Students are back in class at Bakersfield College, but many are having trouble when they try to enroll in classes. That's because many classes are full. It's a problem, school officials say plagues the community college every year.
BC officials say, financially, they can't support any more classes than they're offering. They said the courses offered should be enough to meet students' needs.
But, students we spoke with said they are delaying school or transferring to avoid the hassle.
"Bakersfield College classes, they fill quickly. They fill early," said Amber Chiang, BC Spokesperson.
"I signed up for a few classes and I wasn't able to get into any of them," said Wesley Barrientos, a first-time student at Bakersfield College.
Ten years out of high school, this was a big step for Barrientos, who was finally trying to go back to school. Now, he'll have to wait.
"I waited ten years. I guess I can wait six more months," said Barrientos.
Barrientos isn't the only one having trouble enrolling. Hundreds of students are on the wait list for classes at BC, waiting years sometimes to take the courses they need to graduate.
"It's sad because people are wanting to get this done and over with. It's taking them a lot longer than they want it to take them," said Mariah Giddings, a freshman at Bakersfield College.
Kristin Silva got into all the classes she wanted this year, but last year she said she was denied enrollment into a crucial class.
"It was really frustrating," said Silva, a sophomore at Bakersfield College.
Bakersfield College officials said it's normal for classes to fill quickly.
"We've got nearly 17,000 students and just not the means to give students the means to get whatever they want, whenever they want," said Chiang.
But, for some students the inconvenience isn't worth it, pushing them to consider transferring.
"I kind of regret going to BC. I wish I would have gone to a four-year college because of the fact that it's really hard to get into classes here so I just feel held back," said Silva.
Some are going to Taft College, which is less than an hour away from Bakersfield. Taft College officials say half of their students last semester were from Bakersfield.
"I'm from Bakersfield," said Nancy Zamora, a Taft College student. "It's a long drive, but I think it's a better option."
