So a class I need (MA 405) is full and I am bottom on the wait list (#5).
What are the odds I will get off?
Can I talk to the professor to try and let me in?
Any info on alternatives would be most appreciated.

4/22/2009 5:58:03 AM

Bummer for you.

4/22/2009 7:25:48 AM

just show up to the class.

4/22/2009 7:42:53 AM

Who is it with? Professor should let you in if you need it to graduate this semester.

4/22/2009 7:47:59 AM

you're screwed

4/22/2009 7:54:04 AM

^^is right- I found I could get into any class I wanted as long as I talked to the teacher or department head. Hell, I didn't register till the first week this semester

4/22/2009 7:57:27 AM

the other thread wasn't enough?

?topic=564548

4/22/2009 8:11:25 AM

Awesome. Thanks for the good news.

4/22/2009 8:12:14 AM

Since you're a senior your chances are good.

4/22/2009 8:20:23 AM

i am actually in spots 1-4...i will sell you a spot 2 for 50 dollar bucks

4/22/2009 10:24:51 AM

that's funnier than you know

4/22/2009 10:46:48 AM

I have been able to talk my way in to 100% of the classes I've wanted but there was no room for. If you go up to a professor and let them know you want/need their class, they'll usually let you in.

4/22/2009 11:07:34 AM

Eh I was in the same situation and the response I got from one of the previous people to teach that class was "You should have registered earlier." Never mind that I registered the first morning that I was allowed to.

4/23/2009 12:18:11 AM

Quote :

"What are the odds I will get off? "

4/23/2009 12:44:43 AM

Quote :

"Contact the Mathematics Department's Coordinator of Classroom Instruction (primary contact) or Director of Undergraduate Programs (secondary contact) if * there is a course you want for which all sections that fit your schedule are full, or * there is a course you want whose restrictions do not allow you to register. Information We Need in Order to Help You All Students. We will need the following information. If you send email or leave a phone message, please include it. 1. Your student ID number. 2. Course number. 3. Section number. 4. Whether you have the prerequisites. 5. Reasons for your request. Graduating Seniors. We need documentation from your major department that you must have the class to graduate. "

http://www.math.ncsu.edu/undergrad/full.php

Dr. Griggs, the guy who handles this stuff, is a pretty decent guy. Shoot him an e-mail, make a case, and maybe he'll help you out.

4/23/2009 1:15:01 AM

linear algebra is a really useful course so you should take it

4/23/2009 4:54:07 AM

Quote :

"Dr. Griggs, the guy who handles this stuff, is a pretty decent guy"

ha
ha
ha
ha
ha
ha

4/23/2009 9:21:24 AM

Walt Listed!

4/23/2009 9:26:33 AM

^^
well, he's always been decent to me, at any rate

4/23/2009 11:23:02 AM

You have a penis, and IIRC, were a math major.

I've told eahanhan to post in here, because I don't want to mess up any details in the re-telling, but her experience with him consists of multiple ignored emails, intentional delays in "finding" her final exam that had been on his desk forever, and having to get higher-ups from textiles involved before he'd communicate with her.

4/23/2009 11:40:32 AM

interesting. I do know he was a frat boy and college football player in his youth...but like I said, I got no complaints against him myself. and yeah I was a math major and have penis

4/23/2009 12:20:35 PM

Dr. Griggs is awesome, maybe you just suck at math.

I think he's one of the statisticians for the basketball teams too. I always see him on tv at the stat table.

4/23/2009 12:29:49 PM

Quote :

"Dr. Griggs, the guy who handles this stuff, is a pretty decent guy"

Looking through my old emails it seems like Griggs was the prick I dealt with. I pulled up the email one and only response he sent to me, which was admittedly prompt, and it read in its entirety:

Quote :

"Clearly you should have registered earlier. Better luck next year."

Nevermind that this was THE last course I needed and that I had registered as soon as I had my PIN. My dean thought his attitude was ridiculous and substituted the class so I didn't have to wait a year to graduate for one class. I kept it wait-listed though, just in case I did get in the normal way. I never did. Not sure who was teaching it that semester either - I think they had referred me to him for approval to add the already-full course. He might have been a great professor, but his attitude and behavior as an administrator is disgusting.

[Edited on April 24, 2009 at 1:59 AM. Reason : ]

4/24/2009 1:55:37 AM

first of all, Dr. Griggs is my parents neighbor. he is a great guy and one of the best if not the best math teachers at NC State (if you don't believe me look at the countless posts on ratemyprofessor.com that say he's the best math teacher they've ever had).

second, he is the official math teacher/tutor for NC State athletics, if he can get a bunch of dumbass athletes to pass calc I and II then hats off to him.

third, he's actually a really good guy, and not because he's my neighbor but because he's a good caring Christian (not that I am or am trying to preach) and he does a lot to try to help his students and try to relate to them.

finally, you'll get off the waitlist, 5 spots is nothing especially this early in the process and it probably was your fault in the first place for not registering sooner. either way you can go to the dean of the college and they'd probably definitely work something out for you.

[Edited on April 24, 2009 at 2:44 AM. Reason : .]

4/24/2009 2:41:33 AM

Quote :

"it probably was your fault in the first place for not registering sooner"

Haha, I love how you're making the same assumption he did that caused him to come across as such a dick. I went to my scheduled advising time, got my PIN, and registered for classes that day. Obviously I should have forseen there not being enough seats in this class and made the presumtuous demand that my advisor see me sooner and give me my pin.

I'm not saying he's a bad guy in total, but he should try to avoid making the fundamental attribution error in the same tired and condescending way you did. But yeah, it was my fault that they never have enough seats in a required class for multiple majors that is only offered once per year and that they offer no standard alternative.

4/24/2009 3:09:53 AM

So should I contact the dean/teach now? Or wait until sometime during Summer I semester? Or later?

4/24/2009 7:57:56 AM

send the teacher an email

4/24/2009 8:39:41 AM

Quote :

"I have been able to talk my way in to 100% of the classes I've wanted but there was no room for. If you go up to a professor and let them know you want/need their class, they'll usually let you in."

QFT

also,

Quote :

"Dr. Griggs, the guy who handles this stuff, is a pretty decent guy."

LOLOLOLOL

4/24/2009 8:46:03 AM

I never took a class with Griggs, but he was the point of contact for departmental TAs. I was a TA in the department for 2 years, and even taught my own courses.

Anyway, when I was done with NCSU and was heading home forever, I requested him to write me a reference letter. He gladly agreed. This was probably 2 weeks before I left.

I reminded him many times, in person, and through email, but never got the letter.

Take from that what you will.

4/24/2009 8:57:38 AM