I registered for courses and I'm on the course waitlist - now what?

I’m an International Student and I’ll study in Canada. Today was my online registration date and I could register for courses (for my first and second semester). I’m number 21 and number 24 on a waitlist for two courses related to my major which I really really want to take. I don’t know which courses else I would take.

What does it exactly mean if I’m on a course waitlist? I’m not American/Canadian and our European Education System is a little different.

Does number 21 generally mean I have a good or ok chance to get into this course for that semester? Or do you think number 21 is too far behind to hope?

Can someone pls help me?

Thanks

When there is a waiting list, you might get into the class before it starts, or you might not. Each course is different. Right now there is no way to predict whether you will get into those classes. Some professors are very popular and no one ever drops their classes. Also if the class is really big there is a better chance to get off the wait list than if the class is very small. In any case, you need to plan to attend the classes for the first week or so until you know whether everyone who is going to drop the class has done that. Sometimes students do get admitted from the wait list after the first week of class.

Contact your advisor, and find out what you can take instead of these classes. If the truth is that you want to be in a 10 am section of a course instead of an 8 am section, then maybe you should just plan to get up earlier in the morning and take the 8 am section.

Ok thanks but what if I don’t get into both courses? This would mean I would only have 9 credit hours in this semester and that’s not enough. So can I really just wait and can I add new courses at the beginning of the semester if I don’t get off the two waitlists? (I need 15 credit hours, not 9!)

Contact your advisor and read the course catalog for the rules. Also post on the University’s thread directly or on the Facebook or other social media page. Every school has different rules. Part of the process is knowing the particular system of your college to benefit you. Some schools have a very long add drop period others have a very short one. Sign up for more courses just make sure you can drop them later. Maybe get some requirements out of the way. Most people in the US unless they are in STEM do not work on their major as Freshman. Not sure about Canada which is why you need to talk to the school. Ask the registrar would be another option

Yes, contact your advisor and ask for some suggestions on what to take. Unless you are transferring in in your junior or senior year, there should be lots of courses that will fill some requirement for you. I wouldn’t assume that people in the 20s on the wait list will get in unless the course has 500 or more people in it.

^^^Agree with the above. Typically students on a class waitlist will sign up for an alternate class but see how it works at your school. I wouldn’t assume you will get in the classes.

If those are required for your major, you may have a priority and bump up your waitlist order. Definitely talk to the adviser.