<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I'm faced with some decisions now. Now I can start taking 4th year courses. Except in my university, 4th year courses are usually "held with" grad courses. I know that grad schools favour people with some grad course credits. But I also hear that in my university, although we have a strong undergrad program, grad students aren't that great and that my university's grad school doesn't have much of a reputation. I know for a fact that many professors complain about the grad students being not as bright as 4th year undergrads.</p>
<p>So my question is, should I sign up for the 4th year courses as an undergrad course, or as a grad course? (we are given that option, considering that the two courses cover roughly the same material - grad students just have to do a bit more work, but not by much. I know I can just do a grad student's work while being enrolled as an undergrad too.)</p>
<p>Since I'll be learning the same stuff, it's not really the question of which course can you learn more anymore. The only thing that differs is the grad schools' perspective on how it's going to look on my application. (I want to apply to the top schools like Stanford, MIT and Harvard)</p>
<p>What do you guys think? Grad courses or undergrad?</p>
<p>While I'm at it, I'm also wondering about just "sitting in" on a course. There are so many courses I'd like to take, but I'm already taking way over a full course load and the administration hasn't been very friendly towards my taking more courses. If I just sit in on a course, I don't mind not getting a credit for it, as long as I learn something. But would I be able to mention that I sat in on courses on my grad school application? If so, do I need some sort of a proof that I actually took the course?</p>
<p>Please help me out, I'm so confused.</p>
<p>If there's any sort of numerical distinction that appears on your transcript because you took the grad version, then go for it. Otherwise, there's really no point in taking up the extra challenge. If you want to, just do the additional grad work but not for a grade. It'll be just like sitting in on a harder course. There's really no way to list on a transcript that you did this or sat in on a course, but there's plenty of room for it on an essay. Assuming the courses you want to sit in on are focused and lead to whatever specialty you want to pursue in gradschool, talking about why you chose to sit and what you learned will make you look very motivated in your letter, and that's a good thing.</p>
<p>If your school allows you to audit the course, it will show up.</p>
<p>However, at my school, only graduate students can audit courses. It may be different wherever you are.</p>
<p>What is your university? And how competitive is its grad school? [as in, what are the average stats of grad applicants?]</p>
<p>I'm not sure if i'll be allowed to audit, even. I'm taking way too many courses already, and even my advisor's going to stop helping me soon. So if I just sat in on a course after talking to a prof, would they write a short note or something? or do I just write about it in the statement of purpose? </p>
<p>And there will be numerical distinction for grad vs. undergrad courses, but is it really worth it? I'm pretty sure the grad schools know that my school's grad program isn't so great. (I won't mention any names, because some grad students <em>are</em> really good, and I don't want this post to affect them)</p>
<p>If you really want to highlight taking a grad course, you could mention it briefly in your statement of purpose. Unless it's made crystal-clear on your transcript that a course is undergrad vs. grad anyway, it's a moot point, right? </p>
<p>I don't think the quality of the graduate students in a course will have any bearing on whether or not an undergraduate taking a graduate course is challenging himself/herself.</p>
<p>One other possibility is to take the grad level course and have that professor be one of your recommenders.</p>
<p>Defnitely register for the grad level courses if you think you can cope with the extra work load. As for sit in, yes if your schedule permits. I think it demonstrates a learning attitude (assuming you are not doing this just for grad school application) and your recommenders could include your sit in as example. However, if you haven't already had some research experience under your belt, you are better off putting your extra/free time there.</p>