So the semester/quarter is either just about to begin or has just begun, and, for whatever reason, you need to add a class immediately. This might be more difficult to accomplish than it seems. Frankly, you should avoid having to do this as much as possible. If you must take this approach, keep the following information in mind.
Classes have a limited amount of seats available for a variety of reasons. Faculty contracts, fire safety, administrative rules, and educational funding issues all come into play. Just because it appears that there is room in a class does not mean that there actually is room in the class. If an instructor says "no" to your request to add his or her class, respect that and move on.
Students whose names are on the waitlist for a class take priority over those who simply show up and are not registered nor on the waitlist. The waitlist is arranged such that the student who got on it first will have the first priority. If you just added to the waitlist the day the class started, the likelihood of you getting into the class may be very slim. At the colleges where I presently teach, students can log into the online enrollment system and see what position they are at on waitlists.
Trying to create your whole schedule by going door to door with an add card in your hand on the first day of class is generally ineffective. I highly recommend that students who plan to go to a particular college or university complete the application process at least one semester/quarter ahead of time (earlier if allowed) so they can register immediately after their enrollment period opens. Just a bit of planning can save you a whole bunch of headaches.
Just because adds can be made for a period of time after classes start does not mean any instructor has to add you. It's my habit to get straight down to business on the first day of class. By the second class, I am providing students with vital information to complete their major class research paper, and the first quiz is given in the third class. Missing a few classes can put you at disadvantage to do well in some classes (like mine), so the instructors may not allow late adds at all. If you do get to add after the start of a class, be ready to play catch up and realize that you may have missed point opportunities you won't get to make up. Be sure to check with other students for what took place in class on the days you were not there.
If you are seeking to add a class because you will be dropping another, make sure you have your place in the new class guaranteed before you drop the old one. This is crucial if you need to maintain a certain number of units for your financial aid.
If you are trying to add extra units to accelerate your progress in your program, keep in mind that you will need special permission or an administrative override if the number of units will exceed the full time maximum. Unless you are a very effective student and have plenty of time to devote to all of your classes, this is usually not a great idea. If your grade point average is not strong, don't be surprised if your request to take more than an full time load is denied.
