Is this do-able?

[gofer]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I live several hours away from the closest university. I am thinking of enrolling at that university but for personal reasons I can go to the campus only 3 or 4 times during the course of the semester. Which means I will study on my own - which I don't think will be a problem - and just travel up to the campus for tests and exams.

(a) Is this do-able?
(b) I realize I won't get a recommendation letter from the professor but will they let someone ace a course if he shows up only 3 to 4 times during the semester to take tests/exams? Will the prof's ego be so offended that he gives me a bad grade despite my good performance?
(c) On average how many tests or exams are scheduled during a typical semester for pre-med courses? (I am trying to estimate how often I will need to travel to the university)
Thanx

 

[SoulinNeed]

What about labs?

 

[gofer]

What about labs?

I will take them over the Summer.

 

[tiedyeddog]

Um, this would have worked for me in maybe two or three classes total out of all of the ones I took. Professors seem to highlight stuff in class, which you miss if you aren't there.

 

[Atom bum]

a: This depends on you. Personally I do fairly well studying on my own, but I have found that when I regularly attend class I get a better score on midterms and finals. I have known people that get good grades without attending class, so I'm sure it's possible.

b: 90% of my premed classes were filled with 200+ other premed students. The professor wrote the test but they were administered and graded by the TAs. The only way the professor would know of your existence is if you went up to them frequently after class and during office hours. This is how I got my professor letters. Maybe if your class sizes are smaller this will be more of a problem. I have to say though of all the classes I have taken (167 hours so far), I have only had 1 teacher that seemed to be bothered by students not showing up and even he wouldn't let that affect anyone's grade...Unless of course attendance was part of the grade.

c:Most of my classes had 3-4 midterms and a final. Many professors would drop the worst midterm so you could skip one if you did well on the first ones.

One other thing. It might be different at your university but where I go to school there are a limited number of labs offered during the summer. It might be hard to fulfill all lab requirements that way.

 

[bravofleet4]

some classes require attendance and most make it part of the grade in some way either by recording participation, collecting homework, or giving out quizzes during discussion. So no I don't think it's do-able.

 

[riverjib]

I live several hours away from the closest university. I am thinking of enrolling at that university but for personal reasons I can go to the campus only 3 or 4 times during the course of the semester. Which means I will study on my own - which I don't think will be a problem - and just travel up to the campus for tests and exams.

(a) Is this do-able?
(b) I realize I won't get a recommendation letter from the professor but will they let someone ace a course if he shows up only 3 to 4 times during the semester to take tests/exams? Will the prof's ego be so offended that he gives me a bad grade despite my good performance?
(c) On average how many tests or exams are scheduled during a typical semester for pre-med courses? (I am trying to estimate how often I will need to travel to the university)
Thanx

Huh? I assure you that if this an online class, the professor won't care whether or not you're there. It's not expected of you. You are missing out on a LOR and the personal interactions that make gen chem and physics less daunting, but that's up to you. At some point, you'll have to connect with at least one or two people (preferably a science prof) who knows you and will vouch for you.