The spring semester began a few weeks ago, and I’m already feeling frustrated with my schedule, along with my inability to add new classes to fix what feels like an unsatisfactory lineup.
This situation isn’t new to me, but this spring semester feels far more restrictive compared to Fall 2025. I expected getting into classes would be tough, but not to this extent. Instead of beginning the semester motivated and prepared, I’ve felt stressed because my academic plans were disrupted before classes even truly began.
Trying to enroll in classes this semester felt like a bloodbath. Spots for nearly every open class during the first week disappeared quickly and felt similar to buying concert tickets on Ticketmaster.
Even when I attempted to enroll with a permission number, the experience was discouraging. Professors often respond with statements like, “You’ve been the tenth person to ask; unfortunately, you’ll have to wait and see.” These issues applied across multiple departments for me, both major and general education classes.
What made this situation even more frustrating was the inconsistency in how permission numbers were handled. In many cases, I needed only one more class to complete the full time student requirement for FAFSA, and yet I was denied entry even when classes showed open spots (they’re still open too).
This lack of transparency and fairness has left me confused and discouraged for the rest of the spring semester. It created the feeling that access to my education depended more on when I was able to enroll in classes than on my actual need or effort.
In previous semesters, I noticed departments occasionally added more sections for high demand classes to accommodate students. However, many departments have stopped doing this due to low enrollment in some sections.
While I understand how this makes sense from an administrative perspective, I can’t help but wonder why they don’t instead change the capacity for each class, rather than getting people’s hopes up and then cancelling the class due to low enrollment. The remaining sections are often scheduled at inconvenient times, or they’re simply filled up.
I feel like CSUN departments are failing to recognize that these class timings and limited options are unreasonable. I have responsibilities outside of school that I simply cannot drop. Calling off work is not optimal for me and for a large portion of students because of rent, food and other necessities. Many jobs also prefer having multiple closers rather than daytime workers, which makes evening classes difficult to manage. I’m being forced to choose between academic success and financial survival, which should not be the case.
Departments and professors play a major role in this issue through the sections and class times that are created. The lack of flexibility, fairness and understanding places unnecessary stress on me and other students. If CSUN truly wants us to succeed, then the departments must reevaluate how courses are scheduled and how enrollment is handled.
