Courses Talking to professor about auditing course

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The discussion revolves around a student preparing to meet with a professor to request auditing a Quantum Mechanics course. The student is concerned about the possibility of being tested on their knowledge during the meeting. Responses indicate that professors typically do not put students on the spot; instead, they focus on discussing the student's background and motivations for auditing the course. The student reveals they are a high school junior who couldn't enroll formally due to time constraints with college applications. Participants express admiration for the student's initiative in tackling advanced material and encourage them to relax before the meeting. The student later updates that the professor agreed to let them audit the course. The conversation also touches on the norms of auditing courses in the U.S. and the importance of having a solid math foundation for understanding Quantum Mechanics.
romsofia
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Tomorrow I have to talk to the professor of the course to audit the course. Is there a possibility that he'll test me on my knowledge? I was planning on studying over my break on my weak points for the course, but now I'm thinking I should be studying tonight and a little before I talk to him tomorrow.

So mainly I am asking, Will he test me or will we just talk about why I am auditing?
 
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For the most part, professors don't put students on the spot like that. He'll probably talk to you about your background, ask why you're interested in the course, and why you're auditing instead of enrolling properly. In my experience, though, professors generally treat you like adults if you show some self-motivation, so you're unlikely to have problems.

Just curious, though, what is the course and why are you just auditing instead of actually taking the class?
 
For the most part, professors don't put students on the spot like that. He'll probably talk to you about your background, ask why you're interested in the course, and why you're auditing instead of enrolling properly. In my experience, though, professors generally treat you like adults if you show some self-motivation, so you're unlikely to have problems.

Just curious, though, what is the course and why are you just auditing instead of actually taking the class?
 
Chaostamer said:
For the most part, professors don't put students on the spot like that. He'll probably talk to you about your background, ask why you're interested in the course, and why you're auditing instead of enrolling properly. In my experience, though, professors generally treat you like adults if you show some self-motivation, so you're unlikely to have problems.

Just curious, though, what is the course and why are you just auditing instead of actually taking the class?

The reason I'm auditing is because I'm still in high school (Junior), and I needed to have applied to college with all these forms by a certain date and I didn't have enough time to get it signed by everyone it needed to be signed by.

I know this going to sound stupid given my age and all but the courses I'm auditing is Quantum Mechanics :x

Thanks for your reply, I think I can relax a bit now ^^.
 
Oh wow. I think that's awesome to expose yourself to that level of material so early. It can be pretty fulfilling to learn what advanced courses in your area of interest are like. Best of luck to you tomorrow. It'll probably go fine, but be sure to post an update when you're done.
 
Chaostamer said:
Oh wow. I think that's awesome to expose yourself to that level of material so early. It can be pretty fulfilling to learn what advanced courses in your area of interest are like. Best of luck to you tomorrow. It'll probably go fine, but be sure to post an update when you're done.

Yeah, I'll be sure to post an update. Hopefully it goes well ^^. Thanks for easing my mind a little.
 
Well here's the update, he is letting my audit the course :D.
 
romsofia, are you in the US? Is it normal you have to ask to audit a course at a university there? I mean, it kind of makes sense for really small classes, where the professor probably gets to know everyone attending at least to a point he'd recognize them if they met outside of the classroom setting.
 
Ryker said:
romsofia, are you in the US? Is it normal you have to ask to audit a course at a university there? I mean, it kind of makes sense for really small classes, where the professor probably gets to know everyone attending at least to a point he'd recognize them if they met outside of the classroom setting.

Yeah I'm in the US, and I don't know if it's normal :x but I do know that only 12 kids have signed up for the class so far.
 
  • #10
Then you definitely made the right choice in asking the professor, I'm sure this will leave a good impression. Good luck with the course.
 
  • #11
Ryker said:
Then you definitely made the right choice in asking the professor, I'm sure this will leave a good impression. Good luck with the course.

Thanks :D, good luck in your courses as well ^^.
 
  • #12
Congrats! I'm waiting on an email from a professor about auditing a Differential Equations course. I have actually had the professor before and he said he didn't mind but he needs to run it by some people first.

Just out of curiousity, where are you in your math studies? Quantum Mechanics requires a lot of advanced level math to understand properly. Might I recommend studying math (Calculus at least, possibly differential equations) for the rest of the break.
 
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