Appeals to Bypass Others on the Waiting List

If you expect to be admitted to a course by bypassing others on the waiting list, you must have a compelling reason and must clearly indicate it.  The following examples often indicate poor planning, are too general, or could apply to many students. Therefore, they are not compelling reasons:

  • “I want to get a good co-op job next year; and having this course will improve my chances.”
  • “I want to take its successor course in the following term.”
  • “If I can’t take the course, I won’t be able to achieve my dream of becoming <fill in job title here>.”
  • “If I can’t take the course next term, it will delay my graduation.”
    • Although the previous reason is usually not a compelling reason, there is an exception:  If you are short one CPSC course before graduation, and this is supposed to be your last term at UBC, then the Department will try to force you into a CPSC course that you have the prerequisites for.  Note that it may not necessarily be a course of your choice, unless the course in question is a required course (e.g., CPSC 320) for your degree program.
      • For example, suppose you need one more CPSC 400-level course to meet your CPSC 4xx degree requirements.  You want to take CPSC 417, but CPSC 417 has a waiting list.  If CPSC 404 (or 411, 420, etc.) can handle one extra student more easily than CPSC 417, and you meet the prerequisites for CPSC 404, then the Department may force you into CPSC 404 instead.
      • However, if you will still be missing another course after this term, say an Arts elective, then that means you wouldn’t be graduating at the end of the term.  Therefore, your appeal for CPSC 417 will be rejected and you will not be forced into another course after all.
  • On the other hand, suppose you have done proper planning, are not missing a prerequisite, are on a wait list, and you think that your graduation will be delayed by not getting into a specific course.  If you believe that you should be able to bypass others on the waiting list because of unusual circumstances beyond your control, then you must explain in detail why that is the case.  You must provide a detailed plan and a timeline for the affected course(s).  Furthermore, you should state whether or not the course is required for your degree, and why not having the course will cause a serious hardship.