[Chad]

It's pretty clear that there are many MI users getting frustrated with MUGSI/SOLAR, a common event that happens each year. With one thread cursing MUGSI hitting over 200 replies, I thought I'd post some tips that might help.

If you require a course to get your degree (meaining it isn't an elective course where you have a choice to take something else that may be open) then there is a good chance you'll be able to request a 'seat' be opened for you by your faculty/academic advisor.

Rule of thumb: Just because a course is showing up as full does not mean it's full forever.

Keep Trying
If you can't get into a course right now because it's full it isn't the end all be all, courses that show up full right now may become available tomorrow, or even an hour from now. Keep checking SOLAR. Some courses have sections opened up to meet demand, while others get gradually opened as each year is granted access to SOLAR (3rd years, 2nd years, 1st years, etc). Look at when their registration dates are and try to get onto SOLAR to check on those days to see if more 'seats' were opened.

You have until the course add/drop date

• The last day to add term 1 and 3 courses is September 17, 2010.
• Last day to drop term 1 and 3 courses without financial penalty is September 17, 2010.

When you do start school, you have flexible time within the first two weeks during the 'ADD AND DROP PERIOD' to drop and add courses to your time table. That means that you can take courses you may not be 100% pleased with for now, and hope that someone drops the course that you want to get into that is showing as full right now. You never know, a student may have taken the course... shown up to the first class and really disliked the professor or the course material and dropped it. When that happens, the course opens up again and becomes 'available' until someone takes that person's spot. This happens on and off throughout the drop/add period so keep checking SOLAR for new availabilities. Click here to see drop dates. Read more on www.macinsiders.com for details and get date reminders.

Calling or meeting in person is better than e-mail
Talk to someone in the faculty and/or your academic advisor. Note: Right now is a crazy time of year and they are being bombarded with e-mails. I suggest calling them directly or going to your faculty office and setting up an appointment. You can get more help on how to contact the appropriate people via macinsiders.com forums. E-mail is very slow and/or you will most likely not get the personalized response you're looking for. Instead, try and see someone in person or on the phone.

Have your information ready
To make things a lot easier for the person you're trying to contact to get assistance, have everything neatly laid out and ready for them.. your student number, full name, even a print out of your transcript/grade report, etc. so they can understand your situation faster.

Best of luck everyone!

Thanks for this but honestly, how much is it really going to help?

Professors rarely listen. I begged the Kin Prof to open up more sets... got rejected. Said try again next year.

I guess hes just reminding people to keep trying, spots will open up, even if it is for only a few mins until someone else takes it

Originally Posted by Cassanova

Thanks for this but honestly, how much is it really going to help?

Professors rarely listen. I begged the Kin Prof to open up more sets... got rejected. Said try again next year.

Happened to me twice :(. I feel you, man.

I enrolled into psych 1XX3 in the summer. I havnt paid for the class but I was wondering if I was still guaranteed a spot in the class. I was also wondering when the class would be posted onto ELM as well.

Originally Posted by kanagaap

I enrolled into psych 1XX3 in the summer. I havnt paid for the class but I was wondering if I was still guaranteed a spot in the class. I was also wondering when the class would be posted onto ELM as well.

If you enrolled then you have a spot in the class. You should also remember that interest gets charged at the end of each month on outstanding balances in your Student Account.

As for ELM, I'm not sure. As far as I know, no term 2 classes have been added onto ELM yet. Just go to the first class and if the professor/TA doesn't say anything then ask a question.

thank you so much. do you know the last day to pay for a summer course .. buh thank you so much again

Originally Posted by kanagaap

thank you so much. do you know the last day to pay for a summer course .. buh thank you so much again

There is no last day. McMaster would like to maximize the amount of interest they can squeeze out of a student. If you don't pay then you won't be able to see your Grade Report/Degree Audit. So the "deadline" would be when grades are released.

do you know what % is added to you payment at interest..im still not sure if I should take the course.

Originally Posted by kanagaap

do you know what % is added to you payment at interest..im still not sure if I should take the course.

It was 1.2%, not sure if it changed though.

Just pay for it. As long as you're registered, you'll still get interest, and if you drop the course after the drop/add date (when they stop giving you a full refund), I'm pretty sure that they will make you pay whatever amount you wouldn't have gotten back. So, if you pay now, you're saving yourself the interest. If you don't pay, and then drop the course in a couple of weeks, you'll still have to pay the amount they wouldn't have given back, plus interest. If you pay and decide to drop immediately, you'll get a full refund (minus any interest).