<p>Right now I'm third on a wait list for a class with 20 people. It's an upper level seminar that I would really like to take, and it is taught by a professor I had for a different class previously. I don't have much experience with wait lists, so I was wondering, is it better to email the professor now and ask about the wait list and express my enthusiasm or just come to the first day of class and talk to him about it then?</p>
<p>It’s still pretty early. If you’re only 3rd on the waitlist you’re almost surely good. Even if nobody dropped they would probably still make an exception for the first few people on the waitlist, and odds are over the next few weeks people are going to have to adjust their schedules, so don’t worry too much about it. I was 11th on a waitlist two days ago and just got an override today without even asking for it.</p>
<p>I would send the e-mail. They are not required to take people off the waitlist in order. The e-mail could make the difference. As long as you are not obnoxious, the e-mail won’t set you back.</p>