23 units - Do-able? Personal issues

<p>As the title states, is 23 units do-able for me.</p>

<p>The classes are:
1) English 1A - Average teacher ( ratemyprof)
2) Physical Geography - Good teacher, small quizzes, etc.
3) Anthropology 1 - For a science class, easy A.
4) Anthropology Lab - Same teacher as above class, not to much work.
5) Humanities - Religion - Good teacher, graded on discussion and paper.
6) Managerial Accounting - Excellent teacher, took Financial Acc and set the curves.
7) Calculus 1 - Good teacher, fair grader, open note exams. </p>

<p>This semester I will most likely pull off all A's in 5 classes (19 units-1 technical class). I also worked, on average, 24 hours a week, while dealing with huge family problems. With that being said, the reason I'm planning to take this many courses is because after this coming spring semester I won't be eligible to receive any form of financial aide, and I'm thinking that just doing these classes while its free for me, is probably a well cost-effective route. </p>

<p>Also, some time during April or May, my parents will be leaving the current residency and I will be forced to vacate. I honestly have no idea regarding my housing situation, but I've prepared myself financially in case of circumstances. Personally, I'm motivated and am very anxious regarding my grade, so I will do whatever it takes to get an A in any class. My main issue is primarily regarding the "circumstances" I will be under. Is it wise to take this many units, while working, and knowing that some sort of abnormality will be occurring in the near future that will really shake up my conformity.</p>

<p>I'm really looking for responses, in which, people have had some sort of drastic change in their life, while going to school, working, but pulling good grades (A's mainly).</p>

<p>It depends- what kind of student are you already? Have you already taken essay courses before? Are you good at math already? Your classes are all over the board so if you don’t have significant prep for all types of subjects, you’ll probably struggle.</p>

<p>I was kinda in a similar situation last summer. I took 16 upper div units at UCB and did pretty well (not straight As, but consistently above the curve) until I had to vacate my apartment. I had the $$ to survive but moving takes SO much effort, it was way too much stress to handle on top of all of my work. I ended up taking Is and postponing work on the other class I was taking online. I also worked 20-30 hours a week while taking these classes. I had to take 2 weeks off work to physically recover. I ended up getting pretty sick, my immune system totally crashed, by the end of the summer. Not fun, but it was totally worth it because I completed so many classes toward my degree.</p>

<p>The only thing that makes your situation different is that you are taking a bunch of different classes. My classes were all for my major, which I am really passionate about, and which I have already taken a ton of classes for already. The subject material was sometimes the same as stuff I had already covered in previous classes, and some was the same between the classes I was currently taking. Your classes are all over the place, with no shared material and completely different class structures. Some will have weekly homework, some will have big essays, some will have midterms, etc, plus you have a lab. That kind of stuff can get really overwhelming. I think it’s better when taking a bunch of classes to take all of the same type of classes. It’s easier to study and divide time. </p>

<p>I would recommend dropping the religion class IMO. It seems like the most likely to trip you up.</p>

<p>I’m taking 18 units right now an I know for a fact I could have handled another class. I don’t have a job though. The fact that you also work 24hours a week can really hurt your grades. There wil be some weeks where you will have so much to do. You might not have time to do it all since you work. I would maybe drop 1 maybe 2 classes solely on the fact that ou have a job. If you didn’t work, it would make things so much more easier.</p>

<p>Great reply, thanks that was extremely, extremely informative! The reason my classes are all over the place is because I’m full-filling Humanities ( Religion) for IGETC. Same goes for Anthro,Geography, and English 1. As for doing a lot of papers, to be completely honest, the most papers I’ve written in a semester class is around 3-4 ( 5-10 Pages), and I agree that they can take away lots of time, but I would rate myself as an good writer, hopefully that will be able to pull me an A. I’m really good in accounting so managerial accounting won’t be a problem, but as for Anthro, and Geography go, I hope ratemyprof really exemplifies the prof’s. </p>

<p>But I’m really starting to think about your statement on body stress, and how it can deter someone down, both physically and mentally. Currently, I’ve been able to work, but have fully sacrificed my social life( have no problem with this). It’s either study, study, work, and study, or study, study, work, and sleep. With this many units, the only thing I’m worrying about is moving out in May, having to take all my finals during the moving out week or close by, thus hindering my ability to do exponentially well if compared to having a sound environment.</p>

<p>Mermaker, I was thinking of quitting my job, but if I do that means camping it out in my car during the move-out phase for a couple of days, maybe weeks.</p>

<p>I duno if your library is open a lot or not, but my schools library is open til like midnight every night and reopens around 6am, so that leaves only a couple hours to sleep in ur car if u have to.</p>

<p>But anyways if you think u can handle work from every class stacked into one week then go for it. Usually the midterms and finals and essays/projects wont be stacked onto the same day or same week, but are you prepared to handle the workload if, somehow, every class has its midterm/project/essay due on the same day or consecutive 2-3 days?</p>

<p>Im on a completely different unit system so i cant give much insight, taking 4 classes+ a lab is already hardcore at my school so taking 6 classes+a lab seems too much to me but ive never been to a school where the unit per class is around around 3-4</p>

<p>Bro I am taking 35 semester unites right now. Ill tell you this, if you are welling to give up a little more on your social life, and give it truly your best, then yeah of course you can.</p>

<p>I don’t believe that for a second. 35 semester units? Yeah right.</p>

<p>I think it’s perfectly possible to do well in 23 units. I’m taking 16 right now( I know, not as crazy as 23) and I’m projected to get straight As.
If you are able to, you always have the option of taking a class for P/NP if you feel the stress bearing down on you. English 1A might be a big investment of time, though. I wrote about 18-20~ pages for that class last semester (it was a summer semester).
I myself am planning to take 22 units next semester (if I can get into the classes).
I think it’s doable, good luck!</p>

<p>You guy’s have all given me wonderful and realistic responses. With everything put in context by you guy’s, I personally believe that I have the individual ability and sacrifice of social life to achieve an high grade in all these classes, but on a rather realistic approach, mid-terms and finals is what I’m worrying about. If they are all crowded on the same week, and have substantial amounts of work needed than that could possibly be a huge issue, but I can always ask my manager for time off during that time. I’ll probably need to time-manage my days extensively.</p>

<p>Yeah, that’s doable. You’ll probably spend most of your time on acc and calc. The other classes should be annoying and involve lots of flashcards/reading but not dealbreakers.</p>

<p>@Salim - Pics or it didn’t happen…</p>