Sitting in on a lecture?

[NYURWJ]

I was wondering if it would be useful to sit in on a med school lecture. I will be in the town of my top school in a few weeks. Would inquiring about sitting in on a lecture to get feel for the school out of pure interest, no strings attached, be something useful? Of course, I'm not trying to learn the actual material in the lecture haha, but I would more so focus on the environment and the students there.

Thanks, guys!

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[physicsnerd42]

Honestly, I think it would be a little weird. Lectures are lectures and it won't help you judge the school. You will, however, be the random person sitting in the room that no one knows.

 

[Doctor Strange]

If you'd like to observe students falling asleep and browsing Facebook the entire time, then go right on ahead.

 

[LostinLift]

I'm in med school and I don't sit in on lectures

 

[IncognitoGuy]

If you'd like to observe students falling asleep and browsing Facebook the entire time, then go right on ahead.

Don't forget about online shopping.

OP: No. It's a lecture. Nothing special, and no, it won't show "special interest" that will get you extra points towards acceptance, nor will you get much insight into the environment, since people will be taking notes and silent for most the entire lecture.

Also, if it's a school that records or streams lectures, chances are only 10, 15% of the class will be there.

 

[mehc012]

Don't forget about online shopping.

OP: No. It's a lecture. Nothing special, and no, it won't show "special interest" that will get you extra points towards acceptance, nor will you get much insight into the environment, since people will be taking notes and silent for most the entire lecture.

Also, if it's a school that records or streams lectures, chances are only 10, 15% of the class will be there.

I dunno, they had us do so for undergrad courses when I toured my college, and I felt as if it really helped me get a sense of what it'd be like. I didn't go to any with fewer than 25 students, and it was done on this one orientation weekend where everyone was expecting it (one class even pranked us all, which was fun), so it wasn't as awkward, but...it was a useful glimpse, in my opinion.

That being said, while it may be interesting or useful to see the lecture, if the class is small enough it could also be incredibly awkward because it is not an expected behavior in your situation, in which case it would not be worthwhile.

 

[tiedyeddog]

It would not be useful whatsoever.

 

[Law2Doc]

If it helps you that's fine, but maybe you want to wait until you've narrowed the decision down to a few places you have been accepted to and are trying to decide between. It would be pretty silly to sit through lectures at a bunch of places that ultimately decide you aren't a Good fit.

 

[Baron Samedi]

It would flag you as someone with an Axis II psychiatric disorder (assuming we are still using DSM-IV) to all your potential future upperclassman.

 

[lmn]

Lectures wouldn't give you any good type of feel. Med school isn't like college where your classes will each be taught by one teacher, often every lecture will be taught by a different person (a specialist in that field - MD/PhD/MPH/JD/etc.)

 

[IL Pre Med]

Don't be such a try hard