<p>I know most of us '09ers have, at some point, thought of taking 5 courses this coming semester. There seem to be a lot of Princeton students advising against it, but there are also some students who say 5 courses in freshman first semester isn't that bad. A lot of it probably depends on which courses you're taking, how hard you're prepared to work, and what your personality is. </p>
<p>For example, I'll be talking econ 100, a relatively easy french class, a new language (like arabic 101) and possibly a freshman seminar in a subject I am quite familiar with. If I also take a CBLI Writing Seminar as a 5th course would it be suicidal? I know people say it's not a good idea, and "you're not as intelligent as you think you are when you come to Princeton" ... but the reason I'm seriously considering a 5th course is because, from experience, I know I'm the type of person who works better under pressure. The busier I am, the more work I get done. It's true and it was exactly what happened in high school too: One period I had an easy courseload, and I coasted along, but when I took an extremely heavy course load, I accomplished the most, was top in everything and somehow managed to find time for a lot of extracurrics and interests. The other reason I'm considering taking 5 courses is that: If we can take 5 courses in spring semester, how different can it be from taking it in the fall? I don't want to have too much time on my hands to be getting homesick and goofing around...</p>
<p>Fellow 09ers, are any of you considering /taking 5 courses this semester?</p>
<p>08ers and Ashley, I know you're probably tired of us asking, "Will I manage if I take 5 courses?" but I think if we can get everyone's opinion on one thread, we will be able to settle the issue once and for all. :) We respect your opinion and would like to hear how you honestly feel about the issue, so if you have any thoughts on this issue... post away!</p>
<p>I am most definitely taking 5 courses first semester, unless I test out of the German requirement (anybody take those tests yet? Are they hard?)</p>
<p>your academic advisor will strongly encourage you not to take 5 courses and will give you a hard time approving your course card. don't take 5 courses during a semester with a Writing seminar. and, why do you any of you need to take 5 courses fall freshman year?</p>
<p>You do realize that languages meet five days a week and often relatively early in the morning? Other than that, your proposed schedule does not sound that awful. The Frosh seminar might be a lot of work, but if you're enjoying it, it tends to go faster, and those are usually fun/intriguing courses. Writing seminar is supposed to be painful... however, aside from the frequent assignments (you will have something annoyingly due every class, be it first or fifth draft) I didn't think it was that bad. I'm sure it depends on your professor and how comfortable you are with writing in the first place; it was always my strong point. You're also taking exclusively typical frosh courses, which will probably help a little; competition not as stiff.</p>
<p>(Personally, I'm trying to find ways to get more writing back into my science/engineering next year... wondering if it's too late to get on JYI, the Journal of Young Investigators.)</p>
<p>
I know I'm the type of person who works better under pressure. The busier I am, the more work I get done.
</p>
<p>Valid... I'm the same way, except that there is definitely an upper threshhold. More so with science/math/engineering; you can't rush <em>understanding.</em></p>
<p>
If we can take 5 courses in spring semester, how different can it be from taking it in the fall?
</p>
<p>The reason they advise against five in freshman fall is for acclimation reasons (lots of extracurricular distractions, getting used to dealing with roomies, having time to meet new people, getting used to the pace of Princeton life, getting used to stiffer competition from smarter classmates).</p>
<p>You may think these are negligible, in your case. However, it is undeniable that you get better at handling life and academics as time goes on. My past spring I managed five courses (four technical, all 300+), TAed a sixth, and took two academically-related week-long trips (missed 5 full class days, aka 1/12 of my classes, right there). Extracurricularly, I sang with Chapel Choir at Carnegie Hall, remained an active member of the Engineering Council through one of its most productive semesters, and helped organize a number of Charter events including sign-ins week. Oh, and completed eight <em>different</em> applications for summer research programs... there's no common app for those things :-/ I know this combination would have been insanity for me as a freshman.</p>
<p>That said, I think taking five in a spring semester is many times worse than taking five in a fall semester. I find the three weeks of holiday break plus Thanksgiving weekend are good for relaxing, unwinding, and catching up.</p>
<p>For ABs, get your one semester of five courses done early... you do not want a fifth course competing with your JP, under any circumstances. Similarly, BSEs, get all your fifth courses done before senior year... I'd recommend always trying to get one in, just so you have the freedom to drop later.</p>
<p>
I don't want to have too much time on my hands to be getting homesick and goofing around...
</p>
<p>If this is your problem, we need to <em>talk.</em> I think it's impossible to have too much time at Princeton if you're even remotely involved in ECs or have any semblance of a social life. Time flies. It really does. I've never wanted to add hours to the day more.</p>
<p>Now after all this has been said, it may not be your choice. Advisors are notorious for not allowing or at least strongly discouraging freshmen to take five courses (especially engineering students). Overconfident freshmen are a dime a dozen, you see, as we were all at the top where we came from.</p>
<p>Also, if you're an AB and only have to do five, why rush? There is NO reason you have to do it first semester. It won't impress anybody, and you want a little bit of time to figure out your college goals and priorities.</p>
<p>I know there's the idea of once-in-a-lifetime (frosh seminar) courses, and the fact that you want to start languages or other cumulative subjects early, and the fact that you're required to take up one of those precious spots with the writing seminar -- I think that's what's driving you, gianevve, and many others, to seek five.</p>
<p>The one thing I thought about saying but won't:
Fewer courses done well = higher GPA.
This is because since the grade inflation adjustments, a handful of my grades make no sense to me whatsoever.</p>
<p>Nope, after freshman fall, you're free to do so. I mean, your advisor might have some thoughts of his/her own on it, but nothing like the restriction for freshman fall.</p>
<p>Thanks for the for the tip about advisors joel and for the really comprehensive post litho.</p>
<p>I think you summarized the issue quite well when you guessed:
[quote]
...there's the idea of once-in-a-lifetime (frosh seminar) courses, and the fact that you want to start languages or other cumulative subjects early, and the fact that you're required to take up one of those precious spots with the writing seminar -- I think that's what's driving you, gianevve, and many others, to seek five.
[/quote]
It just seems that there are too many opportunities to pass up freshman year and the sooner we jump into 5 courses and get used to it, the better. But I do see your point and appreciate the advice. Do you think the add/drop period is sufficient enough to decide whether you can handle 5 or need to drop 1?</p>
<p>unless you are engineer you only need to take five courses once, so there is no need to "get used to it". depending on the type of courses you take, you might not realize whether you can manage the courses until midterm week. if you have five courses with midterm exams that is 5 exams over a course of about 3 days.</p>
<p>Yes to the first one. In fact, P/D/F is designed for you to take courses outside of your concentration so that you can take what you like without fear of failure.</p>
<p>And for graduation, 31 units (courses) are required, according to the UA.</p>
<p>I would advise against it in 90% of all cases.</p>
<p>I think that Ashley made the most important point about this when she noted how now, as a rising senior, she's much better equipped mentally to manage x courses along with y extracurriculars. At certain points during the year, stuff will just happen -- you may get sick, you may love an extra-curricular and devote more time to it, or you may have more trouble with your classes than you thought you would. </p>
<p>I would just like to preface the following sentence by noting that it's not my aim to be condescending or aggressive.</p>
<p>As a freshman, unless you are exceptionally well-prepared, you are probably not mature enough in the college academic setting to handle a lot of these random problems at the same time that you deal with coursework for five classes. You simply do not know if your roommate will insist on going to bed at 8:00 every night, you do not know if she will have an issue with excessive farting (as did my girlfriend's next door neighbor's roommate), and you do not know when you'll get sick. In abstract, you may be able to handle five courses, but this may be your first extended time away from home and however well-prepared you feel you are, many academic aspects of college, such as course schedules, are fundamentally different than those of high school, and you cannot say with confidence that they will test you. What's more, if you're an AB, you only need to take five courses once. I don't think it's a big sacrifice to say, "This one semester I'll take four," if you really want to take five courses every semester. Also, keep in mind that it won't be a level playing field in some courses. I took HIS 373 as a freshman in fall, and while I did well, it certainly didn't help that my competition was junior and senior History majors.</p>
<p>There may be a few exceptions:</p>
<ul>
<li>If you have done college work for an extended period before</li>
<li>If your classes consist mostly of freshman; i.e., lower-level language courses, freshmen seminars, and writing seminars</li>
</ul>
<p>But unless you have a compelling reason to do so, I would hold out. Take your writing seminar in the spring, or take ECO 100 later -- it's offered both semesters.</p>
<p>As a side note, everyone I know who has taken ECO 100 has strongly disliked it.</p>
<p>We haven't even signed up for classes yet. How can he be "taking" 6 classes? If you need special permission just to get 5, there's no way you could get 6. Besides, what's the point?</p>
<p>Froshes of Unusual Courseload? I don't believe they exist.</p>
<p>If they do, they're from NJ and have been taking Princeton courses for three years already. Or they are otherwise insanely and demonstrably brilliant. There's maybe one or two per class. But that doesn't mean <em>you</em> can or should take six. Really now.</p>
<p>If you're absolutely dyyyyyying to take a course that isn't required for your prospective major, just for the fun of it, you could try auditing. (One of my ChemE friends audited Shakespeare while taking five other classes last year, and enjoyed it quite a bit.) Auditing isn't available for all classes (usually not seminars, for example) but if you're really only interested in the lectures for one, it can be a good option. It doesn't give you course credit, but it does at least go on your transcript (gradeless) if you pass the final.</p>
<p>And on that note, if you aren't sure which to choose, attend the first class of all five, and then decide which to drop. When you meet the profs, or hear the expectations and the specific material to be covered, it may become obvious.</p>
<p>TunanFish is absolutely right... especially about that whole getting sick thing. I've had the worst time with that, and it doesn't really matter how smart you are if your body won't get you to class, or let you concentrate to study for a final, or worse. You may be able to handle five courses well, but whether or not you're well is not under your control. I've gotten sick during spring reading period/finals on multiple occasions before -- it's the worst thing that can possibly happen. (In fact, I'm starting to think I'm cursed. I SWEAR I haven't walked out Fitzrandolph Gate...)</p>
<p>why did everyone dislike econ 100, tunanfish?
I'm going to take it because it's required for econ major, but do you think it's better to get it out of the way first semester or leave it to second?</p>