Waitlisting
Table of Contents
Waitlisting Information
The University strives to provide students with access to courses. However, factors such as room size can limit the number of spaces available in a course. Academic departments may also restrict certain courses to a particular year level or degree program. If no spaces are available to you, that course will appear as “Full” in Carleton Central.
For courses that are currently full, you may be able to join a waitlist. If the course section has a waitlist enabled, the Registration Error Message will contain the word “waitlist” (e.g. Join Waitlist). By joining the waitlist, you are placing yourself in a queue for the next available space in the course. If a waitlist is not available, you are encouraged to continue to try and register for the course as space may become available as students make changes to their registration, or you may choose to select an alternate section.
The Waitlist System will close at midnight 2 days prior to the start of the term. All requests to be placed on a waitlist for the current term must be received before this date/time. You will remain on the waitlist until registration ends for the term; however, spots in the class may not become open. As you get closer to the start of the term, It is advised that you consider alternate registration plans to ensure that you complete your timetable. Please note that the Waitlist System is available for selected courses only.
How-To Videos
These short videos will walk you through all of the important processes when waitlisting.
How to Join a Waitlist
How to Find Your Position on a Waitlist
How to Remove Yourself from a Waitlist
How to Register for a Waitlisted Course When Notified
Frequently Asked Questions
The following are frequently asked questions about waitlists.
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A registration waitlist is a queue of students who are waiting to register for a filled section of a course. The first student on the waitlist is notified via email when a space becomes available. If the student does not register for the section within 24 hours the next student on the list will be notified.Note that joining the waitlist does not guarantee a space in the class. Course prerequisites and restrictions may apply in order to join a waitlist.
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Only selected courses have waitlists available. To determine whether the course has a waitlist, search for it in the Search for Courses page and check its “status” in the Search Results page. If the course section is full and does not have a waitlist enabled, the course status will be “Full”. If the course section has a waitlist enabled, the course status will either be “Waitlist Open” or “Waitlist Full.”
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On the Add or Drop Classes page in Carleton Central enter the Course Reference Number (CRN) of a course section that has an OPEN waitlist in the Add Classes Worksheet, and press the Submit button.
If the course section has an open waitlist the Registration Error Message will be “This course is full but you may join the waitlist.” (If the course section does not have a waitlist enabled, the Registration Error Message will be “This course is currently full but you can keep trying to register as spaces may become available”). Select Waitlist from the Action drop down menu and press the Submit button.
If a space in the class becomes available, the first student on the waitlist will be notified via their Carleton email. The student will have 24 hours (including weekends) to register in the course section. If the student misses the deadline, they will be removed from the waitlist and priority will be offered to the next student on the list. It is your responsibility to routinely check your email.
Please note that like courses, waitlists can also become full. If the waitlist is full for a given section, you will not be able to put yourself on the waiting list. You must meet the course prerequisites and restrictions in order to be allowed to join a waitlist.
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Like courses, waitlists can also become full. If the waitlist is full for a given section, you will not be able to put yourself on the waiting list. Try joining the waitlist at a later time as somebody may drop their space on the waitlist.
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At the bottom of the Student Timetable page click Detail Schedule. If you have successfully joined the waitlist the Status of the course section will be “Waitlist” and your Waitlist Position will be displayed below. -
If a space in the course section becomes available, you will be notified via Carleton email. -
Now that the space has become available for you, you need to register in the course. Please proceed to the Add or Drop Classes page on Carleton Central. To register, you will need to choose “Registered” from the Action drop-down list and click on the “Submit” button.
Please note that if you are currently registered in the maximum number of credits allowed for your program, you will need to drop an alternate course to accommodate your registration for the waitlisted course. Failure to do so will result in unsuccessful registration (“Registration in this course exceeds the total number of credits you are allowed for the term” error message).
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You have 24 hours (including weekends and holidays) to register in the course section. Waitlist e-mail messages will include a registration deadline. If you miss the deadline, you will be dropped from the waitlist and your spot will be offered to the next student on the list. You will NOT receive a notification of this action. If you are still interested in the course, but have missed the 24 hour deadline, you must re-add yourself to the waitlist, provided that the waitlist is not full. It is your responsibility to routinely check your Carleton email.
Please note that if you are currently registered in the maximum number of credits allowed for your program, you will need to drop an alternate course to accommodate your registration for the waitlisted course. Failure to do so will result in unsuccessful registration (“Registration in this course exceeds the total number of credits you are allowed for the term” error message).
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If you miss the deadline, you will be dropped (removed) from the waitlist, and your spot will be offered to the next student on the list. You will NOT receive a notification of this action. If you are still interested in the course, but have missed the 24 hour deadline, you must re-add yourself to the waitlist, provided that the waitlist is not full. It is your responsibility to routinely check your Carleton email.
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If you no longer require your space on the waitlist, please proceed to the Add or Drop Classes page on Carleton Central to remove yourself from the waitlist by selecting “Drop (Financial)” and clicking “Submit”.
We strongly encourage you to remove yourself from all waitlists once you have finished your registration out of consideration for other students.
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You may sign up for as many registration waitlists as you choose.
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The last day that students may join a waitlist is two days prior to the first day of classes. For example, if classes begin on September 5, the last day to join the waitlist would be September 3.