Typically, we receive many requests to manually switch lab sections or from students who don’t yet have a spot in the lab to be manually enrolled. This is a first-come, first-serve course, and every semester, I respect the order in the waitlists for each lab section to be fair toward all students trying to enroll in the course.

Why not open more spots per section or more sections?

There are three main constraints for opening lab sections: (1) physical space in the lab room, (2) number of available lab rooms, and (3) TA person-power availability. Every semester, we open our sections with the maximum number of seats, and we can’t exceed that limit.

We have five lab rooms (SC 6313, 6317, 6321, 6322, and 6325), each accommodating a maximum of 18 students. If you see that class sizes are capped at 16, it is because there are some reserved spots in our lab sections. They will be open toward the end of the add/drop period if they are not filled.

Before the beginning of each term, I assess our total TA person-power for the semester, which usually takes a few weeks. Until then, I will open some of the lab sections currently listed with a zero-seat capacity to ensure that only lab sections that can be staffed are open.

I appreciate your patience while you remain on the waitlist for the lab sections you are interested in taking. The waitlists are shorter than they seem because some students are listed in multiple waitlists and may already have a spot in the lab.

Will I get into the lab section I want/need?

The registration of each lab section changes a lot until the last few days of the add/drop period. Even though I can’t guarantee you will get into the section you are interested in, there is a chance you will (if you haven’t already). I only approve manual enrollment under particular circumstances on a case-by-case basis during the week the add/drop period ends; in my experience, most inquiries take care of themselves by then without needing manual enrollment.

Note: If you are graduating the same semester you must take the lab, please email me as soon as possible and let me know this is your situation!

Will not getting in the lab this semester affect my registration for the lecture course?

While we strongly encourage students to take the lab and class together, sometimes schedules cannot accommodate this ideal. Taking the physics lecture concurrently with the physics lab is encouraged but not required. We offer PHYS 1601L and 1602L both in the Fall and Spring semesters. We will do our best to offer PHYS 1010L and 1020L in the Fall and Spring semesters, contingent on the available TA person-power for each semester.

If none of the open lab sections work this semester, and you do not get off the waitlist before add/drop ends, you can take the lab the following semester. The same applies to the PHYS 1010L and 1020L lab courses.

Can I attend the lab in any wait-listed sections once classes begin?

No, you can only attend the lab in the section you are officially enrolled in. If that no longer works with your schedule, or you are still waiting to get a spot in the lab, you must wait until you are officially enrolled to attend the lab. We will work with you once you get in the lab to make up for missed work during the first week. We appreciate your understanding; this makes logistics much smoother for our instructional team.

• First week of Physics Labs, Fall 2024: August 26 – 30.

Can I take two Physics lab courses (PHYS 1601L and 1602L) in the same semester?

You may take two lab courses in a semester if needed.

Final Words

I know asking you to wait may not be the answer you want to hear, and I appreciate your patience and understanding. We are a small department serving a large population of students, and every semester, we work at our highest capacity possible to accommodate all students in our labs.