Does each year have a set quota for classes?
Like.. let's say if I'm third year, and I want to take Virology, but it's shown as 'full' for fourth year students.
what's the possibility i might get in, if it's not my required course?

Hi,

I believe that initially, when course registration opens up say for fourth years there is a limit on the number of students that can apply. However, since, with the example you used, virology is a third year course more seats are opened when it's time for third years to register. If a fourth year is on at that time, they can take a seat, so essentially fourth and third years are now competing. By the time course selection opens to the subsequent years you are left with whatever seats that have not yet been filled. They also save a small fraction of seats until probably late august, early september and then release the final ones until the course fills up to its full capacity.

The same principle applies to first year courses. They only release a certain number to upper years at first. However by the time first years are allowed to register, they open up the rest, and those seats are anybody's for the taking, up until your 7 day period to add/drop ends. Therefore, upper years who can't get into first year courses will have to wait until everyone is allowed access (until Solar is open to everyone). At this point, all seats are fair game.

So in short, there are no "set" quota. But if it is a required course for someone, who was not able to register in the course, those extra seats that I mentioned earlier can be given to them.

I probably rambled a bit, but I hope my answer is clear.

Originally Posted by H.L.

Hi,

I believe that initially, when course registration opens up say for fourth years there is a limit on the number of students that can apply. However, since, with the example you used, virology is a third year course more seats are opened when it's time for third years to register. If a fourth year is on at that time, they can take a seat, so essentially fourth and third years are now competing. By the time course selection opens to the subsequent years you are left with whatever seats that have not yet been filled. They also save a small fraction of seats until probably late august, early september and then release the final ones until the course fills up to its full capacity.

The same principle applies to first year courses. They only release a certain number to upper years at first. However by the time first years are allowed to register, they open up the rest, and those seats are anybody's for the taking, up until your 7 day period to add/drop ends. Therefore, upper years who can't get into first year courses will have to wait until everyone is allowed access (until Solar is open to everyone). At this point, all seats are fair game.

So in short, there are no "set" quota. But if it is a required course for someone, who was not able to register in the course, those extra seats that I mentioned earlier can be given to them.

I probably rambled a bit, but I hope my answer is clear.

I've experienced courses that have seats open for 1st years, but no seats open for 2nd years. So that makes it seem like they don't just open up new blocks for everyone at each date, but that there are seats reserved for certain years.

Originally Posted by Rudiger

I've experienced courses that have seats open for 1st years, but no seats open for 2nd years. So that makes it seem like they don't just open up new blocks for everyone at each date, but that there are seats reserved for certain years.

That's right. They reserve a set number of seats for different registration dates which depends on the course level, department and program. I believe all remaining seats are open to everyone when SOLAR reopens after sectioning.

I am planning on taking a few first year courses (I am going into second year)...does this mean I won't be able to chose them on June 14 when I choose my courses?????? :(

Originally Posted by Biochem47

I am planning on taking a few first year courses (I am going into second year)...does this mean I won't be able to chose them on June 14 when I choose my courses?????? :(

They only reserve a certain number of seats. If you don't get in, try again when SOLAR reopens until the drop/add deadline in September.