I was just thinking about this, do you think you could get yourself access to all the stuff without formally deciding on a course? So you could just turn up to whichever lectures had free spots and use the library etc
Is it possible to go to university without choosing any courses? -
- Thread starter Sage In All Fields
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I semi dropped out of college and they still sent me emails and things even though I never picked courses for my second year. As long as you’re paying/formally enrolled I think you have access to campus resources, so yeah probably. But I don’t really see what the point of that would be, because if you just want to sit in on lectures I think some colleges like MIT post lectures online for free. The entire point is to actually get the degree not learn the subject.
>Thinking about going to a University
Are you a masochist OP?
Are you a masochist OP?
Yes, at least here in the US you can declare yourself as undecided in many colleges. I don't know why you would want to do this though, Its a huge waste of money and anything youre getting in most of the earlier classes you would be taking undeclared you could just learn online.
freeloader
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Sell drugs.
I'm not seriously considering this, just wondering if it's possible.
Yeah online lectures are great, I find them massively useful. One of the things about physical lectures though is that it'd be a nice way to pick random lectures. I could just pick a lecture hall and sit in on whatever they're doing.
Some universities, notable the Open Universities (theres the OU of several different territories), offer alongside more traditional set degrees "Open" degrees. That is, you can take literally whatever courses you want and at the end they will give you a B.A Open (or Bsc if theres enough STEM in there) after you've amassed enough accredited points.
I have no idea what use it would be, but it is possible to get a degree in literally random nonsense and it would be considered valid in the EU, Americas and I suspect elsewhere too.
I have no idea what use it would be, but it is possible to get a degree in literally random nonsense and it would be considered valid in the EU, Americas and I suspect elsewhere too.
So the point that I'm getting at is: what if you don't want to get a degree in anything.
You just audit the class.
It's possible but would almost certainly be a huge waste of money. If you're some sort of trust fund baby, I guess there's no reason not to if that's your idea of fun.
There are still some good courses in the STEM area. Do not discount that.
Also to OP, if you’re interested in taking non-degree courses, that could be your thing. Just be mindful, that you’re not going to get much credit.
Dark Edea
kiwifarms.net
I had friends in college that bragged about eventually becoming eligible for the alumni association of one school I attended. It was a huge fucking deal to them, but they couldn't get in until they graduated.
I dropped out from that school after one semester and was offered alumni status immediately.
I never let them forget that.
I dropped out from that school after one semester and was offered alumni status immediately.
I never let them forget that.
Why would you look forward to that? They're even worse about begging than political campaigns.
Dark Edea
kiwifarms.net
Muh connections and faggy networking.
I think there are 3 parts to your question OP, and I'm going to answer each one separately from my experience at a Canadian university. I graduated last year. YMMV
- Will a university consider you a student if you don't pick any courses?
In my experience, you could go a whole 4-month term without picking any courses. The "standard" schedule for my program (engineering) actually had a free term like this, the idea was that if you couldn't handle the course load, you could move some of your courses into that free term, and take fewer courses in the other term. I just took it off as my family was taking a long vacation overseas.
However, in my program, you needed to be registered in at least 2 courses for the term to access the library and lab wing after hours, and to get your free student bus pass.
I still have my student card and can get 10% off at all the university cafeterias and food stores. I also still get e-mails from the dean of engineering about course registration deadlines, although that's more a nuisance than a benefit.
Also, you had a limit of 72 months (18 terms, or 6 years) to complete the course, then they kicked you out. I'm not sure what would happen then: if you'd have to be readmitted as an art student, or just become a "student of the university" without being in the BEng. program specifically. I also don't know if or what the time limits were on other programs like art or English. - Can you attend lectures without registering for the course?
Yes, this is called "auditing". Outside of some first-year courses, where they still had to treat you like high schoolers, nobody takes attendance for lectures. e.g. I was once visiting one of my friends at another university and sat in on an entire economics lecture with him.
In some cases lecture halls would be really packed and so the instructor would ask those who weren't registered to leave, for the benefit of registered students.
Of course you can't take exams or the final, they checked your student card to see if you were registered in the course (and more importantly, that you weren't taking the test for someone else) before each one.
- What would it cost?
The only costs I incurred, outside of courses, were a fee for the student union and a fee for my student card. And all those goddamn expensive chai lattes (don't judge me) at the library cafe. 90% of my tuition each year was courses.
4. Can I attend university without deciding a degree (a "course", not "courses", e.g. you are taking courses without a major)?
No, you had to apply to get in to a specific major. However, some of the majors were very open-ended like arts, in that they didn't care what courses you picked. So it was nearly equivalent to not picking a major at all. In engineering and pre-med, of course, the courseload is more rigid and you have less choice as to what you can take.
No, you had to apply to get in to a specific major. However, some of the majors were very open-ended like arts, in that they didn't care what courses you picked. So it was nearly equivalent to not picking a major at all. In engineering and pre-med, of course, the courseload is more rigid and you have less choice as to what you can take.
You could also try to switch majors if you took certain classes and did well at them, but that was tough. Some of my friends switched from engineering to math after doing well at it in 1st year.
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You can’t take “free” spots in classes. There really aren’t any. But you could show up to classes in the biggest lecture halls and no one is going to realize you don’t belong. But you need an online ID to get into online resources for any class and to check out books in the library.
Is it a specific thing you want to study or do you want a degree? If you don’t care about the degree there is usually online places that teach most skills. If you want/need the degree financial aid is your best bet. You could start at a community college and then transfer to a 4 year.
Is it a specific thing you want to study or do you want a degree? If you don’t care about the degree there is usually online places that teach most skills. If you want/need the degree financial aid is your best bet. You could start at a community college and then transfer to a 4 year.
Dark Edea
kiwifarms.net
Some of the best courses I took in college were the ones I wasn't registered for. Always wished I could just take classes and learn. Had no interest in a degree and have literally never used my degree.
