first person on the waitlist will be automatically enrolled in the class. You can check your waitlist status on the MyPCC My Courses tab by clicking Class Schedule.

Getting added from a waitlist after a class has started

If you are still on a waitlist the day your class begins, you must get instructor permission to take the class:

Waitlists and financial aid

You need to be enrolled in a certain number of credits to receive financial aid. Since waitlisted classes don't count towards your enrollment level, this may affect your award. Contact the Financial Aid Office for advice on managing your enrollment.

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.

How to get more details about waitlists?

To get more details about college waitlists, prospective students can reach out to admissions offices and request information such as the size of the pool or related figures, but colleges often provided limited details that leave applicants with little to work with , experts say.

What does it mean to be put on a waitlist?

Being put on the waitlist means a student is a competitive candidate, but colleges are trying to admit well-rounded classes and predict who will ultimately enroll, which may mean prioritizing students based on major choices or a desirable quality they bring to the school .

When do you have to deposit to enroll in another university?

1 choice, it's wise to submit a deposit – generally a few hundred dollars – to enroll at another university before the traditional May 1 deadline , admissions pros say.

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.

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 ...

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What to do if you've been waitlisted?

Writing a letter of continued interest is a smart thing to do if you’ve been waitlisted or deferred. To learn more about what exactly one of these letters is and how you can go about writing one, ...

Where is Kate Koch-Sundquist?

Kate Koch-Sundquist is a graduate of Pomona College where she studied sociology, psychology, and writing before going on to receive an M.Ed. from Lesley University. After a few forays into living abroad and afloat (sometimes at the same time), she now makes her home north of Boston where she works as a content writer and, with her husband, raises two young sons who both inspire her and challenge her on a daily basis.