Steve Jobs says that dropping out of college was one of the best decisions he ever made. Why? Because after quitting school he was able to sit in on courses that actually helped him learn. He’d walk into whatever class he wanted and just blend in with the crowd.
“The minute I dropped out I could stop taking the required classes that didn’t interest me, and begin dropping in on the ones that looked interesting,” he explained. “Much of what I stumbled into by following my curiosity and intention turned out to be priceless later on.”
Jobs isn’t the only one to ghost college classes. Many independent learners have haunted lecture halls for a bit of free learning. Some have snuck into so many courses that, were they actual students, they would have been awarded a degree. Others have been given letters of recommendation from professors teaching at schools they never officially attended.
Why Ghost College Classes?
If you live near a university, sitting in on college classes can help you explore new subjects and improve your skills without paying a dime. Books are an invaluable resource for independent learners, but sometimes people need face-to-face assistance. Professors can help point you in the right direction and course discussions can help you get a better grasp of whatever you choose to study.
I graduated college at 19, speeding through my studies by not taking classes outside of the requirements. (That’s right, I didn’t take a single class just for the enjoyment of it.) Sure, I graduated quickly. But, I also missed out on some incredible opportunities to explore different subjects and develop a more in-depth understanding of my field.
Many college grads now look back and wish that they would have taken a few extra courses of their own choosing. Sitting in on college classes is a way to go back for a second helping now that you have a more mature understanding of your tastes.
One of the best aspects of sitting in on college classes is that ghosters are there purely for the learning. You don’t have to worry about grades and exams. You don’t have to avoid hard subjects because they’ll hurt your GPA or sit in on fluff classes to give it a boost. If the class gets boring, you can leave. If a class is interesting, sit in on it a second time. You are completely in control of your learning.
Is it Ethical?
It depends. There are several ways to sit in on a college class: blending in, asking the professor, and auditing. Auditing is the 100% official way to sit in. But, you may end up paying full tuition and the course audit will be listed on a transcript. In some schools, teachers are more than happy to have ghosters sit in on their courses as long as there’s enough room for the registered students. However, teachers may tell you to register for an audit if that is the official school policy. [click to continue…]
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