So I finally got into Chem ( which I'm currently taking) for the Summer session at Glendale Community College in Cali. Got in completely through luck after trying for 3 semesters.
I thought I was set since I had a decent priority registration date for Fall, but of course Micro and Anatomy are all filled up already and now I'm on the waiting list. The waiting list isn't too promising though and getting into classes at other schools seems just as hard.
Does anyone have any advice? Would it be better just to try online classes? I have the time and the money to take the courses.. it's just the getting in part that's the problem. Thanks!
Specializes in Public Health (PHN), Critical Care.
I ran into this same issue, first when I decided to go back to school for a BSN, as a returning student at my local community college, and later, when said community college decided to start bumping students with 80+ credits (this is my second Bachelor's) to the end of the queue for registration. Luckily, I was able to get all the classes I needed, sequentially (~54 units), with 1 trick:
- when you go to register online, and the classes you want are full, there are often RSS feeds for the registration sites - that is, you can "subscribe" to RSS updates for certain classes that you are "watching". If this is the case for you, set up the RSS feed and watch it like a hawk. Heck, I checked every 15 minutes for several days, via the computer at home, and via my handheld when away from home. Even if there is not an option for RSS updates, then keep checking the class status as often as possible. There are almost always a handful of people that will change their schedule and/or drop the class(es) you need - the trick is to be right there, online, when they do, or soon enough after to snag the seat.
As others have suggested, register at as many as you think are within a tolerable distance to commute, and watch their class schedules.
Many community colleges run honors programs, in addition to hardship programs. I imagine most are familiar with what one needs to qualify for most honors organizations: GPA, sufficient load of classes, etc. For the hardship programs (usually designed to encourage those who would otherwise not attend college to do so), some colleges have a wide breadth of what they consider a "hardship" - I have seen "1st generation college student" listed as a hardship, among other criteria that are rather unusual. The upshot is, as a member of either of these programs, typically, students are able to register *before* regular registration begins!
Granted, not all community colleges have these programs, but, if the ones around you do, research what hoops you need to jump through, and get in there. Even taking some "fluff" classes the 1st semester to get your foot in the door, so as to access these programs (and others like them), would be to your benefit.
I know the whole process of trying to register for your prerequisites is stressful, and can be disheartening, most of all in California right now. Keep at it, and make sure and explore your options - research is your friend, especially when coupled with a mentality of doing your best to flow *around* obstacles in your path, rather than be blocked by them :)
l0k33_RN
19 Posts
I ran into this same issue, first when I decided to go back to school for a BSN, as a returning student at my local community college, and later, when said community college decided to start bumping students with 80+ credits (this is my second Bachelor's) to the end of the queue for registration. Luckily, I was able to get all the classes I needed, sequentially (~54 units), with 1 trick:
- when you go to register online, and the classes you want are full, there are often RSS feeds for the registration sites - that is, you can "subscribe" to RSS updates for certain classes that you are "watching". If this is the case for you, set up the RSS feed and watch it like a hawk. Heck, I checked every 15 minutes for several days, via the computer at home, and via my handheld when away from home. Even if there is not an option for RSS updates, then keep checking the class status as often as possible. There are almost always a handful of people that will change their schedule and/or drop the class(es) you need - the trick is to be right there, online, when they do, or soon enough after to snag the seat.
Failing that, here is a link to all the community colleges in SoCal: http://www.cccco.edu/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=1MLZTbFko6s%3d&tabid=829&mid=2528
As others have suggested, register at as many as you think are within a tolerable distance to commute, and watch their class schedules.
Many community colleges run honors programs, in addition to hardship programs. I imagine most are familiar with what one needs to qualify for most honors organizations: GPA, sufficient load of classes, etc. For the hardship programs (usually designed to encourage those who would otherwise not attend college to do so), some colleges have a wide breadth of what they consider a "hardship" - I have seen "1st generation college student" listed as a hardship, among other criteria that are rather unusual. The upshot is, as a member of either of these programs, typically, students are able to register *before* regular registration begins!
Granted, not all community colleges have these programs, but, if the ones around you do, research what hoops you need to jump through, and get in there. Even taking some "fluff" classes the 1st semester to get your foot in the door, so as to access these programs (and others like them), would be to your benefit.
I know the whole process of trying to register for your prerequisites is stressful, and can be disheartening, most of all in California right now. Keep at it, and make sure and explore your options - research is your friend, especially when coupled with a mentality of doing your best to flow *around* obstacles in your path, rather than be blocked by them :)
Good luck!