Audit Classes?

[arnee005]

What exactly does this mean when a class is audited? And do med schools count classes towards Their requirements if they are audited?

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[NervousNed]

if you audit a class, you just sit in for the class, your not graded at all, your just kind of seeing what happens in lecture, and you cannot do this for your premed requirements

 

[Droopy Snoopy]

It's like you just sit in the back of the lecture hall and listen, from what I hear. Not sure if you take exams and do assignments and whatnot, but any grades you get don't go onto your transcript. You can do this for any class, including your premed requirements, you just have to take it for a grade later on. Only thing is, in a seat-restricted class (where more peeps sign up for it than space allows), preference is given to grade-seekers. Anyway, I thought about auditing Physics awhile back, since I thought I might struggle in it and didn't want to sink my BCPM average, but decided it'd be a big waste of time and took the class for credit.

 

[notdeadyet]

Auditing = observing. No submitted assignments or graded tests. No credit, no prereqs filled.

 

[prmdbeach17]

Do med schools look favorably or otherwise on audited courses? Because I took vertebrate physiology last semester and got an A but was going to take human physio next year right before the MCATs since I like it and am a premed major, not prevet. Though vertebrate physio was pretty similar to human physio, my professor said we do 3 of the same labs, too. Maybe I should audit human and just sit it on lecture? Or would it look better to take it and get an A?

 

[Law2Doc]

No, they don't look at them at all. Audit is the same as not having ever registered for the class. It is something you did in your spare time and is meaningless to anyone but you. So no, you cannot audit any classes you want med schools to see, cannot audit the prereqs and use them as prereqs, etc.

 

[MedStudentWanna]

You can audit whatever you want. On your transcript, it'll have a big X in place of a grade for that class, which means med schools will know you audited it (i.e. weren't graded), so if you audit a class, then take the class for credit the following semester, they'll know it's your second time taking that class, which means you better get an A when you take it for credit. Auditing too many classes before taking them for real will look bad as well. I would suggest you not audit any pre-med prerequisites. If you get an A, the A will look much better first time out than on round two.

 

[prmdbeach17]

Ok thanks for the info...I had never heard of anyone auditing a class until yesterday from this girl who is auditing our histology class.

 

[Law2Doc]

You can audit whatever you want. On your transcript, it'll have a big X in place of a grade for that class,

Lots of schools don't even put an audit on the transcript.

 

[MedStudentWanna]

Lots of schools don't even put an audit on the transcript.

All the schools I've been to (two for undergrad and one for post-bacc) do put it on the transcript. Besides, aren't you required to report it to AMCAS anyway?

 

[notdeadyet]

All the schools I've been to (two for undergrad and one for post-bacc) do put it on the transcript. Besides, aren't you required to report it to AMCAS anyway?

Huh. Unless the definition of auditing has changed, I find this very unusual.

From my memory, audited classes are ones you sit in on for the semester. You get no grade and no credit. There's nothing to report to AMCAS.

 

[Law2Doc]

All the schools I've been to (two for undergrad and one for post-bacc) do put it on the transcript. Besides, aren't you required to report it to AMCAS anyway?

You have to report any class you took, not any class you didn't take. Audit means you weren't an enrolled student, didn't take tests, didn't get graded, etc. You just sat in the back and enjoyed the view. At the places I went to school this kind of thing didn't end up on any transcript and you only had to let folks know you wanted to audit so they could make sure there were enough seats.

 

[HumbleMD]

I thought that it said "Adult Classes" at first and was intrigued. Needless to say, I was let down on closer inspection.

 

[MedStudentWanna]

Huh. Unless the definition of auditing has changed, I find this very unusual.

From my memory, audited classes are ones you sit in on for the semester. You get no grade and no credit. There's nothing to report to AMCAS.

I audited a French class during undergrad (paid the money, showed up, but didn't take tests) and it's still on my transcript with an X. I looked into auditing Orgo during post-bacc before taking it for credit since so many people struggle with that course, but I was told that too will show up on the transcript, so I talked to my advisor who said absolutely do not audit as med schools will see the record.

 

[Law2Doc]

I audited a French class during undergrad (paid the money, showed up, but didn't take tests) and it's still on my transcript with an X. I looked into auditing Orgo during post-bacc before taking it for credit since so many people struggle with that course, but I was told that too will show up on the transcript, so I talked to my advisor who said absolutely do not audit as med schools will see the record.

Different schools have different rules, I guess.

 

[futuredoc14]

I audited orgo chemistry before my sophomore year, but I took it for the credit the following semester and got an A. I heard from some people that auditing a medical school requirement class isn't a good idea. Would medical schools look down on my decision to audit orgo?

 

[Law2Doc]

Would medical schools look down on my decision to audit orgo?

Is it on your transcript? No point worrying about it now that it's done anyhow, though.

 

[futuredoc14]

Yes, "Audit" is posted on my transcript.

 

[Law2Doc]

Yes, "Audit" is posted on my transcript.

I wouldn't sweat it. Not much you can do now anyhow unless that time machine you've been working on is complete.

 

[panther42]

I took a year off after high school to work and decide what I wanted to do in college. That year included auditing quite a few courses, including biology and chemistry. It shows up on my transcript, and no one has questioned me about it. I've addressed why I audited them on a couple of secondaries, but it really hasn't been a big deal. I've gotten plenty of interviews. I will say that I did get A's when I took it for real, so I would guess that is important.

 

[TMP-SMX]

You have to pay full tuition for official audits. Why on earth would you do this?

 

[panther42]

a couple reasons...
I didn't do so hot in high school; didn't know if I was ready for college.
Also, most kids make their journey to med school more difficult by digging themselves a big hole in their first year with bad grades. Why not take a practice run? My main goal was to gain competence in the subjects I wanted to learn, not so much make the grade, so repeting the courses wasn't a big deal to me. The money wasn't a big deal because I knew I was going to be in debt eventually anyways. Also, not all the classes I audited were 'official' audits, just a few. When I did realize that I could compete in a premed major and I was ready for college, I finished in three years. And, I earned plenty of scholarships along the way.

 

[ryanl]

You have to pay full tuition for official audits. Why on earth would you do this?

I'm currently auditing an Anatomy and Physiology course. My reasoning for auditing it and paying full tuition is:

a) I want to learn the material.
b) I don't need the grade, as it isn't a requirement for me.
c) Less stress to do well, i can learn it as i wish.
d) The prof wouldn't let me in the class without being formally enrolled.