sitting in on a class? what are the rules/etiquette?

8/8/2010 9:30:16 AM

If there aren't enough seats or assigned seats don't sit your ass in that class

8/8/2010 11:05:28 AM

My American History instructor last summer gave extra credit to people who brought their friends to sit in class

[Edited on August 8, 2010 at 11:15 AM. Reason : ]

8/8/2010 11:13:49 AM

I've done it at least 10 times, on the streets we call it "class surfing." Just go for it, large classes are obviously easier, but go for whatever you want... as long as you aren't disruptive, doesn't matter. Heck I stayed in one grad level class (topology) as an undergrad til the first exam, then once I took it, things got a little mucky with the professor.

8/22/2010 11:18:51 PM

yeah, this is something that's interesting to me. would the professor get pissed off if he found out you were making his TA grade extra homeworks/exams? how would he take it if you just straight up told him upfront about what you were doing?

8/23/2010 1:38:31 AM

uhh, sitting and submitting assignments are not the same thing. Sitting in and submitting assignments to be graded, taking exams, etc, has an official name: Auditing.

I've sat in on classes. I went to class, took notes, read the books, and did occasional assignments if they would help me learn the material. But I didn't turn in assignments.

Taking up someone's time for them to grade your papers is very different. That is one of the things tuition and fees pays for. If you don't pay tuition, you don't get that kind of feedback. You don't get access to office hours, etc. That's what AUDITING is for, which you pay for. You're stealing time that they wouldn't otherwise spend on you.

The lecture is going to take place no matter what, as long as there are extra seats... I'm OK with this. - that's not to say i don't understand how some may see this as "wrong."

Now if you talk to an instructor and they say "sure, sit in and i'll grade your stuff" - that's their choice I guess. But I wouldn't go for it if I were the instructor. That shit takes time.


Honest advice if you want to simply sit in: show up, make sure there are extra seats available. If it's a big class, feel free to ask questions, engage in conversations, etc. Most likely, someone else has the same questions or thoughts.

If it's a smaller class, it may be trickier. If you don't interact much, just here and there, the instructor may never know. If you do, they're more likely to learn your name and more likely to realize you're not officially in the class. If they do, they can ask you not to come back if they want. And if it's a class where the instructor is most definitely going to recognize you/learn your name, you might as well just ask up front. But I absolutely would not expect them to grade your work. Actually, i would tell them up front that you don't expect that. It may make them more likely to let you sit in. something like "i just want to sit in on the lectures, and take notes. You wouldn't have to do any extra work by grading assignments for me or anything." -- the more official students they have, the more work it is for them. Are you likely to simply let someone do something you don't have to when you know it will create more work for you? I sure as hell am not. But, if you just want to hang out while I'm doing what i would be anyhow... that's not a big deal.

8/23/2010 3:15:27 AM

walk in if someone tells you you're in their seat move to another empty one

if it happens twice sit all the way in the back or leave

I'm AstralAdvent and i approved this message.

[Edited on August 24, 2010 at 3:03 PM. Reason : and haha you have to have some balls to take an exam]

8/24/2010 3:01:52 PM

what if i want to know how much i'm getting outta the class

8/25/2010 12:08:55 AM