Common Registration Errors
Waitlist Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does it mean to be “waitlisted” in a class?
Being “waitlisted” indicates that you have added yourself to the waitlist of a class that is closed because it is full. It does not guarantee that you will get enrolled in the course.
2. What will happen if I cannot get into a class that I am waitlisted in?
If you notice that you are not moving up in the line and there are still a lot of students ahead of you, we encourage you to have a few back up and alternative course selections. Consult your DegreeWorks, previous advising notes, or schedule an advising session with an academic advisor in the Academic Advising Center to explore alternative course options.
3. Do all classes have a waitlist?
Lab classes that are linked to lectures, and classes scheduled for specific students will not have an option to waitlist.
4. What is the advantage of getting on a waitlist?
Waitlisting enables notifications to go out to students when a seat becomes available for a class that is at full capacity.
5. What happens if I am not registered in any classes by payment deadline, but I add a class from a waitlist after the first tuition payment due date?
Any payments made after the payment due date will assess a $50.00 late payment fee until the day before the first-class day. Payments made on the first-class day and thereafter will assess a $100.00 late payment fee.
6. What happens if I am waitlisted in all my classes and I do not receive any notifications to register in any of them before classes start?
All waitlists will be wiped out the last business day before classes start. If you wait to register for a class until the day classes begin, you will be charged a late registration fee and a late payment fee.
7. How many classes can I waitlist for?
There is no limit to how many classes you can waitlist for.
8. I see that the class shows seats available but when I try to register, it says the class is closed. Why is that?
There are two reasons for this. One reason is that the class is cross-listed with another class and the max combined capacity has been reached. You may add yourself to the waitlist if the class has the option. The second reason is that a student on the waitlist has been notified that a seat is available, therefore, the open seat that is showing is for the student who is pending to register. You may add yourself to the waitlist.
9. Can I waitlist in multiple sections of the same course?
Yes, however you will only be able to be enrolled in one section at a time.
10. How can I confirm I officially registered in a class that I was waitlisted for?
In your schedule summary, the class status will change from ‘Waitlisted’ to ‘Registered.’
11. Do students remain on the waitlist if they are sent a notification that a seat is available, but do not register in the class by the expiration time?
No, the system drops the student from the waitlist, and sends a notification to the next student in line.
12. Can I take myself off a waitlist?
You may remove yourself from a waitlist by selecting the ‘Drop’ action in your schedule summary.
13. When is the first day I can get on a waitlist?
Waitlists are available as early as the first day registration opens for classes that fill up.
14. When is the last day a student can waitlist?
The last day to join a waitlist will be indicated in the Academic Calendar and Accelerated Programs Calendar.
15. What happens if I am on the waitlist for a class that gets cancelled?
You will be dropped from the waitlist. Only students who are officially registered in the class will be notified that the class was cancelled.
16. Can I waitlist if I have a hold in my account?
It depends on the type of hold you have. If it is a registration hold, you will not be able to waitlist for classes.
17. If a seat becomes available, can students who are not on the waitlist register in the class?
The next student in line is the only one who has system access to register in the class before the notification expires.
18. What happens if I received the notification to register but the system doesn’t let me register in the class during the time I am allowed to register?
Please reach out to us by email at registrar@utrgv.edu, or visit us in person at one of the U Central locations BEFORE the notification expires.
19. What happens after the option to waitlist is closed and all waitlists are wiped out just before the start of classes?
Students may register in classes on first come basis. Monitor your email for information on the end of the waitlisting period.
20. When do seats become available for classes that are at full capacity?
Seats become available when registered students drop the class, or if and when the department increases the class capacity.
21. Once I receive the notification that a seat is available, how do I register in the class?
In your schedule summary in ASSIST, select the ‘Add’ option from the drop-down menu under the Action column, then submit. You are registered in the class when the Status changes to ‘Registered’.
22. Can I waitlist for a class that conflicts in meeting times with a class that I’m already enrolled in?
Yes, you can waitlist for the class, but you will not be able to officially register in it if it still conflicts with any class you are already enrolled in.
23. What if I decide that I no longer want to take a class that I am waitlisted in?
Please be considerate and remove yourself from a waitlist if you no longer want the class.
24. What can prevent me from getting on a waitlist?
The student does not meet the requisites of the course, and/or there are class restrictions placed by the department or instructor offering the course.
25. How do I swap a class I am waitlisted in with a class I am registered in?
Once you receive the notification that a slot is available, and you want to swap it out with another class section, make sure there are no time conflicts or anything that may prevent you from registering in the waitlisted class. In your schedule summary under the Action column, select to ‘Add’ the waitlisted class, and ‘Drop’ the class you are swapping out, then click submit. Note that the system will still drop the class, even if you receive a registration error for the waitlisted class.
26. What if I receive an error message that says, “Special Approval” when I try to waitlist?
Click on the course title link associated with the class section, and select the ‘Course Description’ tab to view the department contact information for requesting a special approval override.
27. How many students can be on a waitlist?
All classes with a waitlist option have a capacity limit of 999.
28. Will I be able to see where I am on the waitlist?
You can see where you are in line by logging into ASSIST and clicking on your Schedule Details tab located on the bottom left side of the Register for Classes page. Find the class you are waitlisted in and look for the number listed in ‘Waitlist Position’. If the number is “1” you are next in line, and if the number is “0”, the seat is open for you to register.
29. How will I be notified when a seat is available for me to register?
An email notification will be sent to your UTRGV email account with the class information and registration expiration day/time. Note that notifications go out immediately after the previously registered student drops the class; therefore, you could be notified at any time during the day or night, including weekends.
30. How much time do I have to register in the class once I am notified?
Students have 48 hours to register. Note that the timeframe changes to 24 hours the Wednesday before classes start for students and classes in long fall and spring terms. For Accelerated Online Program students, the timeframe changes to 24 hours on the Friday before classes start. Your email will provide additional details.
31. What happens if I forget to check my email and miss the opportunity to register in the class?
If you do not register in the class within your allotted time, the system will send a notification to the next student in line as soon as your time expires. You may re-join the waitlist, but you will be placed at the end of the line.
32. Will receiving a Special Approval override from the department allow me to register in a class that is full?
The Special Approval override will allow you to waitlist in the class, then register if a seat becomes available.