Waitlist Basics
A registration waitlist is an electronic process that auto-enrolls students in closed classes as seats become available. This enables students to get into the classes they want without having to continuously check for possible openings.
Waitlists operate on a first-come, first-served basis, so this process ensures that students who enroll sooner have a better chance of getting into a closed course.
Waitlists are only available once the class is full. For high-demand classes, this may be the first day of registration or, for other classes, as late as the last week.
Waitlisted classes do not count towards your enrolled hours. If your financial aid requires full-time enrollment, be sure you have enough credits without counting waitlisted classes.
Each department is responsible for determining if their class offerings should have a waitlist or not.
For courses with no waitlist available, students will need to check regularly for possible openings. Students may add themselves to any number of waitlists but will not be enrolled beyond the maximum number of hours allowed for that term. Students may remove themselves from a waitlist by following the same process as dropping a class.
Waitlist Position
From your MavLINK account, under the Enrollment side bar menu click "Waitlisted Classes". There you will see which classes you are waitlisting and your position number.
Enrollment Requirements
The requirements to be moved from waitlisted to enrolled are the same as regular registration. You will not be enrolled from the waitlist if:
▪ you are already enrolled in another section of the same class
▪ it conflicts in meeting times with another class in which you are enrolled
▪ the credit hours for the course exceed those permitted in that term
▪ you have not met the prerequisites for that class
▪ you have a registration hold
Auto-enrollment will run once a day from early registration through the first week of classes. Once the system has processed all students on the waitlist, the class will move to open status if there are any open seats remaining.
If you are successfully enrolled from the waitlist, you will receive a notification sent to your Preferred Email Account.
Removal from Waitlist
If you decide that you no longer want to take a class that you have waitlisted, it is your responsibility to remove yourself from the waitlist. If you have been enrolled from the waitlist and do not wish to take the class, it is your responsibility to drop the class before the last day to drop. If you fail to do this, you will be fee liable for the class, and you will be graded.
Learn How to Waitlist
Frequently Asked Questions
Do waitlisted students get in first?
Yes, the class will remain closed until the waitlist has added or skipped all students on the waitlist. If open seats remain, the class will then open for new enrollment.
Can I see who else is on the waitlist for a class?
No, you may only see your own position number.
I have Financial Aid; will the waitlist impact my award?
Waitlisted classes do not count towards your enrolled hours. If your financial aid requires full-time enrollment, be sure you have enough credits without counting waitlisted classes.
Can I be waitlisted for more than one section of the same class?
Yes. You can waitlist for multiple sections of the same class. You cannot indicate your preference. The waitlist process will enroll you into the first available seat. If you are enrolled off of a waitlist, then you will be deleted from all other waitlists.
Example: A student can put themselves on the waitlist for ENGL 1150 section 1, ENGL 1150 section 2, and ENGL 1150 section 3. As soon as a seat is available in any of those classes and a student is the first eligible candidate on the waitlist, they will be enrolled into the class and removed from the other two section’s waitlist.
- It is recommended you only select your best choice for a waitlisted course.
Can I be both enrolled and waitlisted for different sections of the same class?
Yes. However, you cannot be enrolled into both classes. If you drop the course in which you are enrolled and there is a seat available in the waitlisted course and you are the next eligible student, then you will be enrolled.
Alternatively, you could use the swap feature. Using the Swap feature allows you to be on the waitlist for a class, and have another class (already on your schedule) be dropped only if the waitlisted class becomes available (i.e., you will be dropped from the first class and added to the new one if a spot becomes available and all other criteria are met). However, you should not use the Swap feature for multiple component courses (i.e., lecture/lab, lecture/discussion, etc.), since swapping for a multiple component course will drop you from the original section and put you on the waitlist for the new one (i.e., you will lose your seat in the original class).
Example: A student is enrolled in Math 1000 section 1 which meets on Mondays. They would prefer Math 1000 section 2 which meets on Tuesdays. The student places themselves on the waitlist for Math 1000 section 2. They will NOT be enrolled into that class even if they are eligible and there is a seat available. They must first drop themselves from Math 1000 section 1 or swap Math 1000 section 1 for Math 1000 section 2.
--For classes that are very popular it is in your best interest to remain in the class as enrolled. An attempt to drop the classes to get a better schedule time can often be detrimental because several other students will be competing for the available enrollment seat.
If I enroll in one section of the class, am I removed from the waitlist of another section of the same class?
Yes, the system believes you are accommodated and removes you from the waitlists for any other sections of the same course. If you want to remain on the waitlist for another preferred section, you will need to re-waitlist for that class.
Can I waitlist for a class that conflicts (in meeting time) with an enrolled class I am in?
Time conflicts will not be checked at the time that the course is added to the waitlist.
- At the time of the auto-enrollment from the waitlist, time conflicts will be checked. If there is a time-conflict, your enrollment will not process. You will not lose your place in the waitlist queue, but will remain there until the conflict is resolved and the time-conflicting course is dropped. The students of lower ranking, but with no time conflicts, will be auto-enrolled before you.
- It is in your best interest to not waitlist a course that would present a time conflict.
- Students may want to use SWAP if there is a known time conflict between an already enrolled class section, and the section for which they want to waitlist.
When should the “SWAP” enrollment feature be used vs ADD?
If students are already enrolled in another section of the class and they want to waitlist for a different section of that class, SWAP can be used. If students use the ADD enrollment feature to get on a waitlist for a different section of the same class, they must DROP the section in which they are enrolled before they will be moved from the waitlist.
Students may also want to use SWAP if there is a known time conflict between an already enrolled class section, and the section for which they want to waitlist. If students get on a waitlist using the ADD enrollment feature, they will not be auto-enrolled into the waitlisted class until they DROP the class that presents the time conflict or the class.
Finally, students may want to use SWAP if they are already enrolled in the maximum number of units for a term and want to still get on a waitlist. If a student gets on a waitlist using the ADD enrollment feature, they will not be auto-enrolled into the waitlisted class until they DROP a class that would allow the waitlisted class to fall within the maximum number of allowable units to be enrolled in for a term.
SWAP should not be used to attempt to get on a waitlist for a closed lab or recitation, if students are already enrolled in the lecture associated with that closed lab or recitation. Students will be dropped from their enrolled class and placed on the waitlist for the lecture until a seat opens in the closed lab/recitation, since students cannot be enrolled in a lecture section and waitlisted for that same lecture simultaneously.
What are the chances of getting into a class if I am on a waitlist?
It is entirely possible that a waitlist ranking of 1 may still not result in an auto-enrollment for a course. This course may be very popular and students will not drop it. Another course may have a good number of student drops and a high ranking on the waitlist could still result in an auto-enrollment.
- Students can use the waitlist as a strategy to improve their course selection, but they should not assume they will get their waitlisted course.
Will I be notified if I have been enrolled in a waitlisted class?
Yes. You will be notified via your preferred email address if you have been successfully enrolled in a previously waitlisted course.
It is recommended that students monitor their class schedules frequently, if waiting to be enrolled in a class.
Do all classes have a waitlist?
No. It is up to the department to determine if their course has a waitlist.
How often does the system check if a student drops?
The waitlist is processed at 12 P.M. and 5 P.M. during 100% registration periods.
If I am ranked number 1 on the waitlist does that mean that I will be auto-enrolled in the course as soon as a seat is available?
Yes, if there is a seat available and there are no issues related to the auto-enrollment. Problems include:
- Enrollment in another section of the same course
- Time conflicts
- Student registration holds
- Unsatisfied prerequisites or co-requisites
- Exceeding term unit limits
- The student has already taken the class the maximum amount of times
What is the first and last day to get on a waitlist for a class?
Students cannot get on a waitlist until their enrollment appointment or open enrollment has begun. The last day to get on a waitlist for a class will be one day before the deadline to add or drop classes at 100%.
Can I drop myself from a waitlist?
Yes and you SHOULD when you decide you no longer want to be enrolled in the course.