Non Degree Seeking Student

[try2seeme]

Has anyone taken courses in a graduate program as a non-degree seeking student? I am taking the coming year off to work and reapply to graduate school for fall 2012. I was considering taking one or two classes as a non degree seeking student in a sociology grad program to get a feel for the coursework and maybe get to know the faculty of the university better. Money aside, has anyone done this and do you think it's a good idea?

[SocHope]

The only thing to be aware of, I think, is department/university policy around non-degree students. For example, Berkeley's Demography department says students who come in as "coursework only" status aren't normally eligible to become degree candidates later on (http://www.demog.berkeley.edu/degrees/coursework.shtml).

So just be sure if you are taking classes as a formal non-degree student at a department you later plan to apply to, that they don't place any restrictions. I don't think there would be any problems if you were to informally audit a class (if the professor is willing) though.

[DustSNK]

I'm doing this myself. I did not prepare well during my BA to look well for grad admissions, so taking non-degree courses to upgrade.

One thing, if you are going to be taking classes AT the University you really want to go to, it can only help. Why? A lot from what I've read is admissions can be a crap shoot. If you develop a genuine relationship with a professor that really likes your work, they might vouch for you when decisions have to be made. It is not a guarantee, as it shouldn't be, but depending how you shine as a student, giving a face to a otherwise faceless application could help a lot.

Another question is, should you take graduate classes? This is a gray area that I have been trying to have answered for a LONG time. I still have posts on here from a while ago with lots of views and no one can answer this. Deductive logic would assume "Hey I'm not IN a program, but I did just as good if not better then these students that you accepted over me INTO your program..... this clearly shows I'm a good fit right?", but I can't get a clear answer on this from anyone. What I have heard, is that some times they actually care way more about grades in Undergrad classes as grad classes (in terms of GPA) are "easier" to get high marks. What did I do? I'm taking a mix of undergrad and grad classes as a non-degree just to play it safe. Also I am taking non Soc grad classes (but useful in the long run) to kinda show I can be a good student outside my comfort area, esp on a grad level. Real thing is admissions are such a subjective process that there is high degree of "luck" involved, and all these things are merely good directions to take in hoping to get to a destination.

P.S : Ive looked at prob 50 or more grad programs in the USA, every one had a policy of letting you use your credits as a non-degree towards your program if you get in. Cut off is 12 credits. Deff a norm I would say. But if you want to go to Canada (which I do), you have no idea if anything will be accepted until you fill out the paperwork and have it reviewed.

[try2seeme]

Thanks for the replies!

@SocHope I will be sure to check the policies of the graduate school. Thanks for pointing that out to me.

@DustSNK I was thinking along the same lines as you. I think it could be a good way to put a face to my application at this particular graduate school. And aside from that, it will be a good way to get some experience taking graduate school classes. At this point, the money is not too much of an issue for me and if the credits can transfer over, it can't hurt if I end up getting accepted and decide to go to this particular program. I will just be sure to do my research before committing to this plan.

[DustSNK]

Thanks for the replies!

@SocHope I will be sure to check the policies of the graduate school. Thanks for pointing that out to me.

@DustSNK I was thinking along the same lines as you. I think it could be a good way to put a face to my application at this particular graduate school. And aside from that, it will be a good way to get some experience taking graduate school classes. At this point, the money is not too much of an issue for me and if the credits can transfer over, it can't hurt if I end up getting accepted and decide to go to this particular program. I will just be sure to do my research before committing to this plan.

Yea it is a great idea to do this. Also if you can, I would only take SOC electives if you could. Meaning no core classes (methods, theory). I say this for the chance you don't get accepted into the program at your top school but get into it at any other place. Sometimes programs differ with the core classes. So say one program has quant methods 1, but the other schools wants you to do quant methods 1 &2, you will have to jump into quant 2 and who knows if it even would pick up from quant one where you took it. Also with theory I have seen that differ a lot between schools, and methods can get sticky too. The non core course are something all students must take and every school makes you take them. Just my opinion though.

[try2seeme]

I'm thinking how I should approach this. I want to alert the department that I am applying for a non-degree student admission into the graduate school. This way when they get my application, they will know who I am. I was thinking of sending a cover letter and copy of my transcript to the graduate chair. Does this seem like a good idea?

[DustSNK]

I'm thinking how I should approach this. I want to alert the department that I am applying for a non-degree student admission into the graduate school. This way when they get my application, they will know who I am. I was thinking of sending a cover letter and copy of my transcript to the graduate chair. Does this seem like a good idea?

It might be a bit overbearing to do that. Because no one sends cover letters to department chairs, or tells the school they are applying as a non-degree (or a degree seeking for that matter) student just to say hey. These people deal with a hundred or few hundred applicants a year. Some with ridiculous qualifications, so it wouldn't help you.

Just apply as a non-degree student, pick your classes, and email your professors early! Ask them how their class is. Tell them your intentions also! Be upfront about you wanting to get into the program, and you really would like every opportunity to prove you're a good student. If you really want to email the chair , I would say it would not help you in anyway. But if they are a good guy/gal it will only help you to talk to them for general advice. Once your in as a non-degree, email them. Tell them your situation and ask if you could see them on office hours to tell them your plans/hopes in the school and field. They would prob give you good advice. That is what I did, unfortunately I'm not applying to the school I am taking non-degree classes as, but the chair is a good guy and went out of his way to give me some good direction. I would say you need to craft a relationship with the professors your taking classes with. But always be upfront about your plans to apply, and how you did not prepare well so you want to show your stuff now the best you can.

[emmm]

When I first started looking into graduate programs, program advisors advised me to take a course or two in their programs, just so that I could get to know some faculty. However, the cost of taking classes as a graduate non-matriculated student was astronomical. I had already started taking classes at a local community college, and classes there were much more affordable. I don't know if not taking this piece of advice hurt me in the admissions process. My feeling is that it did not -- I was a long-shot admit for other reasons. I'm happy to say, everything worked out in the end.

[DustSNK]

When I first started looking into graduate programs, program advisers advised me to take a course or two in their programs, just so that I could get to know some faculty. However, the cost of taking classes as a graduate non-matriculated student was astronomical. I had already started taking classes at a local community college, and classes there were much more affordable. I don't know if not taking this piece of advice hurt me in the admissions process. My feeling is that it did not -- I was a long-shot admit for other reasons. I'm happy to say, everything worked out in the end.

emmm!!! Your are the kinda person I have been looking for forever! I have never talked to anyone who did the applied>denied>non-matric student route>applied>accept plan before. How did it all work out for you? I am currently doing this, but the process is even worst since I am an American trying to get into Canadian MA programs (most progs in Ontario only accept two visa students a year!!!!!). I am taking a mix of grad/undergrad classes now to boost my GPA and do some better writing. Also to work harder with professors in showing what kinda student I am, something I did not do at all before I got my BA. What was your situation before you got accepted if you do not mind me asking?

[try2seeme]

It might be a bit overbearing to do that. Because no one sends cover letters to department chairs, or tells the school they are applying as a non-degree (or a degree seeking for that matter) student just to say hey. These people deal with a hundred or few hundred applicants a year. Some with ridiculous qualifications, so it wouldn't help you.

Just apply as a non-degree student, pick your classes, and email your professors early! Ask them how their class is. Tell them your intentions also! Be upfront about you wanting to get into the program, and you really would like every opportunity to prove you're a good student. If you really want to email the chair , I would say it would not help you in anyway. But if they are a good guy/gal it will only help you to talk to them for general advice. Once your in as a non-degree, email them. Tell them your situation and ask if you could see them on office hours to tell them your plans/hopes in the school and field. They would prob give you good advice. That is what I did, unfortunately I'm not applying to the school I am taking non-degree classes as, but the chair is a good guy and went out of his way to give me some good direction. I would say you need to craft a relationship with the professors your taking classes with. But always be upfront about your plans to apply, and how you did not prepare well so you want to show your stuff now the best you can.

Thanks for the reply. I contacted the graduate school and they told me to not bother applying through the graduate school (as non-degree seeking), but through the department itself (for non degree seeking). I think my best bet would be to just contact the professors directly (of the classes I want to take), and be up front about my plans to apply as a non degree seeking student and what my goals are etc. Then hopefully they'll advise me on what to do and if they will allow me to take their classes etc.

Edited August 1, 2011 by try2seeme

[DustSNK]

Thanks for the reply. I contacted the graduate school and they told me to not bother applying through the graduate school (as non-degree seeking), but through the department itself (for non degree seeking). I think my best bet would be to just contact the professors directly (of the classes I want to take), and be up front about my plans to apply as a non degree seeking student and what my goals are etc. Then hopefully they'll advise me on what to do and if they will allow me to take their classes etc.

I hope it all works out the way you want it to! I've been having a good experience with this route. My Profs. are really helpful and are working with me to show my stuff so they can comment on my grad school abilities. Unfortunately I wont be applying to the school I'm at now, but I can only imagine how it would help me if I did.