How likely to get into a small seminar class from a small waiting list?

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Berkeley
1

<p>So this seminar class I am trying to take has a limit of 30 and the waiting list has a limit of only 10 people. The waiting list is processed manually (whatever that means) and I am like 8 or 9 on the waiting list and was wondering how likely is it for me to get into a small class like this from a small waiting list since there aren't hundreds of people on the waiting list trying to add. Anyone had similar experience? </p>

2

<p>Pretty unlikely. Freshman-sophomore seminar classes are pretty hard to get into if you do not phase I it. The general rule of thumb is 10% of class size is a safe range for a waitlist. 30x10%= 3, so the first 3 people on the waitlist have a decent chance of getting in…if you’re 8, or 9th, good luck. </p>

<p>EDIT: Unless, there are still seats in the class, and you can’t get into the class without signing up for the waitlist first. A waitlist that is being processed manually means someone looks at the waitlist, and if you meet the requirements, and qualify for the seats available, then they let you in). </p>

3

<p>Considering that it is manual waitlist, that changes a lot of things. The waitlist number doesn’t matter at all when it’s manual and the instructor has the control of letting in regardless of the number. Just go to class and send an email ahead of time that you really want to be in the class and you have a realistic chance b/c it’s manual waitlist. Often times the instructor is nice enough to increase the limit too.</p>

4

<p>and some people sign up for a class and end up not showing up for the seminar; professor automatically drops them…so who knows. happened for one of my classes, but another class…not as lucky haha</p>

5

<p>I write for the Berkeley admissions blog, and I just wrote a post about this. It’s <a href=“http://blog.admissions.berkeley.edu/2014/07/navigating-the-waitlist/”>http://blog.admissions.berkeley.edu/2014/07/navigating-the-waitlist/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

6

<p>Generally, the 10% rule is often correct with larger classes (i.e. Chem 1A, Math 1A) etc. However, with some smaller classes, sometimes the class is expanded to accommodate all the wait-listed people. So don’t give up hope! Stay on the wait-list and ride out the storm.</p>