<p>People recommend that I go to the waitlisted class on the first day, but it is on the same slot with another class. Which one should I go to? Will they drop me from a class that I signed up for if I don't show up the first day?</p>
<p>It depends on the professor and the class. Professors will drop some after the first class no-show if it is a class that is notoriously popular or difficult to get into/long wait list…or sometimes just because. I worked as a TA for a prof. last Spring and she dropped the no-shows and actively made the class seem more difficult than it really was on day 1 to encourage students to drop (she wanted a smaller class…not a UVA prof though…).</p>
<p>Where do you sit on the waitlist? Do you have a realistic shot of getting into the class? Is the wait-list class much more important to you than the already scheduled course? Perhaps you should email the prof. of the waitlisted class and get his/her advice. He or she may say it is not necessary, or that it is imperative to come the first day. At the very least, the prof. may be able to give you an idea of where you stand on getting enrolled in the class based on past experience.</p>
<p>How big are the classes? 400 people classes don’t take attendance. Most 40 person classes don’t take attendance. Foreign language classes definitely do, and so do discussion sections…</p>