Prerequisite Waiver

Definition

Permission to skip a required course because you supposedly already know the material, or because you're special (usually neither).

Example Usage

I requested a prerequisite waiver for Advanced Calculus because I had strong algebra skills, which the professor rejected anyway.

Origin

Institutional policy terminology

Fun Fact

Prerequisite waivers are either impossible to get or given to students who have no idea what they're doing.

Source: Academic Policy and Course Registration standards

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fellow

In academia, a prestigious position or title that basically means you're accomplished enough that an institution wants to associate with you and maybe pay you to think important thoughts. These esteemed scholars are granted the privilege of conducting research, accessing resources, and adding another impressive line to their CV. It's like being invited to the cool kids' table, except the table is in a library and everyone's arguing about methodology.

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supervisor

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Prerequisite

A course you must complete before taking another course, creating a chain of academic dependencies that rivals the most complex software architecture. Missing one prerequisite can delay graduation by an entire year, which is academia's version of a toll booth.

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placement test

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