<p>Waiting lists depend on the professor, and only really work if the class is set to Instructor Permission Required. Then the professor can control the flow of new students into the class and maintain some kind of order. If registration remains freely open, it doesn’t matter if you’re on the waiting list - someone can jump in ahead of you if a seat opens up. If registration remains open, sometimes professors use a waiting list to issue a limited number of capacity overrides. I’ve never actually seen a professor use the waiting list feature of Banner - it’s always an informal thing they do on the side, which means the rules are as flexible as the professor. If you can’t register for a seat on your own, ask the professor for an override or to put you on the waiting list, but don’t stop there. Show up to class for the first week or two and talk to the professor after class. This usually results in an eventual override unless there is a physical limitation (classroom size).</p>