<p>My son went on the UPS web site and took a look at the Fall 2011 class list. It seems like many of the classes, including intro classes, are already fully enrolled and closed. This is before the Fall 2011 freshman even enroll. Is it tough to get classes to fill core requirements and in major? I expect this at big state schools, but it would surprise me if this were true at UPS.</p>
<p>My son is finishing his freshman year at UPS. He didn’t have trouble getting into almost everythng he wanted this year. The first semester he got everything he wanted, but second semester he didn’t get his top choice in the seminar class because it was full. Are there particular classes your son is interested in? Later on he should get a list of seminar classes and then he will pick his top 5 (I think) choices. He will also pick his top choices for Advising Classes. Then over the summer he will hear which of those he gets into. Both of these are for freshmen only so he will definitely get into those. Then when he gets on campus for orientation he will meet with his advisor and pick the rest of the classes. Most of the classes freshmen normally take should have openings-- most students take:</p>
<pre><code> Seminar Class
Advising class (can be in any area, but only for freshmen)
Language class (lots of sections so should get into that)
One more class-- his choice, depends on area he is interested in
</code></pre>
<p>Some of the classes that older students take are full-- in fact my son is on a waiting list for a required class in his major. I was concerned about that, but before he told me he said he had talked to the teacher and that they would make sure he got into a section-- so I hope that is true. We will see!</p>
<p>You know- I saw that the classes were full and I thought they just had not put all the courses up yet- that is concerning!</p>
<p>Thanks idahomom. He is particularly interested in IPE and Comparative Sociology, and it does seem like many of the classes in those departments are full and have wait lists.</p>
<p>They might add more sections of some of the classes if needed-- at least that is the impression I got from DS. I will post later and let you know if that is true. DS said they will give priority to kids interested in majoring in the area where class is full (this is for sophomores)</p>
<p>I just looked on the registration site because I was curious</p>
<p>It looks like under Comparitive Sociology the classes that freshmen would take first semester are</p>
<p>100A Freshman seminar (no one registered for it, all spots saved for freshmen)
130A Freshman Advising Section (no one in it yet either-- all spots saved for freshmen)</p>
<p>He should definitely put those as his first choices for Seminar and Advising if he is interested in that area.</p>
<p>I didn’t look at the other (IPE) category but it might be similar</p>
<p>@idahomom- if for whatever reason your son does not get the class he wants, are the alternative courses acceptable to him and do they move him towards a 4 year grad time? Meaning is he left taking a course not in his major just to maintain full time status?</p>
<p>Right now he is registered for a class that meets one of the distribution requirements instead of his first choice. UPS has 5 or 6 areas that all students are required to take one class in (Math, Science, Arts, several more). So it is an alternate class that meets a requirement for graduation</p>
<p>He is on the waiting list (4th on waitlist) for the required class in what he wants to major in. He said that based on what the instrctor of the class said they would “Do what is necessary to accommodate students who need the class to graduate”. Based on that he is fairly sure he will get into the class. </p>
<p>To answer your question-- I think that if he doesn’t get into the class in his major he could still graduate in 4 years, but it would require a huge load Sr year.</p>
<p>Thanks idahomom, your responses very helpful. Son is nearing end of gap year, he is really looking forward to being at UPS.</p>
<p>I am concerned about this and want to ask admissions about it as there was a post on anothr site where the student actually could not get into a class he needed senior year, or possibly it was junior year but they were very unhapp-y about it. </p>
<p>idahomom, thanks for your input about this school–and did you say your D goes to Willamette? The northwest schools don’t get enough action on these boards!</p>
<p>Yes it would be interesting to see how admissions answers. I will let everyone know how it works out for DS. He said he might not know until summer because they will wait and see how many drop the class. He is now moved up to 3rd on the wait list, so still looking good that he will get in</p>
<p>Yes daughter is at Willamette. Her freshman year there was a section of French she wanted to get in. She registered for a different section, but she wanted a certain teacher. She went to both sections for the first week of class, and then the teacher of the full section added her as an “override” because she had been attending the class. She then dropped the original section. So I guess the students figure out ways to get what they want/need</p>
<p>Both really love their school, and if anyone has questions I would be glad to answer based on our (limited) experience</p>
<p>Was talking to friends, their son is at another well regarded LAC, in 8th semester. He is attending part time this semester, and will have to go back part time next Spring, because he needs a particular class for his major that is only available next Spring. Not clear whether this was more on him, in that he did not have it together enough to take the classes he needed when available, or on the school, in that classes were full and/or not available. With the amount of prviate school COA what it is, I would not be happy if this happened with one of my kids. I guess the lesson is the student has to really have it together and make sure they get in the classes they need. And I think the schools have an obligation to make sure to offer the required classes frequently enough and/or let students enroll in full classes such that they can meet their grad requirements on a timely basis.</p>
<p>An update finally about wait list class for DS. He got a note last week from the instructor that said he is in the class and the lab section he needed. I don’t know if they let everyone in from the wait list, but he is in! One less thing to worry about. Hope your students got all the classes they want/need</p>
<p>Son was in last group of freshman registering, but came away pretty happy. In addition to freshman seminar, able to register for one first choice class, second choice for language class, and fine arts class he had not thought about but is happy with. Satisfied with all, and he has been told he will be one of the earliest groups registering in the Spring, so he should be able to get more classes he really would like.</p>