Will they let me in?

February 27, 2008 1:48 PM

I'll be visiting the USA for a couple of weeks this summer, and I would like to attend a few classes at Caltech in order to get an idea of what school is like over the pond. Will I be able to do so?

Over here in the Netherlands, it is very easy for an outsider to attend most lectures at the university I'm currently studying at. You can just walk in and take a seat. Probably, no one will even notice you're not a regular, since the audiences are quite large. I don't think anyone would have a problem with it even in the smaller classes. What can I expect in America?

posted by koenie to education (12 comments total)

Pretty much the same thing. UCLA would give you a totally different experience in the same area, to boot, if you want to compare and contrast.
posted by kcm at 1:52 PM on February 27, 2008

You'll probably have exactly the same sort of response here as you would in the Netherlands. Nearly all of my professors were quite happy to have (quiet, well-behaved) visitors.

The one issue is that more and more schools are playing their part in the security theater, and are requesting student IDs of everybody walking through the doors of the building.

So, assuming you can get through the front door, getting into the class should be a snap.
posted by Netzapper at 1:54 PM on February 27, 2008

Hmm, I'm not sure this would be so easy at Caltech specifically. For one, they only have 800 undergrads, so there aren't going to be a lot of huge lectures unless it's the one required Intro to Physics course or something. Also, I'm not sure they hold regular classes in the summer at all.

But of course I'm sure someone else will know better...
posted by dixie flatline at 1:57 PM on February 27, 2008

If it's a lecture, just go in and sit down, nobody will notice.

If it's a small class, talk to the professor and say you are from out of the country and would like to sit in on a class. Most likely you'll be let in.

I have no idea specifically about CalTech, but that would certainly work where I went.
posted by cschneid at 1:57 PM on February 27, 2008

I would contact the admissions office and tell them you're interested. They will be happy to help you out, answer questions, and will surely help you find a class to sit in on. It's their job!
posted by allen8219 at 2:00 PM on February 27, 2008

Universities in the U.S. typically offer prospective students the opportunity to sit on a lecture or two; contact the Admissions office and ask them about this. The instructors at the university where I work would likely have a problem with you just barging in on their class, but if you contacted and arranged with them beforehand, they might be willing to oblige you. If you have a friend attending a university, he/she could probably arrange to just bring you along to class. Your presence will be noticed and questioned in small classes; if you can find a 300 person lecture, then not so much.
posted by Polychrome at 2:02 PM on February 27, 2008

The biggest lecture at Caltech runs about 150 people. A small class can be as small as 5.

There are no classes offered in the summer.

USC and UCLA both have summer sessions, however.
posted by mr_roboto at 2:29 PM on February 27, 2008

Note that 'tech runs on the honor system. As such, I'd first recommend calling the administration and ask. I haven't been there since 1999, but all four years I was there administration became more power hungry and safety conscience, which might mean keeping out people who don't "belong." ... however, if you call up and ask in advance to attend just one class, they might give you an official go-ahead - prior to attending I got to attend a sophomore math section with no notice other than showing up and asking.

If they say no, then I'd start at the corner of Hill Ave and California blvd - walk north west to a red cobblestone walkway surronded by olive trees and be there at 8:55am on a weekday. Freshmen will be going to lecture. Try striking up a conversation with some who look friendly, let them know your plan and then when you get to lecture ask the prof if it's ok. As it's not the first week or so of the trimester most likely there won't be a shortage of seats, and the prof will be ok with it.

I'd not advise trying to sneak in. The freshman class will be anywhere from 220-260 people at this point - that's still enough that everyone should be able to visually recognize the people who should be there, and again as it's the honorsystem, you won't win friends by trying to sneak into class. A class that many people's parents are paying a pvery pretty penny for.

As mr_roboto mentions Caltech's schedule being trimesters it runs later into june than most other schools do, but anything past June 5th will likely rub up against finals, and mid june was end of term in my recollection. There will still be about 15% percent of the students there, working on research projects, or slacking, so you can socialize.

I'm not sure where the maximum lecture size of 150 came from - perhaps he tested out of all of the 1 courses.
posted by nobeagle at 3:35 PM on February 27, 2008

Yes, you should call the admissions office and ask them. Common request, shouldn't be any trouble, but it's a courtesy to arrange it.

One of the biggest differences between the US system and Europe or elsewhere (I believe) is that the US has small colleges that are quite good. You might try to visit one of those while you're here - Claremont McKenna and the other schools associated with it are near where you'll be too. If you visit one of the smaller places, definitely talk to the admissions people and they can arrange a tour or whatever.
posted by LobsterMitten at 4:27 PM on February 27, 2008

mr_roboto nailed it: there are no classes over the summer for caltech students.

If you're limited to the summer, I'd try to arrange to show up the second week of August and catch the summer SURF day to get a feeling for the types of research projects Caltech offer undergrads (although the summer SURF day is completely dominated by non-caltech students who managed to land a fellowship with a 'tech prof).

If you've got a bit more freedom of schedule I'd try to show up around the October SURF day to get a feeling for the types of research that caltech undergrads do.

If you do manage to make it during the academic year, I actually have no idea who in "administration" nobeagle wants you to contact (you're really going to bug Barbara Green with this?).

I guess you could contact the visitor's center to get a feeling for official institute policy if there is any.

Upon preview: I guess admissions could work too, and would be appropriate if this is some sort of precursor to applying. I'm writing this with the assumption that you're just visiting to get a sense of the culture/work that's happening. If this is a precursor to applying, don't do any of this, Jjust apply. Once you're accepted you'll be encouraged to visit during the school year (pre-frosh weekend) where you'll get all sorts of exposure to student life (including classes) as well as student attitudes that should help you make an informed decision as to whether or not you want to attend.

I think, more directly, if it's really watching lecturing styles you're interested in, just contact the profs of any classes you care about and see if they object. Don't try to sneak in without permission, it's just rude, and Tech is small enough that unfamiliar people really do look unfamiliar.

Probably more valuable than going to a random class mid-quarter would be:

a) contacting Profs to see if they'll be around and have a few minutes to talk about their research (because these people, in general, are awesome, and this is a very good way to spend your time.)

b) contacting someone at one of the undergraduate hovses (or even one of the north houses) to see if you can visit for dinner and get a feeling for what undergrad life at Tech is often like.

c) attending seminars in any of the fields/subfields you care about. (Also a good idea to check w/ the department secretary to make sure visitors are warmly received, etc., and that you're recognized as a visitor, not some random stranger.)
posted by johnjoe at 5:09 PM on February 27, 2008

I'm not sure where the maximum lecture size of 150 came from - perhaps he tested out of all of the 1 courses.

A few of them, plus one of the 95 courses. The 150 is just a guesstimate; maybe a few go over 200 enrollment, but in my (potentially stale) experience full attendance is rare...
posted by mr_roboto at 6:18 PM on February 27, 2008

Regarding who to contact in "administration" and good times to visit johnhoe nails it.

I agree on the rare full attendence of the 1 classes, but the first and last week or so of each semester were packed with lots of people having to sit in the aisles. As I was never a morning person, nor keen on speed walking from class to class I was always an aisle sitter. But especially for chem 1, the slanted walls and carpet at the aisle combined with the uncomfortable seats left me sitting in the aisles even when there were plenty of seats later in the terms.
posted by nobeagle at 6:27 AM on February 28, 2008