›
To take part in discussions on talkSFU, please apply for membership (SFU email id required).

At what point do people usually start dropping out of courses and waiting lists go down?

sfustudent13
edited November 2012 in General
I've been checking available CRIM courses once or twice every half an hour waiting for spots to open up since they are all full (there are no waiting lists for CRIM courses). At what point do people usually start dropping courses and stuff? it's only my 2nd semester so I'm not used to this since I got early enrolment last semester

Comments

  • physphys
    crim courses are very difficult to get into, if you had late enrollment days.  I was also interested in taking a crim course for this fall but everything fills up and to be honest i spent 3 days constantly checking for a spot to open and nothing happened. You'll be lucky if you get in. But a spot may open up randomly if someone drops out but i'm sure there will be others to grab it besides you. Just continue to check and have a backup option if you need one more course.
  • Whydoihavetoregister
    First week of class
  • BeAnBeAnBeAnBeAn
    Should I just start adding my backup electives though? Because I haven't yet... because the advisors told me they would fix it by the end of this week which I seriously doubt because SFU advisors are utterly useless. If I do add my electives and none of my core courses though and the core courses open up, and I drop my electives, won't I have to pay a penalty? Which is retarded.
  • Whydoihavetoregister
    edited November 2012
    Just add some electives, sit and wait for first week where most of the drops occur.  As previously answered if your total course load has not decrease you won't be penalized
  • bitsbytes
    what is the "total course load" ?
  • Whydoihavetoregister
    if you registered for 12 credit hours, your total course load shouldn't be less than 12 credit hours. So if you have 4 3-credit hour courses (4X3=12) and you dropped one, that reduce your course load to 9 credit hours (3x3=9)
    This is if you drop a course and you don't add another one.
  • bitsbytes
    Now I get it.

    So why is it said that you can drop classes for free until November 30th and after that and before January 11th is is $50 per class up to a max of $100? Only if your course load is teh same.

    For example I have enrolled in 3 courses and I wait for one more to open. If it will finaly open, can I drop the first one and add the other without penalty? Can I just swap them.. I am talking about after November 30th
  • bitsbytes
    Also...Does a course in waiting list affect the course load? If I drop it while it is in the waitinglist will I have any penalty?

     Sorry about my silly questions but this is my first year at SFU
  • Whydoihavetoregister
    waitlist courses do not count towards the total course load, if I were you I would either wait for a spot to open or ask the department to add me in before removing an existing course on my schedule
  • Flash
    What is the difference between swap and drop then, if you don't get penalized for dropping, then adding another?
  • BubbleTea
    The thing is, though, you do get penalize for dropping & adding a course. Some people get dinged by the $50 fee, and I think they went in to talk to advisors to waive it.

    I would recommend swapping the courses when a spot opens up. It is much safer & guarantees no penalty fee.

    If a class doesn't have waiting list, some spots will open up after midday or midnight (around 1ish) when sis updates. If there is a waiting list, because the way sis is sort of screwed up, sometimes you can add yourself in even though there's still people on the waiting list. As long as you get onto waiting list before spot 10, I wouldn't be too worry, you'll usually get into the course.

    SFU's enrollment system is a bit screwy, but up till now, I have always gotten into classes I want, just by sheer perseverance.
  • BeAnBeAnBeAnBeAn
    Thanks BubbleTea. I guess the penalty is really just a deterrent and probably would be easy to get waived if you explain your situation to an advisor. 

    Another example I tend to use is when StudentAidBC lost my MFSAA so I didn't receive my loans in time for the deadline so I talked to a financial advisor about it and she said the 2% penalty will be applied but just keep your documentation and you can get it waived afterwards. Thing is I never even got the penalty in the first place though it was late.

    So maybe if you drop and add fast before the deadline you might not even get the penalty at all.

Leave a Comment