FAQs for Students

What courses do NOT have waitlists?

Courses with co-requisites with multiple section options (Example: VISCOM 1001/VISCOM 1002)

Courses which require a successful portfolio application or interview, either with a department or individual faculty, in order to be enrolled. These courses will be indicated at the time of Advance Registration with a “Instructor/Department consent required” prerequisite

What would prevent me from adding myself to a waitlist?

• It's before your enrollment appointment time
• A waitlist for the class is not available/not being offered
• You already have a spot on two waitlists
• There are already fifteen students on the waitlist

Can I add myself to a waitlist if there is a hold on my account?

No. Any type of hold that impacts registration will also prevent you from adding yourself to a waitlist. You should contact the department who issued the hold to resolve the situation. If you are unsure who to contact, you can always start by contacting Academic Advising or the office of Registration and Records.

Can I see where I am on the waitlist?

Yes, you will be able to see your position on the waitlist in Self-Service. In the “Academics” section, click “My Class Schedule.” After selecting a term, you can see both those courses for which you are enrolled, and your placement and position on any waitlisted courses. Here is a screenshot that visualizes these instructions.

How do I know if I got into a course (enrolled from the waitlist)?

You will receive an email when you are enrolled from a waitlist into a course.

What do I need to do if I'm on the waitlist for a class and a seat becomes available?

Before Add/Drop: Nothing! If you are at the top of the waitlist and there is nothing preventing your enrollment, you will automatically be enrolled when a seat becomes available.

After Add/Drop: It depends. If the faculty member is using the automated process, you will be automatically enrolled when your number comes to the top of the list and a spot opens up. If the faculty is manually managing their wait list, you will need to have them sign a paper Add/Drop form and bring that to the Office of Registration and Records (Sullivan Center, Suite 1450) before Add/Drop ends. Once classes have started, the best way to ensure you are doing what you need to do in order to secure your space in the course is to attend class and check in with the instructor.

What would prevent me from being auto-enrolled from a waitlist?

• The course remains full
• You have a time conflict with another course in which you are already enrolled (see "When should I use the 'swap' function?" question below)
• You have already signed up for the maximum number of credits a student may enroll in in a given semester
• You have not met the prerequisites for that particular course
• You are already enrolled in another section of the same course. This type of switch (from Section A to Section B) is only possible you have set up a “swap”

When is the last day I can add myself to a waitlist?

There is no cutoff for when you can add to a waitlists, other than the day before Add/Drop ends, when all waitlists close. You should add yourself as early as possible after registration, to give yourself the highest possible place on the list.

How long can I remain on a waitlist?

All waitlists will close one day before the end of the Add/Drop period each semester. We recommend you finalize alternative plans for your enrollment before that date.

Can I add myself to the waitlist of multiple sections within the same course?

Yes. However, if a seat becomes available and you are auto-enrolled in one of the sections, you will be removed automatically from the other waitlists pertaining to that course.

Can a waitlist become closed for a class?

Yes. There will be fifteen seats available for each class waitlist. If all positions are filled, you will be unable to add yourself to the waitlist until a seat opens up.

How many classes can I wait-list for?

You can only be waitlisted for a total of six hours, which is typically two courses.

When should I use the “swap” function?

Generally, the swap function of PeopleSoft allows you to exchange your seat in one class for an open seat in another. The “future swap” option allows you fully enroll in one class while wait-listed in a second class. With the “future swap” in place, if you are enrolled from that waitlist, the original class will be dropped automatically in the same action.

“Swap” should be used in the following scenarios:

• If you are already enrolled in another section of the same class for which you wish to wait-list (in other words, you are seeking a different section of the same course, whether due to a preference of day/time or faculty, set up a swap);
• If you have a time conflict between a class you are fully enrolled in and the class for which you want to wait-list;
• If you are already enrolled in the maximum number of credit hours for a term and want to still get in to a preferred class via waitlist

I have a question that this FAQ and the waitlist guides have not answered. Who do I contact?

• Contact an advisor in the Office of Academic Advising (Sullivan Center, Suite 1204, 312.629.6800)
• Contact a staff person in the Office of Registration and Records (Sullivan Center, Suite 1450, 312.629.6700)