What to do if you can't enroll in the class you want
Some advice on how to get the classes you need
Kenny Martin
Date created: 2/3/10 Section: FEATURES
Skyline students have been trying their luck at getting into the ever smaller amount of available classes, with some having more success than others. But for those who did not get all of the classes that they wanted or needed, the situation is not completely hopeless.
"Students need to be proactive in talking to the instructor about the critical need for the class," said Skyline's Vice President of Instruction, Regina Stanback Stroud, in an email.
Teachers will always give priority to people actually enrolled in the class and on the waitlist, but only if they show up the first couple of class sessions. Otherwise, it is very likely they will end up adding someone who did consistently show up to class, even though they weren't initially enrolled.
"There is no alternative to showing up on the first day of class," said Don Biederman, a counselor at Skyline.
Obviously, as you go farther and farther into the semester, it gets harder and harder to find a class that you need that still has enrollment room since the number of students allowed to be in a class is usually limited by various factors.
When a new semester is about to start, the greatest help you can give yourself is to enroll the very first day that you are allowed to as classes can fill up really quickly. Some people even take this advice extremely literally and are in front of their computers at midnight, just waiting for the minute hand to move.
However, something most people are probably not aware of is how enrollment dates are determined.
Dean of Enrollment Sherri Hancock provided via email several factors that go into assigning enrollment dates to students. According to Hancock, on the initial day of registration, only Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS), Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS), and CalWORKS students are allowed to enroll. During the next two days, enrollment opportunity opens up to veterans and current students who have an education plan that was set up by the student and their counselor. By the fourth day, students who are currently enrolled but do not have a established plan will have a chance to register. After that, the number of units a student has is the primary factor--the more cumulative units a current student has, the higher priority they receive for an earlier registration date.
"To maximize your chances, get an education plan," Biederman said. Also, "register on the first day and no matter what, attend the first day of class."
While nobody can make any guarantees that you will get your classes even if you do everything possible to enroll, your chances will be much higher than if you don't take an active role in trying your best to get registered.
"Students need to be proactive in talking to the instructor about the critical need for the class," said Skyline's Vice President of Instruction, Regina Stanback Stroud, in an email.
Teachers will always give priority to people actually enrolled in the class and on the waitlist, but only if they show up the first couple of class sessions. Otherwise, it is very likely they will end up adding someone who did consistently show up to class, even though they weren't initially enrolled.
"There is no alternative to showing up on the first day of class," said Don Biederman, a counselor at Skyline.
Obviously, as you go farther and farther into the semester, it gets harder and harder to find a class that you need that still has enrollment room since the number of students allowed to be in a class is usually limited by various factors.
When a new semester is about to start, the greatest help you can give yourself is to enroll the very first day that you are allowed to as classes can fill up really quickly. Some people even take this advice extremely literally and are in front of their computers at midnight, just waiting for the minute hand to move.
However, something most people are probably not aware of is how enrollment dates are determined.
Dean of Enrollment Sherri Hancock provided via email several factors that go into assigning enrollment dates to students. According to Hancock, on the initial day of registration, only Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS), Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS), and CalWORKS students are allowed to enroll. During the next two days, enrollment opportunity opens up to veterans and current students who have an education plan that was set up by the student and their counselor. By the fourth day, students who are currently enrolled but do not have a established plan will have a chance to register. After that, the number of units a student has is the primary factor--the more cumulative units a current student has, the higher priority they receive for an earlier registration date.
"To maximize your chances, get an education plan," Biederman said. Also, "register on the first day and no matter what, attend the first day of class."
While nobody can make any guarantees that you will get your classes even if you do everything possible to enroll, your chances will be much higher than if you don't take an active role in trying your best to get registered.
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