Wait-List for Closed Classes

This is a tutorial only. No login is required.

Introduction

The waitlist feature in the self-service registration system allows students to secure a position on a waiting list for closed classes in the fall and spring semesters and summer term. Wait-listed students will automatically be enrolled when a seat becomes available and all requirements are met (see below).

For wait-listing start/end dates, see the Registration Calendar.

As a regular CSUN student, you can wait-list when:

  • Space is available on the waitlist.

  • You meet the class prerequisites.

  • You are at or below the maximum limit of 13 wait-listed units.

  • You received a permission number for a restricted class that is full.

You cannot wait-list for corequisite classes (i.e., two classes that must be taken concurrently such as a corequisite lecture and lab) UNLESS you've previously taken and passed one of the corequisite pair or you are currently enrolled in both corequisites.

You are moved from the waitlist to enrolled status when:

  • Space is available in the class.

  • You meet the class prerequisites.

  • You are below your maximum unit load for the term.

  • You have resolved time conflicts between a wait-listed class and a class you're already enrolled in.

  • You are not already enrolled in another section of the same course.

Tips for Wait-Listing

  1. Plan alternative schedules early on. Use the degree planning tools (Registration Planner, DPR/Planner) and the Degree Road Maps or Associate Degree for Transfer Road Maps (STAR Act) to choose priority classes. Discuss options with your academic advisor.

  2. Drop yourself from the waitlist of a class you no longer want. If you don't drop and you are auto-enrolled, you'll incur possible tuition fee charges. If you're auto-enrolled and forget to drop, you'll get a "WU" grade, which counts as an "F" in GPA calculation.

  3. When you successfully enroll in a class, you will be dropped from all other wait-listed sections of the same course.

  4. If you are auto-enrolled from a waitlist into a class, check your account balance and payment due date. Pay on time to avoid disenrollment from some or all of your classes, which could also include other wait-listed classes.

  5. Choose wisely. You may need to decide whether to keep a class you're enrolled in, or drop it and wait-list for another class hoping that a seat becomes available. You won't be auto-enrolled into a wait-listed class if it duplicates a course in which you are already enrolled. Similarly, you cannot be auto-enrolled into a wait-listed class if it creates a time conflict with any of your enrolled classes.

  6. Course requisites: You can wait-list if you've the met prerequisites for a class, but you cannot wait-list for corequisite courses UNLESS you're repeating one of the two corequisites.

To learn more, check out the Waitlist FAQ (PDF). 

Note: Reducing the number of enrolled units may affect your eligibility for financial aid, campus housing, international student status, etc. Review Information Regarding Potential Impact of Change in Academic Schedule.

Step 1

Go to the CSUN home page at www.csun.edu and:

  1. Select the CSUN Portal link from the MyCSUN menu in the top navigation.
     
  2. Log in with your CSUN user ID and password.
MyCSUN menu with CSUN Portal login link on every CSUN webpage.

Step 2

Your CSUN Portal home page displays.

  1. In your CSUN Portal Checklist, locate the Registration and Incomplete Tasks sections to review your enrollment appointment, the allowable maximum unit load, and any registration holds.
     
  2. Once you've cleared any registration holds, you may enroll.
     
  3. Under the Top Tools heading in the link block, select Enroll in Classes.
CSUN Portal home page with Enroll in Classes link under Top Tools heading.

Step 3

The Student Fee Payment Notice displays important disclosures, financial responsibility acknowledgements, Form 1098-T tax credit information, and where to find your account charges and payment deadlines.

To continue:

  1. Read the Statement of Financial Responsibility.
     
  2. If you agree, select the button "I have read and understand the above statement."

To return to the portal, select the CSUN Student tab in your web browser (not shown).

Payment Notice, Statement of Financial Responsibility, IRS 1098-T and other information.

Step 4

If the Add Classes - Select Term page displays, select the desired Term from the list and choose Continue.

Select a Term page with radio buttons to choose summer term or fall semester.

Step 5

The Select Classes to Add page displays, including your enrollment shopping cart and class schedule.

Note the legend of class status icons: Open, Closed or Wait List. The orange wait list triangle always displays even when wait-listing is not available.

To wait-list for a class:

  1. Type the five-digit Class Number and click Enter.
    or
     
  2. Use Find Classes to look up the class. Select Search.

Select the Class Search radio button for this example.

Add Classes page with options to search by class number or Class Search. Below, your current class schedule displays.

Step 6

 In Class Search, open, closed and canceled classes display by default.

Let’s say you want American Indian Studies (AIS) 250, class number 15341, but the Enrollment Status is “closed.” You should:

  1. Check the Consent column. If "department" or "instructor" displays and the section is full, you’ll need permission to wait-list for the class.
     
  2. Choose the class section by selecting the green plus (+) sign.

Though the class is “closed,” you may sometimes see seats available because the process to move eligible students from wait-listed to enrolled in the class has not run yet. The process runs throughout the day. If you've been enrolled, you'll receive an email a few minutes after the process has run.

The Class Search results show the closed class and whether consent/ permission is required to wait-list.

Step 7

The Select Classes to Add – Enrollment Preferences page displays. 

Are you eligible to enroll in the class? Review the course requirements and Class Notes on this page to find out.

Under the Class Preferences heading:

  1. Check the box “Wait list if class is full.”* (If the check box does not display, the waitlist is full.)
     
  2. If consent is required, enter a permission number to wait-list for the class.
     
  3. Click the Next button.

*Be sure to CHECK the "Wait list if class is full" BOX.
Otherwise, the class will stay in your shopping cart, and you will not be added to the waitlist.

Enrollment Preferences page with course requirements, Waitlist checkbox, and permission number field if needed.

Step 8

The class has been added to your enrollment cart.

You are NOT yet wait listed! The waitlist icon (orange triangle) in your cart only means that the wait-listing period is active and that you've requested to wait-list.

IMPORTANT:
Did you forget to check the "Wait list if class is full" box? No worries: Select the class link in the cart to return to the Enrollment Preferences page (see Step 7 above).

  1. Select Proceed to Step 2 of 3.

KEEP GOING!  You are not wait-listed until you complete the process and verify success.

Enrollment cart with the class you want to wait-list for, but more steps are needed.

Step 9

The Confirm Classes page displays.

  1. Proofread your course selection.
     
  2. Note the waitlist icon (it just means wait-listing is available).
     
  3. Choose Finish Enrolling.
Last review to confirm your class selection before finishing the transaction.

Step 10

The View Results page displays success or errors for your waitlist request. Success is shown with:

  • A green check mark in the Status column
     
  • Your waitlist position number

You are NOT on the waitlist if:

  • You see a red "X" in the Status column.
     
  • Your wait list position number does not display.
     
  • An error message displays (e.g., course requisites not met).

Didn't CHECK the "Wait list if class is full" BOX? Select Add Another Class to return to the cart, re-select the class and indicate Enrollment Preferences (see Step 7 above). 

The View Results page shows success and displays your waitlist position number in column 2, Message.

Step 11

You are wait-listed for the class when the Select Classes to Add page displays the American Indian Studies (AIS) 250 class in your class schedule.

Under the "Class Schedule" heading, AIS 250 is listed in the Status column as Wait Listed.

If the class is still in your CART, you are NOT wait-listed!

  1. For another view of your enrolled and wait-listed classes, including your position on the waitlist, select the My Class Schedule tab at the top.
On the Add Classes page, shopping cart is empty, and waitlist icon displays your Class Schedule table, column 7.

Step 12

My Class Schedule displays your enrolled, dropped and wait-listed classes together in one list. You can filter the list to show wait-listed classes only.

When a seat opens up in the class, your waitlist position number will improve.

You will receive an email notice when:

  1. Your status changes from wait-listed to enrolled. Check your account balance in case you owe additional tuition fees. Avoid disenrollment from some or all of your classes by paying before the payment due date.

  2. The registration system finds an error with your waitlist request, and you are not enrolled. Error notices are emailed at the end of each day.

Learn more:

My Class Schedule page with each class detailed in a separate table, including waitlist position number.