<p>Does anyone else do this? I got kind of in over my head in one history class I took this semester so I've decided to do more research before just randomly picking classes. But now that I've started sending e-mails I feel kind of stupid. </p>
<p>Oh, and I know a lot of professors won't have a syllabus ready yet, but I have tried just asking what all the class involves.</p>
<p>I don’t see what is wrong about this. In fact, this seems like an excellent strategy. But I would suggest visiting the professor during office hours rather than emailing him or her because professors often ignore e-mails since they are too busy. If they don’t have a syllabus ready on hand, ask them what book they use and what topics they cover. Also, the professor will think that you care a lot about your studies.</p>
<p>I’ve never gotten one by emailing the professor. Sometimes syllabi will be on the web site, you just have to know where to look. Go to the department receptionist or whatever and ask them, you probably won’t get anywhere asking a professor.</p>
<p>I would suggest it; I did it the fall of my freshman year, and spring semester was a blast- I was taking exactly the classes I wanted, in the format that I wanted. Most of my professors were responsive and promptly emailed the syllabus to me. When the professors didn’t respond, I asked a couple of upperclassmen for copies, and found that the syllabus hadn’t varied much over the years.</p>
<p>If you think you need to, do it! I have had to request a few to get program credit (if you are taking an out of program class for a requirement, you need to have it pre-approved).</p>