floridastudent

If ACES says that a class is full but there are only 1 or 2 people waiting, is there still a chance of getting into the class? I really want one of the psych classes but it's full (Im the only one waiting and I have the first registrations window-does any of that help?)
Thank you

SBR

If it's not a lab class, then many professors often do take a couple people off the waitlist, especially if you show up for class and talk to them. This works best if the class isn't 1) a seminar as those have stricter requirements regarding size 2) a class with limited lab space available. It wouldn't hurt to email the professor to ask about what they intend to do.

floridastudent

thank you SBR you are incredibly helpful on this site
so will ACES allow me to enroll even though it says it's full?

loveduke22

Actually- First semester freshman are not allowed to waitlist for any classes, so for now you're going to have to find a class as a replacement because it won't let you enroll.

Your best bet is to find something you're just as interested in, and show up to the psych class on the first day and see if the professor will let you in!

SBR

Loveduke22 are you sure about the waitlist thing? I remember I was on a waitlist briefly (a couple of hours) at the beginning of my first semester. It could be that Duke require all freshmen to fully enroll in four classes but would allow a waitlist as a fifth class. But then again it could be that the policy is slightly different during drop/add period.

FLstudent: I would go ahead and do what loveduke22 suggests for now (enroll in 4 open classes). Then when all the registration windows have opened, you could try to go on ACES again and enroll in the waitlist as a fifth class (if it allows you to). Come august, if you don't get in you'll at least have 4 classes and if you do, you can drop the extra class.

loveduke22

Hmm you may be right...it may be during drop/add that you can waitlist...although if I'm not mistaken as well, you need approval to take over 4.5 credits as a freshman as well? Check your ACES rules, because one/both of us may be wrong!

If there are only 2 or 3 students on the waitlist now, after all upperclassmen have registered, I wouldn't see it ballooning to much more than that, to be honest. Register for 4 classes, email the professor a few days after registration or something like that if you can't add it. If he doesn't reply, take care of it when you get on campus in the fall. The first week of classes is basically like a "trial period" at Duke anyway...people always coming and going!

SBR

I looked on the T-reqs site and it didn't mention any special rules for first semester freshmen. The only thing it said was that the normal load was 4-4.5, overload is 5-5.5, and 6 is the max with dean's approval. During normal registration windows, one can only enroll in a max of 4.5 courses. Maybe the 4.5 limit freshmen is an unwritten policy?

floridastudent

I'm going to try to do 4.5 courses and hopefully I'll be able to take the psych class anyway. Thank you so much guys!