1st semester courseload (freshman)

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Maryland - College Park
1

<p>Math 241
Bioe120
Enes102
Chem135
Honr100
Will I have trouble with this workload? </p>

2

<p>Let me guess…someone (a non-engineering student) heard the classes you were taking and got you freaked out that it was too much math/science?
For the record, I am not a math/science person, but my son is, so while this schedule would make my brain explode, it is right up his alley. Of course, a lot depends on your work habits, your professors, and your personal areas of strength.
So, when you ask will you have trouble with this workload, do you mean number of credits/relative hours of work required or do you mean professors, or challenging subject matter, or are you referring to the fact that you didn’t “break up” your schedule with a humanities/social science type of class?</p>

3

<p>I normally recommend incoming freshmen only take three stem classes, but bio is like learning a new language, much like ochem. </p>

<p>That schedule is going to prod your brain from all sides, but they are all introductory except calc III, so you shouldn’t have to spend time reviewing. That said, take a look at finals for calc I and II here –> <a href=“http://db.math.umd.edu/testbank/”>http://db.math.umd.edu/testbank/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>And make sure you’re not completely lost as that is the level of preparedness they expect students to have going into 241. </p>

<p>Assuming you aren’t also taking chem136 as well, you should plan to average ~40 hours per week (adding up time spent in class + reading+ hw problems). So approach it like a job-- you wouldn’t show up late to you job or blow off tasks your boss gave you (I hope!).</p>

4

<p>So taking chem136 and bioe121 as well would be problematic? </p>

5

<p>Forgot to mention I also normally recommend taking only 1 lab for incoming engineers. So if you’re taking both those labs, add an extra 12 hours per week (3 hours in lab/class 3 hours reading/reports per lab per week). That puts you at 52 hours per week. </p>

<p>Being successful in engineering school is about lasting for a 15 week semester, analogous to a pro sports player who has to perform consistently at a high level each season. If you’re used to summoning that kind of discipline already, then it won’t be a problem. Most people, myself included, had to ramp up to it, especially with all the newfound freedom and fun distractions of college.</p>

6

<p>Thanks for the advice! </p>