Auditing a class that you already took

[orthomyxo]

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Since I just transferred schools I'm in a sort of weird situation. I took Bio 1 at my other school without a lab component, and now I'm required to take the lab (and only the lab) this semester. But just so I'm not totally lost, I spoke with the Bio 1 prof about sitting in on her lecture off the record and she said it would be fine.

The only thing is that I wouldn't have access to the Blackboard site for the class, which I don't think is a really big deal. The prof however, is kind of pushing me to do an official audit so I'll have the powerpoints, etc. at my disposal. I'm just wondering if doing this will cause adcoms to raise an eyebrow when they see that on my transcript since I already took Bio 1 before.

 

[Barcu]

Since I just transferred schools I'm in a sort of weird situation. I took Bio 1 at my other school without a lab component, and now I'm required to take the lab (and only the lab) this semester. But just so I'm not totally lost, I spoke with the Bio 1 prof about sitting in on her lecture off the record and she said it would be fine.

The only thing is that I wouldn't have access to the Blackboard site for the class, which I don't think is a really big deal. The prof however, is kind of pushing me to do an official audit so I'll have the powerpoints, etc. at my disposal. I'm just wondering if doing this will cause adcoms to raise an eyebrow when they see that on my transcript since I already took Bio 1 before.

I don't think that would be seen as a negative. It's not like you are trying to pad your gpa or anything by taking something twice.

If you really do feel uncomfortable about it, get someone to print off the powerpoints for you. I agree with the prof that they would be helpful, so you should definitely try and get them.

 

[BBender716]

It will NOT be a big deal. When you audit, none of it counts towards your GPA so it won't be seen as padding. If anyone asks you can easily explain it because that's a very good reason to audit.

 

[Tin Man]

It will NOT be a big deal. When you audit, none of it counts towards your GPA so it won't be seen as padding. If anyone asks you can easily explain it because that's a very good reason to audit.

A very good reason to audit? Nah. Passable, maybe. But not "very good."

If you got anything out of your other class at your other school, you should not be "totally lost" in this lab. The lab is simple application of the concepts learned in the class. If you can't follow along in the lab, it means you didn't learn the concepts. And the concepts shouldn't differ drastically between schools, since all pre-meds are expected to know the same things after having taken the same courses.

If I were the adcom, I would raise an eyebrow at your "need" to audit a class when you should have already covered the material at a previous school (and therefore cast into question the validity of ANY coursework you took at this other school). Instead, I would just use the Powerpoints and syllabus as a refresher, and not have to deal with explaining to the adcoms why you were lost in a class you already took.

 

[Barcu]

A very good reason to audit? Nah. Passable, maybe. But not "very good."

If you got anything out of your other class at your other school, you should not be "totally lost" in this lab. The lab is simple application of the concepts learned in the class. If you can't follow along in the lab, it means you didn't learn the concepts. And the concepts shouldn't differ drastically between schools, since all pre-meds are expected to know the same things after having taken the same courses.

If I were the adcom, I would raise an eyebrow at your "need" to audit a class when you should have already covered the material at a previous school (and therefore cast into question the validity of ANY coursework you took at this other school). Instead, I would just use the Powerpoints and syllabus as a refresher, and not have to deal with explaining to the adcoms why you were lost in a class you already took.

I think that's a bit harsh. I think everyone knows that classes differ at schools, with different topics being taught or emphasized.

For example, my intro bio class was for my molecular bio major, so we did nothing with plants. I know many intro bio classes cover topics like that, but we have three bio majors at my school, with three significantly different intro classes. Being lost in this certain intro class does not mean that the previous bio class was worthless.

Audit the class. If you take upper-division bio classes and do well and then do well on the MCAT, I doubt this issue will ever come up.

 

[Tin Man]

I think that's a bit harsh. I think everyone knows that classes differ at schools, with different topics being taught or emphasized.

For example, my intro bio class was for my molecular bio major, so we did nothing with plants. I know many intro bio classes cover topics like that, but we have three bio majors at my school, with three significantly different intro classes. Being lost in this certain intro class does not mean that the previous bio class was worthless.

Theoretically, if you take a "cellular and molecular biology" class, it should cover the same material at any school, from the beginning chem, to the organelles in plants and animals, to DNA and all of the associated processes. I'm a bit surprised that you didn't end up covering plant stuff, as there would be no reason for a "molecular biology" class to exclude them. Luckily, I haven't heard of any MCAT questions covering intense plant information.

I guess I could be wrong, but I would be pretty surprised if there is as big of a variance in the class material between schools as you think. Obviously, there will be a different emphasis (mine was genetics), but overall, the MCAT and adcoms expect all pre-meds to walk away from a molecular biology class with the same fundamental knowledge, regardless of what the teacher happened to be researching at the time. If your class is excluding any information, or at least not giving you enough of a focus on that information for you to have a reasonable expectation of retaining it as well as the average pre-med, then there might be an issue with the class.

I have no problem using myself as an example. For some reason, during my time at a local community college, I went through my molecular biology class and picked up very little about DNA replication, transcription, translation, and the overall differences between lipids, proteins, and amino acids. We spent a great deal of time on crosses and genetic research methods, but for some reason, I didn't get everything I was supposed to from the class, even though I did feel like I studied. I have no problem admitting that my teacher was probably not as interested in teaching those portions and rushed through them, since her research was focused at a higher level of genetics. I had to reteach myself that material in the summer I studied for the MCAT.

I still probably could have gotten by the average cell biology lab, though. They don't tend to be nearly as difficult as chem or ochem labs...

 

[orthomyxo]

Hmm, you guys make some good points. To be honest, I'm leaning towards not officially auditing it. I'll definitely be sitting in regardless though. It's not like I didn't learn anything from Bio 1, actually I did very well, but that isn't to say I wouldn't benefit from a refresher especially since the material will be relevant in lab.

Anyways, I think we need a higher authority's opinion. Where's LizzyM at a time like this?

 

[Tin Man]

Hmm, you guys make some good points. To be honest, I'm leaning towards not officially auditing it. I'll definitely be sitting in regardless though. It's not like I didn't learn anything from Bio 1, actually I did very well, but that isn't to say I wouldn't benefit from a refresher especially since the material will be relevant in lab.

Maybe you should consider visiting the lecture teacher during office hours. Go through the syllabus and mark everything you feel you may not be especially confident about, and ask the teacher if these topics will be the subject of any upcoming labs. If not, then there isn't any reason to worry about the lab, since it should be over stuff you already know.

However, if there is a subject you don't know well, and you will be doing a lab over the subject, then you have a few alternatives to auditing the whole class. You could consider finding a tutor, or even better yet, offer to study with a student enrolled in the lecture (maybe your lab partner). That way, you can help him/her study the stuff you already know, and they can help you study/refresh the stuff you don't know that you'll need for the lab. Win-win (plus, you'll get to restudy, which means better retention for the MCAT).

 

[Barcu]

Maybe you should consider visiting the lecture teacher during office hours. Go through the syllabus and mark everything you feel you may not be especially confident about, and ask the teacher if these topics will be the subject of any upcoming labs. If not, then there isn't any reason to worry about the lab, since it should be over stuff you already know.

However, if there is a subject you don't know well, and you will be doing a lab over the subject, then you have a few alternatives to auditing the whole class. You could consider finding a tutor, or even better yet, offer to study with a student enrolled in the lecture (maybe your lab partner). That way, you can help him/her study the stuff you already know, and they can help you study/refresh the stuff you don't know that you'll need for the lab. Win-win (plus, you'll get to restudy, which means better retention for the MCAT).

Good suggestions.

Maybe it's me personally, but just sitting in a lecture (especially one that I will not be tested on) would be worthless. Having to engage the material with another student would be much better. You would learn the material, be better prepared for lab, and may get a good foundation for the MCAT.

You probably don't need to sit in on every class to do well in your lab, especially if there is some overlap with your previous class.

 

[orthomyxo]

bump....anyone else have an opinion before I decide??