Auditing Classes

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

DrStraggler

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
Sep 2, 2011
Messages
156
Reaction score
2
So, when I was in HS, I used to think I was going to audit every Science pre-med class there was....but now I realize the extent of my naivete.....It's literally impossible to fit even a nap into my schedule!

Lol, so if I'm going to give up a huge chunk of my time for something that's not required, I want to know it's worthwhile...!

Basically, at my school...no one really fills out actual auditing forms, they just sit in on lectures (All premed science lectures have 80+ people...ALL of them, so it's kind of impossible to know if you're a registered student or not). However, you do need to plug in your student ID into the database to get a student specific test, so it wards off the chances of cheating, something I'm obviously not interested in lol.

So, for everyone that's had experience, is it useful? Btw, I'm planing on auditing Orgo I + II!
 
I'm taking 14 credits this semester, and 14 credits next semester, and most of them are pretty easy intro classes, so this would be the best time to audit classes. Plus I know how much of ball buster Orgo is, I want to be prepared!

And I'm not taking a lot of credits because I got 32 AP Credits.
 
I'm taking 14 credits this semester, and 14 credits next semester, and most of them are pretty easy intro classes, so this would be the best time to audit classes. Plus I know how much of ball buster Orgo is, I want to be prepared!

And I'm not taking a lot of credits because I got 32 AP Credits.

You're high.

Go read an MCAT prep book: All the preparation you'll need.
 
An MCAT prep book....this early? No thanks, not going to worry about stuff a long way down the road!

Right now, I'm just focusing on keeping my grades high lol....After I finish all of my premed prereqs, I'll START thinking about the MCAT.
 
Why don't you fill out the auditing form, or otherwise get official permission to attend? It won't be "worthwhile" if you are caught interloping and officially sanctioned.

As ridiculous as it might sound, the school doesn't really care! I talked to my advisor about it, and he said that if you're willing to go to a class that you don't have to, go ahead. Auditing forms are generally ignored by the registrar....I guess they already have too much work to do? Whatever it may be, I'm definitely going to inform the professor that I'm there...not just sneak in the back lol. I don't want it to be a shady operation but that's just sort of how it works around here!
 
I'm auditing physics this semester, and I'll be taking it next semester (my math is a little rusty so I've always been a little scared of physics). My only advice is don't unnecessarily audit if you have too many classes anyways. I'm only taking 14 credits (not too hard either).
 
I audited one lecture of one class and immediately realized how much of a waste of time it is.
 
So, when I was in HS, I used to think I was going to audit every Science pre-med class there was....but now I realize the extent of my naivete.....It's literally impossible to fit even a nap into my schedule!

Lol, so if I'm going to give up a huge chunk of my time for something that's not required, I want to know it's worthwhile...!

Basically, at my school...no one really fills out actual auditing forms, they just sit in on lectures (All premed science lectures have 80+ people...ALL of them, so it's kind of impossible to know if you're a registered student or not). However, you do need to plug in your student ID into the database to get a student specific test, so it wards off the chances of cheating, something I'm obviously not interested in lol.

So, for everyone that's had experience, is it useful? Btw, I'm planing on auditing Orgo I + II!

if you seriously have time for it and wanna put forth the effort like its a real class i can see it benefiting you greatly when you take the real class. If you just audit ochem and do no work then your not going to learn.
 
If you are in a private university in which one credit costs 500 dollars and you have no scholarships or anything, Don't audit.
 
If you are in a private university in which one credit costs 500 dollars and you have no scholarships or anything, Don't audit.

How on earth will they know if you audit or not in a lecture hall of 100+ students? 😕

Even in the small group discussion sections some classes never take attendance.

The only classes at UCSD that took attendance was foreign language (20 students) and Humanities small group discussion (20 students). I could've just stayed home except for lab and exams my entire sophomore to senior year of college.
 
If you want to actually learn something, audit. If you want to audit a class just to have an advantage for when you actually do take the class for a grade, it's a waste of time.
 
Personally, I think it's a complete waste of time, time you could be using to volunteer or join some groups.

Also, something I didn't realize before my junior year, you may not be able to use those AP credits to satisfy pre-reqs for med schools.
 
I audited a calculus course and a college algera course a few years back to refresh material. I had received an A in the calc course almost ten years ago while I was a high school student. This was before Khan Academy, or I would have just used You Tube videos.

I also audited a statistics course right after I had a baby. I would have gotten an "A" in it, but I wasn't sure at the time of taking the class during the summer how much would stick in my brain while getting zero sleep. I retook it the following summer, and I did very well. For me, it was worth taking my time with the course and taking it twice. It was great review for me the second time around. It all depends on the reasons why you are auditing and what your personal life circumstances are.
 
If it is a large lecture hall just slip in and sit down.
 
Auditing is fine as long as you can manage your schedule and pull solid grades from the courses you are actually taking. Just don't go overboard trying to sit in on every class. Shoot for 2 extra per semester. Also keep in mind that this wins you zero points for med school, unless it is a medically related class (anatomy, physiology, histology, etc). Zero. I'd recommend being well rounded over multi-audits. So... it's great that you're interested, but proceed with caution, and keep a close eye on your real grades.
 
You guys are so weird.

Unless you have all 4.0 GPA, are volunteering 10 hours a week and researching 20 hours on the side, and are still bored, I see very few positives to auditing compared to just taking the class and doing well on it.
 
So, when I was in HS, I used to think I was going to audit every Science pre-med class there was....but now I realize the extent of my naivete.....It's literally impossible to fit even a nap into my schedule!

Lol, so if I'm going to give up a huge chunk of my time for something that's not required, I want to know it's worthwhile...!

Basically, at my school...no one really fills out actual auditing forms, they just sit in on lectures (All premed science lectures have 80+ people...ALL of them, so it's kind of impossible to know if you're a registered student or not). However, you do need to plug in your student ID into the database to get a student specific test, so it wards off the chances of cheating, something I'm obviously not interested in lol.

So, for everyone that's had experience, is it useful? Btw, I'm planing on auditing Orgo I + II!

14 credit hours and you have literally no time? You're doing college wrong, unless you're talking about MIT or Caltech. And I don't buy for a second you need to be that busy studying to get high grades.
 
If you want to actually learn something, audit. If you want to audit a class just to have an advantage for when you actually do take the class for a grade, it's a waste of time.

I agree with this.
 
Personally, I think it's a complete waste of time, time you could be using to volunteer or join some groups.

Also, something I didn't realize before my junior year, you may not be able to use those AP credits to satisfy pre-reqs for med schools.


Oh yeah, I know that. I got credit for Chem, bio, & Physics but I'm taking it over again b/c I heard the majority of schools don't take science AP Credits.

The other credits are language & history primarily
 
14 credit hours and you have literally no time? You're doing college wrong, unless you're talking about MIT or Caltech. And I don't buy for a second you need to be that busy studying to get high grades.


I'm in a research program that takes up all of my time, but I really like it, so I'm sticking with it, other than that, studying does actually take up a bit of my time, everyone studies differently..
 
So, when I was in HS, I used to think I was going to audit every Science pre-med class there was....but now I realize the extent of my naivete.....It's literally impossible to fit even a nap into my schedule!

If you think you have no time now, you're in for a nice surprise when you get to med school! 🙂
 
Top