How It Works
For each registration stage (clinical, multisection, etc.), participating students are assigned random registration ID numbers. Numbers are re-assigned at the beginning of each stage. Registration preferences are processed in a series of rounds and phases using these numbers. Below is an example of registration processing that should help explain how the enrollment algorithm works.
Example of MultiSection Processing
Student X submits the following preferences:
Preference #1. Admin Law
Preference #2. Admin Law
Preference #3. Con Law SOP
Preference #4. Con Law SOP
Preference #5. Con Law SOP
Preference #6. Evidence
Preference #7. Taxation
- Round 1/Pass 1: Preferences processed from lowest registration ID to highest. Student X enrolled in Admin Law #1.
- Round 2/Pass 1: Preferences processed from highest registration ID to lowest. Admin Law already enrolled, student skipped with no action, move on to next student.
- Round 2/Pass 2: Preferences processed from highest registration ID to lowest. Start again with the next preference for each student who did not receive an enrollment in pass 1. Con Law #3 full, waitlisted in Con Law #3, move on to next student.
- Round 2/Pass 3: Preferences processed from highest registration ID to lowest. Start again with the next preference for each student who did not receive an enrollment in pass 2. Enrolled in Con Law #4.
- Round 3/Pass 1: Preferences processed from lowest registration ID to highest. Con Law already enrolled, student skipped with no action, move on to next student
- Round 3/Pass 2: Preferences processed from lowest registration ID to highest. Start again with the next preference for each student who did not receive an enrollment in pass 1. Enrolled in Evidence
- Round 4/Pass 1: Preferences processed from highest registration ID to lowest. Taxation conflicts with Admin Law (same meeting day/time), waitlisted for Taxation, move on to the next student.
At the end of registration processing, you will be on the waitlist for any of your preferred courses under the following circumstances, provided that class is full: if you have not met the pre- or co-requisite, if you are enrolled in a conflicting course, or if you are already enrolled in the maximum number of credits for the term. You will not be waitlisted for a class if you were already enrolled in a higher-ranked section of the same class or degree requirement (i.e. multi-section, legal profession, 1L international/comparative or elective classes). For example, if you get into your first choice Evidence class, you will not be waitlisted for any subsequent Evidence class on your list.
For questions about this process, please contact registrar@law.harvard.edu.