Have you ever had the problem where there are too many classes that interest you and not enough space in your schedule to take them all? Maybe your semester schedule is filled with required classes for your major but you have always wanted to try learning French. Perhaps there are five classes you want to take but you’re worried about your grades suffering if you enroll in all of them. I had this same issue when I had to decide what classes to take this semester. Instead of compromising my interests, I decided to take a chance and audit a course. Despite the added workload, auditing a class is a great option for scholars who find enjoyment in learning as much as they can.
1. No Grades
At Bryn Mawr College, classes that a student audits don’t show up on their transcript. Though this might be a deal-breaker for some, since you won’t get credit for the work you put into the class, I love the freedom of learning for learning’s sake. The mistakes I make don’t affect my GPA, taking a big weight off my shoulders. Since the pressure that comes with taking tests, quizzes, or submitting essays is gone, I can focus on studying the material and participating in discussions. When auditing a class, grades aren’t motivating you to succeed; instead, you are motivated by your desire to learn and grow as a person.
2. Assignments Don’t Feel Like Work
When I started auditing a class this semester, I thought it would be harder to motivate myself to do assignments, since they don’t count for a grade. I couldn’t have been more wrong, though, since I found myself actively wanting to spend more time on the work required for this class. I might not be formally enrolled in the class but I wanted to be an active participant like my classmates. On top of having more motivation to do assignments, I have found myself enjoying them more. After all, there is no pressure to obtain a certain grade; instead, I’m just learning something for fun. I might have more assignments to do but it doesn’t feel like work anymore.
3. You get to learn more about yourself as a person
As I started auditing my class, I have learned more about myself than I did in the courses I’m enrolled in. I didn’t realize how much I enjoy the process of learning a foreign language until I started auditing a language class. I didn’t realize that I enjoyed memorizing vocabulary until I started doing it for fun. I discovered I like taking risks; auditing classes I would generally avoid enrolling in allows me to do so. Most importantly, I am learning how to manage my time so I complete my assignments on time, something that’s important if you decide to audit a class.
In the end, I don’t regret my decision to add an honorary fifth class to my schedule and, if you love learning, I promise you won’t either.