Am I putting TOO much on my plate if I decide to work as well?

Student Lounge College Life
1

Hello everyone so here’s my current situation: I’m an incoming freshman, nursing student, and ROTC cadet. I am taking 21 credits my first semester (I know it’s a lot, but according to my counselor this is a pretty normal course load for nursing ROTC students). I did the math and I’d be spending a total of 19 hrs per week in class.

I also qualified for work-study, and though I can get by without the money this year, I’ve heard that if I don’t take advantage of work-study when I get it, I may lose it the next time I apply for FAFSA. If I work, I am hoping to do about 10 hrs/week. I also hope to work just to get some professional experience. My job would be working in the library or as an office assistant. But I also want to have time to make friends, join clubs, and experience college. Would I be taking on too much my first semester if I did all this?

2

Usually you figure about 2 hours of homework/preparation for each class hour. So that puts you at 57 hours a week for school. Working on top of this would be too much.

I’d also question whether just the 57 hours a week is too much. Some students might need more homework and preparation time. You also need a social life for sanity’s sake.

3

Isn’t ROTC like a part time job? I think that is too much.

4

I would start school, not take a job to start, and see how things go.
It sounds like you have a lot on your plate already.