<p>I am not sure how the wait list works but why are there people on the wait list when the class is still open? Can you get on the wait list of a class that's still open? </p>
<p>Yes, but each class has a set amount of seats for the major, the standing you have (junior, senior), and etc. Go to Berkeley schedule, look up the class, and “Click here for current enrollment and course restrictions”. If it’s not a class that is restricted, then you should be able to get into the class. You might have to wait until the first week or two for the waitlist to process. However, it depends on class seats and whether the department manually processes the waitlist. For example, Haas classes are restricted to Haas students (most of the time). So when a non-major signs up for a Haas class, they would stay on the waitlist until the first or second week before getting into the class if there are still spots left. </p>
<p>Lots of ways.</p>
<p>If the class has multiple labs or discussions and some of the lab/discussions are full, then you will have to either sign up for the lab/discussion that’s not full which enrolls you in the class, or put yourself on the waitlist for that fully-enrolled lab/discussion and the lecture too.</p>
<p>The other case is what totalcaprice said above that some of the seats are reserved for the majors or certain colleges. Sometimes even without any explicit restriction, some seats are reserved for whoever reserved it.</p>
<p>The last case is you can voluntarily to be on the waitlist when you can sign up for the class. I’ve never done that myself or why would I ever do that, but it’s an option.</p>