<p>Any current students that could comment on what the average credit load per semester is for engineering? My older 2 at different universities averaged 15 to graduate in 4 years (neither in engineering) excluding 6 credits of AP they each brought in that covered, for them, gen ed classes. They each also took one summer term around 6-8 credits to graduate on time. It looks like MSU recommend 14 for freshman fall on their 'flow chart.' Also it sounds like your first adviser is not a professor? Is that correct? If so, do you keep that adviser through freshman year and pick a professor sophomore year? Do most kids plan on one summer term to graduate on time?</p>
<p>My brother just graduated from MSU in 4 years with a chemical engineering degree. I don’t know how many credits he took each semester, but I know he took 2 classes the summer before his sophomore year, and 1 before his junior year (He was a junior transfer). Didn’t have any AP classes. I don’t think he took too many classes each semester, but maybe I’m wrong. 14 for freshman fall sounds about right.</p>
<p>My SO is a MSU CS grad, he took an average of 12 credits per semesters but he transferred in with 60 credits. Most of his friends also averaged 12 credits during their junior and senior years.</p>
<p>Your adviser is not a processor and you do not get a professor as an adviser as far as I know in either CS or Mechanical. You have the same adviser the whole time you are in school and that adviser knows the courses really well.</p>
<p>OK, thanks both of you for the insight. 15 credit hours is doable. 16-19 gets tough (having experienced it with the other 2). After the two olders I found it odd that an MSU prof wasn’t the adviser, but figured that you ‘found one’ as you moved along. Who helps when you need to get in a class that full so you can stick with a four year plan? Do the kids generally pal up with some prof that keeps them on an even keel even if a prof isn’t an adviser? Or are the professional advisers part of the department? I know that my two olders both had great relationships with their advisers, but then their advisers were profs in their majors.</p>
<p>The adviser could help you get overrides for classes. </p>
<p>In my experience professors don’t go out of their way to get to know you but if you make an effort to get to know them and stand out generally they will notice. I don’t know exactly what you mean when you say even keel so I can’t really say anything on that. They will certainly help you out by giving you letters of recommendation or maybe even a job while you’re in school.</p>
<p>The advisers are part of the department. They sit in on meetings and have input on creating new classes and such. There job revolves around helping out students and they know all about the classes provided within the major.</p>