When you go on college tour, a bulk of the information the tour guide discusses is about student life. The admissions officer will likely talk about ways to get involved, clubs to join, sporting events to attend, and other resources for staying active on campus. What about academics? Often students wonder, “may I sit in on a college class?”
May I sit in on a college class?
Sitting in on a class is a great way to get a feel for the academic environment on a college campus. It gives you the opportunity to see how students and professors interact. Also, you get to know the teaching and learning styles being used. As well as what technology they use, and what the class sizes are like.
Some colleges will encourage you to sit in on a college class. They may even provide lists of options for you to visit, with different courses in different subjects. This way you can choose a course in a field that most interests you.
Not all colleges will allow you to sit in on a class, however. In some cases, space may be limited, an exam is being given, or a field trip is taking place. Some professors really don’t like to have prospective students traipsing in to their classrooms, which can disrupt the dynamic of the learning environment.
In any case, if you are interested in sitting in on a college class, before you visit a college it is worth asking the admissions office if this is a possibility.
It’s also important to note that some colleges have special visit days for prospective students. Often on these days, the admissions office will provide a list of college classes you can visit. So if you are especially interested in the ability to sit in on a college class, be sure to visit on one of these special open days.
Why sit in on a college class?
The college learning environment can be very different from what most students experience in high school. Sometimes the classes are much, much larger. Professors lecture to hundreds of students in a large auditorium, and students are relatively passive in those sorts of classes. Sometime professors will equip students with “clickers” that allow them to respond to questions posed by the professor, and the answers are projected on a screen at the front of the auditorium. One finds these sorts of classes in introductory level courses and in courses that are very popular.
Other college classes can be smaller and more intimate, in which the professor engages students in discussions about the material being studied. In these cases, professors may know all the names of their students, and the environment can be more personal and relaxed.
In either case, you’ll be able to get a sense of how the class functions–at least in that particular class. However, it’s good–when possible–to talk to students in the class (either before or after class, of course–not to disrupt the proceedings!) to find out whether the particular class you are visiting is representative of others the student is taking, whether is it similar to or different from other classes in the department, and whether students this particular professor is good or bad.
No matter what sort of class you visit, be sure to observe what is happening in the classroom. Are students listening and engaged, or are many of them scrolling through their Instagram feeds in boredom? Do students seem prepared for what is being presented by the professor? If it is a discussion class, do students actively contribute or does the professor have to drag responses from them? Do students seem to know one another? Do they interact? How much does the professor interact and show interest in the student? Sitting in on a class allows you to be a keen observer of the classroom dynamic, even if you don’t understand the material being presented that day.
Three things to watch out for
Sitting in on a college class can be a very helpful exercise when visiting a college. However, it can also lead to some incorrect assumptions about the general learning environment at the college. Before you make gross generalizations about the college based on attending a single course session, consider these factors in evaluating the class you visit.
Remember that this is only one among hundreds or even thousands being offered on this campus. You are likely able to visit only one class, so be careful about extrapolating this experience to think that every class in every department will be presented in this same way.
Remember that you are visiting this class on a single course session. Given the ebb and flow of the learning process, some class sessions could be full of lots of new information, and others might serve as review. Not every course session is going to be exactly the same from day to day or week to week.
You may not be familiar with much of anything going on in the classroom. Perhaps it’s a sociology class–and you’re not even sure exactly what sociology is. Or maybe it’s a class discussing a phenomenon or issue that you know nothing about. Or maybe it’s a science or math class covering material that quite literally flies over your head. This can be frustrating, and may negatively affect your impressions of the class.
The classes chosen by admissions for you to sit on generally are taught by some of the best and most popular professors on campus. However, in some cases, the professor might not be the best. As you select the class to sit in on, you can consult RateMyProfessor.com to see what former students have had to say about their experience with this professor and in this class. Keep in mind that these rating are imperfect, and often students rate their professors only when they have something negative to say. On the other hand, a professor with a lot of positive reviews is likely a respected and popular professor.
Six tips for when you sit in on a college class
- Arrive on time (preferably a few minutes early).
- Introduce yourself to the professor so they know who you are and why you are there.
- Turn off your cell phone or put it on silent mode.
- Don’t leave early. It is distracting to the other students and rude to the professor.
- Be sure to thank the professor on your way out.
- Take time to try to talk to students before or after the class to ask their opinions of the class and the professor.
