<p>I was wondering if professors are willing to let students do this, who aren't their own, but are interested in a subject. I realize that one doesn't get the full benefit of taking a course and doing all the work, but often one may be interested in something and doesn't have the time or motivation to do the work. </p>
<p>soo...how are those opportunities? Do you find them beneficial/enlightening/fun? Is there motivation to even go to random classes for a whole semester or just a few times..after having fallen into the rut of things? Examples of courses you particularly liked?</p>
<p>It's all up to you. Generally the professor will have no idea you are even in the class for the large lectures. In fact, he won't even know most students' names...</p>
<p>Now for the smaller classes you should just speak to the professor for permission as etiquette or else you will make him wonder why you are there.</p>
<p>For the lectures you can probably do it, and people won't notice. I think it might be kinda fun for the first time, but I wouldn't waste the time to check other classes.</p>
<p>Many of the introductory classes are too big for the people to notice. It really depends and is on a class specific basis, but it's true, many will be large enough for profs to not notice, especially the lectures in the lower division. Some profs do stay after to talk to students. Some come early to do that.</p>
<p>Many people sit in classes they aren't enrolled in to "shop" them, and some just to learn about the subject.</p>
<p>This is a commonly known practice such that there's a term for it: auditing. </p>
<p>When you're auditing a class, you're basically attending without getting credit for it. You're there just to learn or get a feel for a certain class/topic. You can easily audit the larger classes without being noticed... and I would say even many of the smaller classes. You may want to give the professor a heads up for the smaller classes though - most won't have any problems with this.</p>
<p>Crashing is sitting in at the beginning of the term in the hopes that some of the members of the full class will drop out and you, because you have been attending, will get their spot.</p>
<p>Auditing is exactly at khan described it, though it's important to note that you often still have to pay for the units you aren't earning... for some reason. Not sure how that works at Berkeley.</p>
<p>I don't think the OP is referring to "auditing." It appears as though auditing refers to one who formally signs up for a class but decides to not take the course for a grade or units. If one were to do this, he or she would have to pay for the units in the course (especially at a community college. tuition is same for everyone at Berkeley in terms of number of units taken, right?). I believe the OP is merely interested in sitting in on some quality lectures by some of the best professors in the world. No problem with that. It's a grand idea, though I don't think your enthusiasm will last past several weeks. Prove me wrong, kid, prove me wrong!</p>
<p>ahaha thanks, i'm afraid of that too, that all this motivation/curiosity/interest will soon be sapped away..i'd love to prove you wrong though ! hahh</p>
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I believe the OP is merely interested in sitting in on some quality lectures by some of the best professors in the world. No problem with that. It's a grand idea, though I don't think your enthusiasm will last past several weeks.
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<p>That's why we should only audit classes. :)</p>
<p>Though ttgiang15 made a good point...tuition at Berkeley is the same no matter how many units we take, right? As a Chinese I should really try taking 30 units per semester to get my money's worth.</p>