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 RateMyProfessors.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.
   
  
  

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TRANSCRIPT:

Tour at University Of Washington

So today I’m on the campus of the University of Washington in Seattle. Beautiful, comprehensive university, 29,000 undergraduates, fantastically beautiful campus, trees. Of course it’s January, so they’re not in bloom, but I’m sure in the springtime it’s absolutely gorgeous here. I want to talk a minute about taking tours at large schools versus small schools. Yesterday, I was at the University of Puget Sound, which has about 2,300 students, and here there are 29,000 students. And it’s such a different experience going on a tour here.

There are probably 30 or 40 people on the tour today. And it is very scripted. The tour guide was terrific; she was very, very personable and very well, very knowledgeable about the school. But it was clear that we had a series of stops. And every place she would talk about specific things. So in one place, in fact it was just right over here, she was talking about academics, and she talked about majors. And then in other places, she pointed out housing options and dining options. And then the next stop was something about student clubs, and how to participate in student life here.

Tour At University of Puget Sound

The contrast was that yesterday when we visited the University of Puget Sound, really there were only two of us on the tour, and there were two tour guides, and it was very, very, very, very personal. So the two student tour guides really wanted to know about us and what we were interested in learning about, and then they kind of tailored the tour to whatever we wanted to do. And there were a couple of places that we passed by a building, and it looked kind of interesting, so we just went in, right? We didn’t have to take the whole thing. We didn’t have 40 people on the tour.

There is really no way that your individual interest can dictate what you’re going to learn on the tour. You’re going to learn what the tour guide has been told to tell you, and at this particular stop, at this particular place, and about these particular topics. Again, not really one is better than the other, but it helps to highlight how important it is that no matter what kind of school you go to, that the tour is only a small part of what you can and should learn about the university that you want to attend.

Ask Questions!

So if there are things you want to know about the campus that are not on the tour, then it’s your responsibility to learn that, to find out if there are other resources on campus, other people, other offices that you need to visit, or if you need to be looking more on the web for certain kinds of details or things that you want to know about the opportunities that you are looking for.

The tour is helpful, but it is certainly not the only thing you should do when you’re on a campus. And that is very true, probably the most true, on these large campuses where the tours are very scripted, very rigid, and perhaps less helpful because they’re just, they can’t be very personal. It’s the law of numbers. So again, think about what it is you want to learn about the campus before you even come, so that you can have the most productive visit possible.
 
Great College Advice

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Summary:

Listen to some current Haverford students talk about why they chose to attend Haverford College. The great interactions with professors, the strong honor code, the friendly people, the beautiful campus. And of course – the delicious ice cream!
It is a beautiful fall day here at Haverford College where I just had the chance to talk to a few current students.

It was really interesting to hear them talk about the importance of the honor code on campus which has a strong history and adds great value to the campus classroom and outside classroom experiences. The campus also has a strong Quaker tradition which allows for consensus of decisions. The ability for students to have a big voice on campus, ask good questions and build a strong community.

This is a great campus right outside of city center Philadelphia with some new buildings, new residence halls in the works, great fall foliage, and a favorite-the  duck pond where numerous families were out feeding the ducks. Definitely worth a visit!

*Fun fact: Haverford is home to the ONLY varsity collegiate cricket team in the U.S. Don’t worry though there are still plenty of club teams to play as competition!

The post Haverford College – A Small College With A Big Student Voice first appeared on College Admission Counseling.

During my visit I stopped a few students to ask them what they liked about Villanova and why they chose to attend the school. While many of them chose the college for specific academic programs they all mentioned the word community.

Part of the reason for the strong community may be because Villanova is rooted in Augustinian Catholic tradition. The religious foundation of the college creates a strong identity for the campus and students. Programs and research on issues are taught through the lens of Catholic teaching.

As you are searching for colleges you may want to think about the role you want religion to play in the campus you attend. Do you want it to be a big element to the campus or a small one? Do you want religion to be visible on campus physically in the buildings or theoretically through teaching or both. Or, do you not want a religious influence at all? These are all important considerations in your college search.

Watch below to hear a little more from me on this subject and also from a few students about why they chose to attend Villanova!

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Educational Consultant

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In this short video, Andrew explains his strategies for visiting a college campus.

College Consultant

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When I was on a tour of Connecticut colleges recently, I asked a representative of the University of Bridgeport to identify the three most important aspects of her campus.  This is what she said.

College Consultant

The post College Visits: Remember Three Important Features first appeared on College Admission Counseling.

It’s a list of observations that can help you get more out of your college visit.

ASK QUESTIONS

When I was at Macalester, it was preview day for admitted students. Scads of families wandering around campus in groups of three (one student, two parents). And tours left from the admissions office constantly all morning. So at any one time, I could run between this tour and that one, listening in on the tour guides’ patter and make some comparisons. I must have followed six different tours. Despite the constant refrain from the tour guides (“Do you have any questions?”) virtually nobody asked any. If you don’t know what questions to ask on a campus tour, look at this post of things you might consider asking.

DON’T LET THE PARENTS DO ALL THE TALKING

A word to the wise, folks. It’s not a good idea for parents to ask all the questions. It makes the students look dorky and shy. It makes it seem that your parents are making this decision for you. I know it may feel uncomfortable in a group environment, but show some curiosity! You are considering investing four years of your life in a college, and to just follow a tour passively without engaging yourself is really a waste of time.

TAKE NOTES

I am constantly amazed that virtually no one on a college tour (except me) takes notes. This is a perfect job for a parent (let the student ask the questions, and the parents can be the silent scribes). Often I ask parents how many colleges they are visiting, and many cite double digit numbers. How can they keep it all straight? How can they make meaningful comparisons if they don’t write down their impressions and discuss them afterward?

No one can possibly retain all the information divulged in a tour. While I do know that picking a college can have a “gut level” aspect to it, it’s important to take notes to give yourself a “gut check” after the tour is over.

IGNORE THE WEATHER

It was raining in St. Paul the day I visited Macalester. Dreary. Cold. The weather can affect our moods, and it’s important to keep that fact in mind when visiting a campus. Of course, you will want to consider the climate when picking a college. For example, Minnesota’s winters are not the same as Florida’s.

And you will want to take into account how the college is integrated into the environment (for example, St. Olaf has lots of skylights and enormous windows that let in tons of natural light–even on a frigid, winter morning, while Carleton–two miles away–has fewer windows, more classic “collegiate” architecture, and a less airy feel). But don’t let the weather on a single day dampen your enthusiasm for a college that seems perfect in all other respects.

DON’T KILL (or HUG) the MESSENGER.

Tour guides can be wonderful. Or awful. I really enjoyed my tour guide at St. Olaf. He was a funny, intelligent young man who showed his pride for St. Olaf without showing off. A few hours later, at Carleton, my tour guide was equally enthusiastic but spent a good portion of the tour talking about herself. She came off as smarty pants and was much less helpful in communicating interest in her college. For example, when one prospective student declared her interest in art, the tour guide just pointed to the building.

When the prospective student asked if we could take a short detour inside, the initial response was “It’s not on the tour.” But since she was the only student and I was also interested, I convinced the tour guide it was worth a quick look. It turned out that the tour guide had never been in that building before, and had never even looked into any of the art studios. The point is, some tour guides are great, and others are lousy. Don’t judge the college by the quality of the tour guide.

TOURS ARE CAREFULLY CHOREOGRAPHED

It was fun to compare tours at Macalester. I could just hang out in the foyer of the library and wait for new tour groups to shuffle through. And for each tour, the guide’s patter was virtually identical. Maybe the order in which the information was presented was different. But each guide used the same phrases. The same script. Keep in mind that every building, every stop on the tour has been carefully chosen by the director of admission to pique your interest and to show off all the positive aspects of the college.

At all times you should be asking yourself, “What are they NOT showing me?” and “Why did they pick this building and not that one over there?” The point is not to trip up the tour guide and hijack the tour. But once the tour is over, spend the time to investigate the corners of the campus you did NOT visit on the tour.

For example, it’s always a red flag for me when a tour does not stop at the library. Ordinarily, it should be the centerpiece of the intellectual life of the college. If the tour does not stop there, I know something is up. Perhaps it’s ugly. Perhaps it’s never used. Perhaps there is not enough study space. The point is that you have to look beyond the script and the choreography if you’re really going to get the most out of your college visit.

I love visiting colleges. I learn a ton, and get a good feel for the campus geography, the “vibe” of the student body, and a sense of what it might be like to attend. But visiting is work, folks. Don’t be a passive recipient of the college’s party line. Investigate! Inquire!

Mark Montgomery
Great College Advice

The post Visiting College Campuses: Observations by a Professional Tour-Taker first appeared on College Admission Counseling.