An audit, in an academic setting, is the act of attending lectures that typically comprise an awarded degree without actually receiving any degree credits for those courses. Auditing a college course has both advantages and disadvantages.

The advantages include:

Pursuing an interest in the topic: If students are very interested in a particular topic but it isn’t applicable to their majors or graduation requirements, auditing a relevant course can be a wonderful way to learn more about it while preserving a high GPA. Auditing is a low-risk method to investigate a potential career choice or new major. As the auditing process is formal, students will learn what types of course materials, assignments, and tests are required in different subject areas. They can get an introduction to different academic disciplines by auditing courses without the pressure of tests and grades.

Preparing for difficult courses: The majority of schools don’t allow students to audit courses that they’ll later be required to take to earn credits. However, students can audit surveys or introductory courses in different academic subjects if they know they’ll need extra preparation for in-depth courses they’ll need to pass to receive their degrees. For example, if students know they’ll have to work hard to pass a physics course, they can gain familiarity and extra preparation by auditing an introductory physic course.

Pursuing lifelong learning: Some people already have a college degree but are still interested in learning more about different subjects. They can continue learning throughout their life by auditing college classes.

When it comes to disadvantages, it’s important to note that auditing a class isn’t free education. Students will need to pay standard credit fees to audit a course. Many schools also record students’ participation in the course. While these participation records won’t affect students’ grade point average, it’s possible that admissions officers at other institutions may question their transcripts and academic commitment if they’ve audited more than a few courses.

Most schools require students to obtain approval from instructors for auditing courses, so students should reach out to the instructor first. It also helps the professor understand their motivation for wanting to audit the class instead of officially enrolling in it. While most institutions require permission from the instructor, others may require students to obtain departmental authorization before auditing a course. However, auditing policies differ from one institution to another, so students must check with their school to learn who is eligible for auditing courses and how they can apply to audit a class.