This is my schedule this upcoming fall.
Calc 2
Intermediate Physics w/ Lab
General Chemistry w/ Lab
Intro to Public Speaking
Freshman Design
Mechanical Drafting
This comes to be 20 credit hours. I was approved to overload, but I have my doubts. What are your opinions regarding my schedule and what do you think about overloading freshman year? If anyone has a similar experience I would love to hear it.
If you’re a first-semester freshman, definitely DON’T overload. No exceptions.
I had a freshman friend last year who got approved to take six classes plus an independent study in his second semester. He barely had time to sleep and was constantly stressed out and irritable.
I don’t recommend overloading freshman year. There’s too many new things freshmen need to adjust to, the main ones being:
college vs high school teaching/testing/studying style
living away from home
getting used to the school
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Most colleges recommend freshmen take 4 classes (~15/16 credit hours) their first semester, and then move to 5 (~17/18).
Also, the double labs will kill you in physics and chemistry–especially if you have lab reports. The time labs take (2-3 hours usually) itself takes up major time. You probably are thinking you need to fulfill all your prereqs ASAP, but it’s better to not spread yourself thin.
My first semester I took 6 classes totally 17 credit hours, and it was too much. Actually, I’ve had 17 hours every semester, but it was too much right out of the gates. I would personally recommend dropping something, but not everyone’s the same and I know people who can handle the stress/work load.
I will echo the previous posters: if this your first semester, I really do not recommend overloading during your transition to college.
You have the rest of your college career to overload semesters.
Count me in as someone advising you not to overload your first semester.
Even if you’re a great student and have handled a lot in the past, your first semester will be hard. Truly. Why rush into overloading when you have four whole years ahead of you? Take 16 credits this semester, see how it goes, and then maybe up it a little your second semester (or, ideally, second year).
Honestly, I would not do it with the courses you listed. That’s a very heavy course load and it’s very STEM heavy. I would take either physics or chem, not both.
For what it’s worth, I took 6.5 units (22.75 credits) my first semester and it wasn’t that bad. One course was an audit and I had a bunch of applied music/music ensemble units, however, so I only had 4 units of academics (14 credits). Last year (sophomore year), I took 5 units of academics (no audit) and increased my music units each semester and it was very challenging, especially since I was taking almost entirely upper level classes. I don’t think I would have been able to handle that my freshman year.
Another vote for not overloading first semester. There’s so much to adjust to, and it’s too much on top of such a heavy course load. And, YMMV, but I think double lab+overload in one semester is a recipe for disaster for most people. Either one is challenging, but both together means you’ll have very little time to sleep or relax. As post #2 says, you’re better off not spreading yourself too thin, especially before you have a handle on how much work college classes will be.
I agree with previous posters: For a freshman, don’t overload.
Personally I took 13 units my first quarter. I found it too easy, so I upped it to 17 the next quarter and was fine. I stayed at 16-17 units for basically every other quarter and only had serious difficulty in one quarter sophomore year. Then my last two quarters senior year it turned out I had overloaded enough where I could just take 12 units and be over the minimum unit requirement for graduation, so I did that to relax a bit at the end of college.
So my advice? Start either at the expected workload (usually around 15 units) or slightly below it (12-14, depending on how your school counts units and what classes you take) your first semester. Adjust your future schedules based on how that goes, talking to an adviser when needed.
Of course, if your first semester you were just taking a bunch of intro GE classes and your second semester you’re thinking of taking a bunch of lab science classes, talk to an adviser first. Those types of schedules are very different.
Remember, if you do overload keep in mind the drop deadline and know which of the classes you could safely drop if push comes to shove. And there’s no shame in dropping a class if needed! But do be aware of the consequences of dropping a given class. If dropping a given class would mess with sequencing in your major or would put you below financial aid minimums, for example, I wouldn’t drop it.