Average GS Courseload

<p>Current GSers.... I was wondering how many classes/credits you each take? And if it gets overwhelming at times? I've read that an average Columbia student takes 5-6 classes a semester. I've taken 7 at my CC... but thats CC!!!! lol.... Just lookin for some feedback (btw the anxiety has kicked already in anticipation of admission decisions!!)</p>

<p>4-5 courses. 4 in both the spring and fall and 2 in the summer is a pretty good route.</p>

<p>For full time students…
Absolutely do not start with more than 4 your first semester. Period. That will be more than you can handle your first semester.</p>

<p>After that I think most GSers do 4-5-6, going up as they have more experience. I know some take 7+ occasionally, but that’s VERY selective about exactly which combination of classes, and only experienced students who know how they’ll handle it.</p>

<p>And yes, everyone at GS was taking 7+ and getting straight As at their community college ;)</p>

<p>Figured as much lol… I’m in a tight spot though. It would be absolutely ideal to graduate in 4 semesters, as money is a huge issue in my case. I plan to go to law school, and Columbia would put me around 70k in the hole. (high interest student loans). I am seeking a dependency override, and my circumsances extend beyond the usual, so I am pretty confident I will get it (also after speaking to financial aid adviors at several schools, I am even more confident). Anyway, if I am granted the override it wil lease things up a little bit, but still heavy loans. Columbia is my dream school, and the education is uncomparable to most of the schools I am applying to. You only live once, so if I am accepted… I’m going. What worries me is the 4 semesters of Chinese I am ging to have to take. I have no problem giving up my life for two years to dedicate to Columbia and a part-time job (for survival). As most CC students that were accepted to GS, I found that I was able to reeze through CC, getting straight A’s while barely having to open a textboook. I am ready to give up the spare time that I use to read and write leisurely. I am a bit frightened though lol. But confident.</p>

<p>ummm…i dunno guys. Maybe my fellow GSers are insanely gifted students, but I find it difficult to imagine taking really more than 5 classes, at most, and performing well. For example: I’m a first semester student, and I’m taking 3 classes totaling 10 credits. Mind you, these classes are Chemistry, Calc I, and UW. Yes, I had a 4.0 in community college; Yes, I breezed through community college with my eyes half-shut. In order for me to do well (read: 3.7+), I find myself having to devote a collective ~7 hours a day studying. This essentially boils down to all my free time. Am I a slow learner? No. The pace in science and math courses is extraordinarily fast. We covered the entirety of Stoichiometry and Aqueous Solutions, 2 complete chapters, in a week. Mind you, we’re not talking about cursory learning–you are expected to be proficient in the curriculum to an exact, mastery-level degree. Calculus is paced similarly, with weekly assignments, and equal expectations. Maybe I am a slow learner you say. Well, I’ve become close friends with two first-semester GSers, no slouchers in their own right. One formerly attended a top-10 university and is taking Chem with me. They’re both taking 4 classes, are up to their ears in work, and pretty stressed out. You can use your imagination and extrapolate to a scenario where you’re taking more than 4 classes. </p>

<p>There are two prominent distinctions between Columbia and other schools. 1) We move very quickly; this has been discussed. 2) The learning is done, I’d guess, at a 95% independent level. What I mean by this is that you WILL be expected master the material independently. My math and science professors are almost useless; he or she either lectures from slides or transcribes directly from prepared notes. If you work strictly off of lectures, you will fail. More than half the questions on tests are from the book and are not addressed in class. If you don’t plan on being a math or science guy, you have your humanities. My other friend is taking 4 humanities, literature / philosophy orientated classes. He has an INSANE amount of material to read. Literally, all the guy does is read and write, and I’m scared to even consider how much it is that he actually reads a week. So good luck to all those who are, or plan on, stacking up on classes.</p>

<p>You guys were taking 7+ courses at your CC’s?</p>

<p>The max I took was 5, I mean I still got straight A’s and 2 that semester were honors courses, but I can’t imagine WHY anyone would take more than that considering that semester put me in a position where in order to finish my degree I only needed to take 10 credits my last semester… did you guys just take courses for the hell of it or something?</p>

<p>This is getting me worried that I didn’t make it look like I “challenged myself” enough…</p>

<p>I identify with your anxiety completely. </p>

<p>This semester at my CC is my most rigorous to date with 6 classes (3 3-credit honors classes, 2 3-credit pre-major electives, and a 1-credit Associate’s Capstone course). My course load has increased along the way from 1 class at a time while working full time to this and working 1-2 days a week and officer roles in a couple of clubs. GPA has risen every semester with out issue, and stands at a 3.71. </p>

<p>Yet mentally, I’ve been convincing my self this is nothing. “You’re going to work so much more when you get there, so start considering this easy,” has been my mantra, and it was a daunting thought at first but I got over it and the work here has become easier; A’s and Dean’s List have gotten easier.</p>

<p>I had the opportunity to sit in on a Barnard class last week (Dr. Helene Foley’s Tragedy and Performance), when I was up to take my GSAE and at least with the lecture I was able to keep up just fine with the material presented, respond to it, and really join the conversation. I think that convinced me more than anything that I would be OK. If you can, visit and email a few professors that you’d like to sit in. Make up an actual theoretical class day, and see what they assign. </p>

<p>Iggs or Random, anything on that? You two give the best GS advice.</p>

<p>I’m graduating this semester and recall my most stressful semester as the one where I took on five courses. You do not want to do that, especially if you have a language class as there is so much memorization involved on a daily basis. I also wanted to graduate quickly so that I could move onto graduate school (I was given 60 transfer credits with GS) but I really messed up my GPA that semester…and you DO NOT WANT to do that if you are applying for any post-grad work. I met a student that had seven courses one semester. She was able to successfully navigate that by mostly staying in her pajamas most of the semester (except when attending class!).</p>