Administrators often hear anecdotal stories about how students struggle to get into the classes that they need; however, data has only recently become available that sheds light on the scope of the problem. Coursedog and College Pulse recently collaborated to survey 1,500+ students and interview over 100 students to learn more about the challenges they face. The insights from this work provide a clearer picture of the obstacles that often impede students' access to essential courses.

The survey found that students most frequently experienced the following challenges when trying to enroll in the classes that they need. Student interviews revealed similar themes that this article explores in greater depth below.