How to deal with enrollment priority?

[Saint Fu]

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Hello all,

I've been looking at taking classes at a local university starting next year, and I've had some e-mail correspondence with some of the professors there regarding space availability in their classes for non-matriculated students. So far the response has been that there is barely enough room for their full-time students and that I'm probably out of luck. I'd guess that this may be the case at many universities, especially for lower division prereqs like gen chem and bio. What have people done in similar situations? Should I just keep attending, hoping that some space will free-up a few weeks in and the prof will then sign my forms? Should I take classes like those at a CC and then hope that there's more space in the upper div ones at the university?

I realize that taking everything at a CC is an option, and I am considering it, but I also want to know what my options are if I want to enroll in courses at the university.


Thanks.

 

[yohji]

what school is it?

i was told the same thing by everyone but it worked out fine. you just need to be extremely persistent.

 

[Saint Fu]

what school is it?

i was told the same thing by everyone but it worked out fine. you just need to be extremely persistent.

It's Sonoma State University in California.

I can be persistent, but I guess I don't really know how the system works. If I just keep going to class, will the prof just cave in and add me to the class even if there's technically no more room? Is he even allowed to do that? I'm just worried about buying the books and going to class for a few weeks, only to watch the open registration deadline fly by.

 

[yohji]

you need to check with each department (bio, chem, physics) to clarify what the guidelines are to enroll in a class.

for my school, enrollment for non-matrics was entirely out of the hands of the professors. even if a class seems full, if there is a point where enrollment is equal opportunity and people are droppping, then you will have a chance to get in.

 

[apumic]

why not just matriculate? becoming "degree-seeking" gets you a bunch of bonuses -- access to finaid, priority registration, access to misc. student services, etc. ...and no one's really going to care that you didn't "finish" a 2nd (or 3rd or 4th) degree anyway....

 

[Dianyla]

Depends on the school policy. At my undergrad, postbaccs have higher registration priority than seniors!

 

[Saint Fu]

Ok, so it sounds like I should just stick it out and hope that enough people start dropping.

why not just matriculate? becoming "degree-seeking" gets you a bunch of bonuses -- access to finaid, priority registration, access to misc. student services, etc. ...and no one's really going to care that you didn't "finish" a 2nd (or 3rd or 4th) degree anyway....

I suppose that's a possibility. I just looked at the application process and it seems pretty simple, I don't even think I need any letters of rec. I know some CSUs aren't accepting second bachelors due to budget though, so I'll have to look into that. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[CookDeRosa]

It's Sonoma State University in California.

I can be persistent, but I guess I don't really know how the system works. If I just keep going to class, will the prof just cave in and add me to the class even if there's technically no more room? Is he even allowed to do that? I'm just worried about buying the books and going to class for a few weeks, only to watch the open registration deadline fly by.

>>

I'm a cc teacher, and we are not allowed to add a name to our roster. That's done when the student has fulfilled financial obligation to the college. However, at the end of the term, we are allowed to "write in" names of students who completed the class but were not on our roster. It's a possible loop-hole you could explore. At our school, if this were the case, the student would be told to pay up and that would be the end of it. If your university uses an electronic grade book, this won't work.

Another thought- why not just apply/enroll as a degree seeking student? You don't actually have to complete a degree.

 

[Saint Fu]

Well, I just spoke to the admissions office and the school is not accepting applications for a second bachelors.

 

[TriagePreMed]

Well, I just spoke to the admissions office and the school is not accepting applications for a second bachelors.

Almost no CSU or UC is. Even at CC it's almost impossible to land classes. If you want to be a 2nd-bacc student, you'll have to venture into private universities.

 

[Saint Fu]

Almost no CSU or UC is. Even at CC it's almost impossible to land classes. If you want to be a 2nd-bacc student, you'll have to venture into private universities.

Yeah I figured as much. Have you personally had experience/troubles enrolling in classes?

 

[sharmi]

I am taking evening class at UC Berkeley extension as a part of their pre-med post bacc program. Doing Physiscs 2 and Gen Chem 2 this fall.

Have taken several classes at SJSU before as a post bacc - but they have discontinued taking post baccs. I plan on taking some non-science classes at SJSU next year - since it is humanities/psyc/languages - should be a lot easier to get in.

 

[Saint Fu]

In general, are upper division courses less impacted? I could at least take intro bio/chem courses at CC, then take higher level stuff at a uni.

 

[TriagePreMed]

In general, are upper division courses less impacted? I could at least take intro bio/chem courses at CC, then take higher level stuff at a uni.

It should be no problem with SOME upper division courses. Remember, some upper division courses are part of the required major for Biology, Chem, or Physics students, but you will definitely find certain courses open.