Philosophy Department Advisor
-Yes, I can help you with course registration problems. (ok this one is actually alright)
-Yes, that course is reserved and is now overbooked.
-You and another 200 students are on the waiting list.
-No, we haven’t though about putting in another section.
-We have the same problem every year.
-No, it’s not offered in the Winter semester.
-It would be available next fall.
-Yes you are in the worst registration year, but it will be better next year. (I won’t be here next year!)
At the very least I was able to get on the waiting list without actually doing anything. You get put on by default.