Freaking out over FULL summer classes

I have been in a similar situation. My experience with trying to get into a full Lab class is that they will not allow it. They cited some state law requirments to me when I tried to beg. Last fall I couldnt get into A&P 1 so now Im stuck going to school this summer.

This is what I would do if I were in your shoes. If you really want to get in this summer, you could buy the book and start studying on your own and then check in periodically after the class begins. There are always people who drop after they read the syllabus and if you can get in a week or two late that would work out. I started Micro a week late and I got an A.

I was closed out of the A&P II class at my local CC and was freaking out because I need to take it this summer or else wait an entire year to begin my nursing classes due to the way my program is structured.

I checked the registration website obsessively for a couple of weeks, and eventually a spot opened up and I registered.

During the time the class was still closed, I looked at all my other possible options. I found the classes at two community colleges that are both about an hour from my house, looked other places etc. I got approved for and registered for one so I would be sure I would have a class.

Can you take either of the classes elsewhere or online and transfer them in? Look into that.

There will ALWAYS be students who drop science classes! If I were you I would attend the lectures as if you're already enrolled as far into the drop/add period as needed so you won't miss any material. Keep monitoring the schedule and then add once there is space! Tricky to do with labs though. Good luck.

Yes, definitely check as many times a day as possible online for a spot. My school's website has a payment deadline each semester, and the website shuts down for a few hours and students who have not paid are dropped. I have gotten a spot before by logging on the minute the website was back up and getting a spot from someone who was just dropped.

transient-student red flags!!!

SDRL above gave great advice. I got locked out of my summer micro class because my stupid school put a block on the classes for the dental students (which the nursing program is apparently not allowed to do with summer classes.)

I signed up for a fall class, but looked all over to find an alternate class. I finally found one that was wholly online.

Good luck!

At my school, you can show up at the class you would like to take to see if there are any drops at the last min. Then go directly to registration and register. Speak to a counselor to see if you can get what at our school used to be called a red card which allowed you to register anyway.

So I spent the whole day in a high-stress frenzy, rushing around doing errands, organizing and reorganizing, cleaning... and completely forgot to check back. I wish I had - thank you, thank you for the great advice! I will be trying ALL of your suggestions! :)

Anne - thank you for the tips about swooping in after add/drop. I do have the books and each syllabus is online, so preparing for a later entry is very doable.

SDRL & Paco & Kimberlina - I'm already watching the online registrar like a HAWK looking for a glimmer of hope. Luckily I'm on my computer a lot at work, so I can check mid-day.

I looked into taking the classes at the university where I am also enrolled. Unfortunately, the times available won't work with my day job. I do need to look into other CC's...

Mama2 - Watching for the payment deadline is a really good tip! I'm marking my calendar right now. :)

Firmly - I'm not sure what you mean about red flags. My status was previously "transient" before I decided which institution had the right program for me.

Finally - I'm off to the advisor tomorrow and will ask about their equivalent of a red card. Auditing the class in the beginning..... that's a thought! The professors already know who I am and that I'm a good student, so hopefully they would approve...

We'll see what the advisor has to say.... Thank you again, everyone. You're the BEST!

You might get in..try to talk to the program director, sometimes if you explain your situation they will make adjustments (they do at my school anyway). If they can't add one more person (being you) to the class...then just call everyday and see if any spots open up in the class. Your school might be able to register you over the phone. It's really a gamble but I work at my school and some people get in a full class an over-ride to the computer from the dept. head or they just keep calling to see if somethng opens up (usually always does).

Good luck!!

Our summer registration opened up last week. Unfortunately the online registration system is completely inadequate. The online system closes (?) at night and isn't available until 0800. I had a lab at 8 so I ended up having to show up late just so I would be able to register for summer classes.

The computer lab in our Biology department was filled with people trying to register at exactly 0800. The system slows to a crawl and it takes minutes to load a page, if it loads at all; sometimes it logs you out. Most of us were using multiple computers in an attempt to increase our chances at getting registered.

I got my classes okay, but they all filled up by 0830, basically by the time I made it to the lab summer session Biology classes were full.

For the really competitive classes there's a healthy dose of luck on whether your page would load fast enough so you could get registered.

Do you have a responsive advisor who can do it for you? I feel really fortunate when I hear stories like this, our advisors will basically do it for us. We can do it online 24/7 but the pre-req situation can get dicey (e.g. you can't register yourself for Micro if you haven't passed at least A&P I but an advisor can do it for you, etc.)

In fact they recently set up a bunch of laptops in the main foyer and helped anyone who wanted to register for classes through winter 2011.

But we're a small school.

Update: My mystery hold was removed this morning. The system didn't recognize my old AP English scores and upper-level English classes, and thought I did not meet the eng/reading requirements. Simple enough to fix, thank goodness.

The advisor was wonderful and assured me that if I am unable to get the last class I need, to come see him on the first day of class and he will take care of it. :redbeathe He is quiiiite different from the previous advisors I've had at the uni.

So far, I'm definitely in A&P2 + lab and an elective (to raise the ole GPA). Just need Micro and I'm back on schedule!