A waitlist is just as the name suggests. When you place yourself on a waitlist for a course, you are getting in line behind other people, just as you often must do at a restaurant. For example, if your schedule on myUK indicates you are “Waitlist #4,” four students must drop the course for you to become enrolled in that section.
When you are waitlisted, you are not actually enrolled in the course and are not guaranteed enrollment. In fact, after the last day to add a course, all the waitlists are purged, and the class will disappear from your schedule if you remain waitlisted.
Being waitlisted for a course means taking a calculated risk, so you want to be realistic about your chances of getting into that particular section. For example, if you are waitlisted #23 for a COM 252 section that has a maximum capacity of 30 students, you will probably not become enrolled in the class.
Neither you nor your academic advisor can predict whether you will get in a waitlisted section.
Enrolling in a section with open seats (even if it is the dreaded MWF 8-8:50 a.m. time slot!) is a better strategy than simply placing yourself on the waitlist and seeing what happens.
If you must be waitlisted, you may wish to consider the following to help maximize your chances of getting into the class:
- Choose the waitlist on which you will be the highest.
To determine this, go to the course catalog and search for all of the sections of the class by entering the course abbreviation (e.g., CHE) and course number (e.g., 105), checking the box that says “Include Number of Open Seats,” and clicking “Search.”
The area where it says “Waitlist: __” (highlighted below) shows you how many spots remain on the waitlist.
The waitlist on which you will be the highest is simply the one with the most spots still remaining on the waitlist.
Below is an example of this concept. In this scenario, you are better off placing yourself on the waitlist for section 001:
CHE 105 Section 001 - GEN COLLEGE CHEMISTRY I Credit: 3.0
Prereq: Math ACT of 23 or above (or Math placement test), or MA 109, or MA 110, or the Community College course CHE 102R or CHM 100.
Capacity (# Open) Meeting Dates Meeting Type Meeting Times Building Room Instructor
Seats: 0 From: 8/24/2011 Lecture MWF 9:00 am – 9:50 am Chemistry-Physics Bldg TBD
Waitlist: 7 To: 12/16/2011 Chemistry-Physics Bldg-Rm.139-CP
CHE 105 uniform exams will be held from 8:00PM – 9:15PM on September 15, October 13, and November 10 (Thursdays). Instructions for the exams will be given at 7:50PM. Exams will begin exactly at 8:00PM.
Check Book(s) for this course and section
CHE 105 Section 002 - GEN COLLEGE CHEMISTRY I Credit: 3.0
Prereq: Math ACT of 23 or above (or Math placement test), or MA 109, or MA 110, or the Community College course CHE 102R or CHM 100.
Capacity (# Open) Meeting Dates Meeting Type Meeting Times Building Room Instructor
Seats:0 From:8/24/2011 Lecture MWF 12:00 pm – 12:50 pm Chemistry-Physics Bldg TBD
Waitlist: 5 To: 12/16/2011 Chemistry-Physics Bldg-Rm.139-CP
CHE 105 uniform exams will be held from 8:00PM – 9:15PM on September 15, October 13, and November 10 (Thursdays). Instructions for the exams will be given at 7:50PM. Exams will begin exactly at 8:00PM.
Check Book(s) for this course and section
- Consistently monitor any course for which you are waitlisted.
Check both your schedule, to determine whether you’re moving up the waitlist, and the course catalog, to determine whether a spot opens in a different section of that course. Check these two sources throughout the add/drop period.
Please consult with your academic advisor any time you have questions. We are here to serve as one of your main campus resources and are always glad to help.
