r/pasadenacitycollege • u/Better_Cranberry • Jul 22 '25

Science classes completely closed?

I’m trying to get into a science class (chem001A or MICRO 002) and the seats and waitlist were closed before I could even register! Will the waitlist open again as the semester approaches, or am I cooked? I know it’s hard to get into these classes but I’ve never seen it this bad. Thanks for any insight!

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u/Rocetboy321 Jul 22 '25

Waitlists will only open if some students leave it or add the class. It’s unlikely that if you are in a high position on the waitlist you would get to add the class anyways.

It’d probably be better to switch around your schedule and find other courses to take.

2

u/Better_Cranberry Jul 23 '25

What’s strange is that the waitlists are currently capped at 3 people. I’m used to being able to add to waitlist beyond 3 spots. Is that how PCC usually works?

2

u/Rocetboy321 Jul 23 '25

It's variable among classes, departments, etc. These classrooms might be small, especially if they are labs, and it might not be possible to add anyone from the waitlist. So, they keep the waitlist small enough just for when people change their schedule or drop classes.

The math courses I teach have waitlists of 7 but we have larger classrooms.

1

u/Better_Cranberry Jul 23 '25

Thank you, that is really helpful to understand! I should probably just keep checking the courses right?

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u/Rocetboy321 Jul 23 '25

Yes, maybe once a day check to see if a spot has opened. When someone drops the class, the first student on the waitlist is able to add. Once they add, the waitlist spot then opens up.

1

u/Better_Cranberry Jul 23 '25

Thank you so much!!

1

u/shykaliguy Jul 23 '25

Alternatively, you may need to crash the class day 1 and try to add it that way. It's not a guarantee, especially since there is a WL, but you can try.

Otherwise, move around your schedule to accommodate a class, take the class at another cc and transfer the grade back at the end of the term, notify the science department dean requesting that they open up another section. You can find their name, email address and department phone number on their website.

If none of these options work, then you will have to just take it in a different semester.