Anyone taking classes as a non-matriculating student?

[i.am.me]

Anyone taking classes as a non matriculating/non degree seeking student this Fall 2010? I am and I'm wondering if anyone can help me out. How long does it usually take for them to approve your application for admittance? Classes start this August 31st for me [hopefully]...I figured I'd wait until the 20th or so before I start inquiring. ::sigh::

Oh, for anyone with experience in taking classes as a non-matriculating student, how did you feel? I'm a bit apprehensive actually since I don't know what I'm leaping into. I'm dreading first day meet n greets. Don't get me wrong, I certainly am aware that I'm not the Sun and thus people's attention won't orbit around me...but I can't help just feel like an outsider. I moved back into the country March 2010 and missed graduate school application deadlines but I don't want to take another year off. I've been MIA from the states for 2 years...actually I'm not sure if I can still read and write at a critical or "academic" level anymore. I spent too much time communicating in another language and broken English haha. TIA

Best

[c12]

If I don't get in anywhere during my application cycle, I'm thinking of doing a semester as a non-degree student before reapplying. I obviously haven't done it yet, so I can't tell you much in terms of personal experience, but I don't think you'd have to worry about people judging you or anything. Grad school is pretty diverse with people coming from all different situations, many of whom have been out of school for quite some time.

[fuzzylogician]

I took grad classes as a visiting student [though not at an American university] , and I took grad classes which had plenty of guests and visiting students [at an American university]. Of course your experiences may vary, but if they are anything like mine then you have nothing to worry about. I was treated very nicely when I was visiting, and at my current school we treat the visitors very nicely as well. Everybody in grad school comes from very different backgrounds -- which is most noticeable in the first year classes -- so you don't need to worry about being the only one who stands out. People with different backgrounds contribute diverse opinions to the discussion, and most students won't care if whoever contributed them has this formal status or the other. As for your language skills: there will most probably be non-native speakers in your classes, so there is no reason why you should stand out in that respect either. Apart from that, I think you'd be surprised how fast your native language comes back to you, once you need to use it again. As for Academese, well, there might be a learning curve for you there, but I assure you that you won't be the only one who needs to polish their skills in that area. Don't worry; come with a positive attitude, and you should do just fine.

[i.am.me]

Thanks y'all. For the positive warm fuzzy feelin' replies.

[daggy24]

I am taking classes this year as a non-degree student at NYU. I don't think my undergraduate record is strong enough for applications just yet and I don't really have a focused goal for graduate work (just got my BA in May). I was looking at a few different MA programs and I applied as a non-degree student to one of them. Although I'm unfocused to a degree all of my interests intersect in a way that even if I change my mind on the program later it will still be relevant.

I can't comment on actually attending class there since I haven't started going yet but it seems like there are a decent amount of non-degree and visiting students. When I inquired a few months ago there seemed nothing strange about it coming from the admissions department, anyway.

When I applied, they approved me within a few weeks. I needed to meet the same deadline as everyone else but only needed to submit a transcript prove I had a BA, a personal statement, and one letter of rec (the letter of rec was a departmental thing, the University only required the first two). Other Universities in my area are pretty up front about the fact that their non-degree admissions to the graduate school are open. Even if the majority of students are degree-seeking, I would assume given the relative ease of gaining admittance as a non-degree student that there will likely be many others who have done the same thing. If I were you, I would just go for it.

edited for spelling.

Edited August 15, 2010 by daggy24

[i.am.me]

I am taking classes this year as a non-degree student at NYU. I don't think my undergraduate record is strong enough for applications just yet and I don't really have a focused goal for graduate work (just got my BA in May). I was looking at a few different MA programs and I applied as a non-degree student to one of them. Although I'm unfocused to a degree all of my interests intersect in a way that even if I change my mind on the program later it will still be relevant.

I can't comment on actually attending class there since I haven't started going yet but it seems like there are a decent amount of non-degree and visiting students. When I inquired a few months ago there seemed nothing strange about it coming from the admissions department, anyway.

When I applied, they approved me within a few weeks. I needed to meet the same deadline as everyone else but only needed to submit a transcript prove I had a BA, a personal statement, and one letter of rec (the letter of rec was a departmental thing, the University only required the first two). Other Universities in my area are pretty up front about the fact that their non-degree admissions to the graduate school are open. Even if the majority of students are degree-seeking, I would assume given the relative ease of gaining admittance as a non-degree student that there will likely be many others who have done the same thing. If I were you, I would just go for it.

edited for spelling.

Thanks daggy! I sent in my apps two weeks ago with no word yet. School also starts in two weeks. I'm pretty sure its open admission. All I had to send in was an apps and an electronic transcript [formal to be sent later I guess] The logical me says, "Heh, Who would reject money? It's taking a while because it's the Summer time n it's only been two weeks."

However, the inner me says, "Wat da F@*% is takin' so long? How will I get ma' loans?" Patience has never been my virtue.

[try2seeme]

Does anyone know what the personal statement should consist of (for a non-degree student)? Like should it be the same as a personal statement I would submit for regular graduate school admission, or specifically tailored to being a non-degree seeking student?