Audit a class?

<p>Is there anyway I can audit a class at Columbia? Columbia has always been one of my dream schools.</p>

<p>I'm a student from NYU, majoring in business. If possible, I would like to just sit in on something discussion-based. Would I have to fill out any paperwork or such? And how?</p>

<p>Do you mean attend one session of a class? If you have a good reason, I would assume emailing the prof might work. People visit classes for a variety of reasons.</p>

<p>Or attend a class for an entire semester? Why would you want to waste your time, and why should you get for free what Columbia students pay a ton of money for?</p>

<p>You can't audit a class because you're still in college. There's a list of requirements on [url=<a href="http://www.ce.columbia.edu/forms/Auditing_RegCheckList.pdf%5Dthis%5B/url"&gt;http://www.ce.columbia.edu/forms/Auditing_RegCheckList.pdf]this[/url&lt;/a&gt;] page.</p>

<p>First, Columbia students are not just paying for an education, but for a piece of paper that says that they received an education.</p>

<p>Yes, you cannot technically audit but you can "attend" the larger lectures with impunity, without prior permission, although seeking it would be courteous. (If denied, attend anyway.) Your best bet this semester (if you like literature) is Nicholas Dames. Perhaps the most popular lecturer, with ample justification. A hundred people in the class; nobody will notice you.</p>

<p>dot_parker.....very interesting....i had no idea about this auditing thing....i'd just like to point out though that if you scroll down you'll find that even auditors must pay 1500 bucks per class!</p>

<p>Gatsby's suggestion is technically doable but keep in mind that if someone DOES actually notice you it won't be pretty since you would be trespassing among other things. In my islamic civ class last semester (a class of 200) the professor noticed an older woman who was not officially registered for the class and kicked her out. Also, if you are looking for a "discussion-based" class which is usually smaller, there is absolutely no way you would go unnoticed.</p>

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In my islamic civ class last semester (a class of 200) the professor noticed an older woman who was not officially registered for the class and kicked her out.

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<p>I'd guess that had to do with the subject of the class and the controversy over MEALAC, including accusations that professors reacted with hostility to some students who expressed a differing opinion when it comes to the Middle East. There are off-campus organizations that sent people into the classroom to monitor what professors say.</p>

<p>My guess is that most profs wouldn't take it upon themselves to kick someone out of a large lecture class. However, my suggestion for the OP is to look at the continuing education classes.</p>

<p>pretty much in any big lecture you will be able to slip in and stay there unnoticed. in any small class / discussion section, you WILL be found out, and chances are that you will not be able to simply chill while everyone participates in discussion. it would unjust to let you participate because that's less attention per student, which is half the point of paying fees.</p>