that’s why it’s a WAITING list

I have a question about waitlists. I was put on one for one of my courses and finally I am ranked 25 for 25 total spaces. Why is it that after 24 hours since my rank changed my course is still considered: WAITLISTED and not APPROVED? Thanks for your help. 🙂

I could just answer your question straightforwardly. But that would be uninteresting. I could refer you to pages 49-52 of the timetable. But that would just be slacking off. I could make a sarcastic remark about what is obviously a failure to understand the concept of waiting lists. But that would be cruel.

What, then, shall I do to help you, oh misfortunate one?

Let’s try this:

Look at the circle. It represents your course, which has 25 spaces. Inside that course are all the happy students who were able to get in. All 25 of them. Outside the circle you can see all the sad students on the waiting list. You are in that group, ranked number 25. If one of those happy students decides to drop the course, number 1 on the waiting list will get in, and everyone will be bumped up one place. You will then become number 24 on the waiting list. If more students drop the course, you’ll move up on the waiting list. Hopefully, you’ll get in. If not, you’ll get over it.

Now wasn’t that fun!