<p>and how did you word your email exactly</p>
<p>I haven’t been successful mostly because they told me to wait until after orientation but basically, this is the format I used. </p>
<p>Hey Professor BLAH,</p>
<p>My name is BLAH and I will be a freshman this fall. I am e-mailing you about your BLAH class. I wanted to know,if the limited space allows you to do so, whether you could grant me an override. If you would like to speak with me before classes start for any questions, I can be reached at 111-111-1111, or you can e-mail me back at <a href="mailto:BLAH@BLAH.COM">BLAH@BLAH.COM</a></p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>BLAH</p>
<p>Obviously change it around and add/subtract more because if everyone copies and pastes the same thing then that’s sort of weird…but this is the general format. Make is short and to-the-point but also polite. </p>
<p>Hope this helps :]</p>
<p>Haha, I remember writing the first one of those. Getting the wording correct is difficult, especially when addressing the god-like professors. Getting overrides as an upperclassman is so much different, usually because you know the prof. As an underclassman its harder to get overrides partly because there is less of an imperative for you to HAVE to take any class.</p>
<p>Don’t they open up more spots when you register for your full credit load once you get here? It may be best to wait until that time…</p>
<p>Hello Professor [Z],
I am an incoming freshman and prospective major. I am very interested in [subject x] and would love to be able to take your class this fall. Would it be possible to get an override or be put on the waiting list for it?
Thank you,
<a href=“'14”>Student Y</a></p>
<p>Be sure all the "x"s apply to the same general topic area.</p>
<p>If it is one of those 100+ person intro classes, most profs don’t do overrides but rather have a waiting list.</p>
<p>it is also worth it to ask if the professor keeps a wait list, and if they do, if you can be put on it. Some professors will close their registration on banner, and when people drop, spaces will open but they will only be open to who the professor wants (aka, the WL)</p>
<p>It’s always best to email as early as possible in case some professors maintain a waiting list. But in most cases they don’t, and either way you’re not likely to get an override until you actually get to campus. Best bet is to email as early as possible to cover your bases, then go to the class and talk to the professor afterward for the first few sessions to show you’re really interested.</p>
<p>
This made me smile, Here<em>to</em>Help! My d is a history fan and especially loves British history. When one of W & M’s most prominent history profs was about to retire, during her freshman year, he offered a 300-level class on Tudor England. This was obviously the last time he was going to teach it, and she really wanted to register for it. She emailed him for an override, and his response was very warm and politely worded - something about how he’d be glad to grant her an override if she felt confident she could hold her own in a class with senior history majors and grad students. She picked up on the fact that she wasn’t yet qualified to do well in the class, and she was grateful that he hadn’t been at all condescending or snobby about her naive email. Then he invited her to his farewell lecture and the reception afterwards. :)</p>
<p>To me, the incident demonstrates what’s so great about W & M faculty - they’re really there primarily to teach their students, they care about them, and they want to interact with them. My youngest d has made extensive use of office hours and so far has never been disappointed in how available and open faculty members are.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that many W&M faculty may be out of the office or checking email only periodically so if you don’t get an immediate response, don’t worry. I’m sure they’ll respond when you return to campus.</p>
<p>Many students also just go to a class they’re interested in on the first day and chat with the professor at that point about being let into the class.</p>