LaMer

I think it is my fault that I didn't communicate properly that I wasn't defending 'crashers'. As a matter of fact, I agree that people crashing courses would be highly disruptive and can certainly understand why enrolled students would want to steer clear of associating themselves with a course crasher in any kind of meaningful work. That miscommunication aside, I certainly didn't mean to indicate that I had so quickly jumped to conclusions of ivory tower prejudice. Also, my apologies if my language was a little inflammatory in that regard (and definitely didn't mean 'old boys club' literally). Thanks again for your input...

Thanks to all for the great responses to this post. Really great insights... To the above post from jasper, who has been very helpful via private messages, I wonder if this is indeed the state of graduate study today? The assertion that - "I guarantee that if you did this, nobody who heard about it would want to work with you." seems downright vulgar and cynical in the worst possible way (not jasper, but these others who would react to a course auditor). I acknowledge that some degree of patrician elitism must exist in a respected educational institution, but to the degree that it is "guaranteed" to be this way stinks of a regression to the prejudicial days of Harvard as an 'old boys club'. I suppose it also highlights the possible insecurity and fear that grad students and potential collaborators live under - that above all their work mustn't be tainted or even perceived to be tainted by Joe Blow auditor, despite Joe's intellectual capacities. Is it this way? Please answer truthfully - void of cynicism or optimism. Thanks again for all of your insights...

In your experience, have you ever seen or heard precedent for forming some kind of a relationship or dialogue with a professor in an informal way? Luckily, I live in a city where there are several uni's - so perhaps that may not be a bad idea.

Hi Folks, I've lurked awhile on these forums and am proud to be making my first post. Here's my story... I graduated from a public midwestern university with a BA in Economics and Political Science and a Minor in Art History. My GPA was of the average variety - 3.1. I've been working in "high finance" since undergrad in NYC and also lived and worked in said field for 1.5 years in Mumbai, India. Now, after 4 years in the workforce I want to go graduate school. I fancy myself an autodidact in Literature and Philosophy as I have developed a tremendous passion and informal education in these areas through my own study, etc. I also took the GMAT (for some reason) and received a 700 (low 90th percentile) - so I think my GRE should be okay. I feel I've reached a saturation point with my solitary study, and would enjoy being back in an academic environment. So, I think an M.A. is what I want to get - particularly one of these interdisciplinary programs (MAPH, etc.) - but I'm so out of touch with Academia, haven't done proper academic research, etc, that I don't even know whether I could even stand a fighting chance of getting into MAPH @ UChicago or something equivalent? Or is there somewhere I should start? Should I take a stab at writing something? I am so clueless... I would cherish any insight into any part of my dilemma from you guys. You seem to give great, practical advice. If I'm doomed to my solitary study, aka "the old fashioned grad school!", please do not hesitate to say so. Cheers, La Mer