<p>I hear it's typically a good idea to take 12-14 units a semester, but I want to take the recommended 15-17 units. My fear is that. no matter how hard I work, I won't be able to get a really high (3.5+ GPA). If I do the homework, go to office hours, do study groups and complete extra problem sets, how hard would it be to get at least a 3.5 each semester?</p>
<p>I generally take 14-15 but have taken up to 17. To me, 17 was horrible. I was still able to get all A’s but it really was not worth it overall for just one extra class. Also, depending on the workload of the class it can get really rough. Last semester I took 14, but the solid mechanics class I took required a lot of extra studying/work, so it felt closer to the 15+. Honestly, your best bet is to start out your first semester in the 12-14, gauge how the semester went, then the next semester go up if you feel you can. Getting a high GPA is not just about smarts, its equally about making good decisions and exceptional time management.</p>
<p>15 is a relatively light load at many schools.</p>
<p>If you want to gradute in 4 years, you won’t be able to do it taking 12-14 credits. And there is no reason you can get a 3.5 doing 15-17. Stop fearing things that you haven’t tried.</p>
<p>I agree with chucktown. You need to get used to the school and see how it goes. It also depends on what classes you are taking to come up with the 15-17 credits. DS is starting at Georgia Tech in the fall and currently has 12 credits with Physics,Chem and Calc II. He tried but couldn’t get into English or Health at orientation. If he can get into one of those classes at 2nd registration that’s fine but I wouldn’t want him to add Computer science because I believe the load would be too much for a freshman first semester. You can always take a class or two in the summer to make up for taking 12-14 credits but it’s a lot harder to repair your GPA if you fail a class because you took too many.</p>
<p>I took 18 credits and 16 credits freshman year I think (either that or 17 and 17 or something). Got a 3.90 average. It’s not easy, and you can’t procrastinate, but it’s not impossible at the least. If you work your hardest, keep on top of homework assignments, ask questions when needed, etc., you will get the best grade you can. Quite a few of my hard working friends got over a 3.5 GPA and we were taking ~ 16+ credits. I don’t think you can graduate in 4 years taking less than 15 credits in my school…</p>
<p>You may find that some courses are over or under rated in workload based on credit units. Courses with labs, large term projects, or computer programming assignments can be more workload per credit unit than other courses, so it is possible for a 12 unit load of 3 lab courses to be more work than a 16 unit load with no lab courses.</p>
<p>Using the typical type of credit unit, most colleges want 120 units to graduate, though some majors (often in engineering) have slightly more than that in course requirements (e.g. up to 130 units). In this case, if you want to graduate in 8 semesters, you need to average 15 units (or more if your major needs more than 120 units) per semester.</p>
<p>I don’t think I ever took that few. Usually 17-18 with labs.</p>
<p>I’m a big fan of starting with 15 credits (3 stem + 1-2 gened/seminar classes) first semester of freshmen year if possible. It will allow for figuring out pacing, study habits, and give an idea of what ramping up will be like. If I didn’t have a wife, child, fixer-upper house, and a part time job I could easily take more than the 12-14 credits I’ve been averaging. That said, I also have taken two classes over the summer for three summers.</p>
<p>That’s what I was thinking, I would take 2 classes each summer unless I started to feel burned out or something. But I have anxiety issues, so I’m always worried about things until I actually try them.</p>
<p>Really like the input btw guys, if you can mention what type of school you go to as well, that would also be helpful. Like Private, big state U, smaller U…</p>
<p>Taking summer classes really is a waste of time. You would be much better served by trying to get an internship, even if it means taking additional time to graduate.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, damn, I forgot about the internships. To be the real reason I want to enroll in at least 15 units is because to be eligible for Chancellor’s Roll or Dean’s list, I have to at least be enrolled in 15 units per semester; in addition, I’ll need to enroll in that many classes to stay on pace and graduate on time anyway.</p>
<p>I’ve never been on any type of honors list until I got into CC, and the satisfaction is just to amazing I’d like to try and prove myself capable at the next level as well.</p>
<p>Boneh3ad is right about internships vs summer classes, my next two summers are for internships only, even if that means living away from my family for 12 weeks. I didn’t mean to recommend summer classes, I was stating that I chose to take them to keep from falling two years behind instead of one (and the first summer session was prior to my first full time semester). Also, my circumstances are not common among incoming freshmen (a reporter once chose to lead with my story over the underpriviledged undocumented african turned valedictorian), hence the term, non-traditional.</p>
<p>Damn. I thought 15 WASS lot lol… I guess it’s different for someone without 30-35 hr weekly job.</p>
<p>I’ve never taken more than 12 credit hours a semester with engineering classes. The classes are just too difficult to grasp and too time consuming. I think 12 is enough personally, but you may be a better student than me. </p>
<p><strong>Spoiler</strong></p>
<p>I have ADD from hell. lol</p>
<p>I did 18 units last semester and still made the Dean’s list. This fall I have 16 units registered. </p>
<p>It’s possible to get high grades, but timing classes is the biggest pain. It seems like the classes you want the most are offered at the same time, so one class has to be put off. I kept my week nights free for Zumba, and worked on homework Fri-Sun including working in groups.</p>
<p>If you know how to work efficiently, even a maxed schedule is only a few hours of work per week. Just learn how to learn difficult material without having to “grind” it too hard, and you’ll very much be able to do well at any number of credit hours.</p>
<p>I took 18 units in one semester at one point. That was not such a great idea and I will never do that again. I managed about a 3.3 GPA that semester, I think. I have taken 17 units for 3 or so semesters and I found that doable. It is difficult no doubt, but as long as you don’t have more than one lab class you should be fine. I prefer taking 16 units or less in a semester. It is less overwhelming that way.</p>
<p>Bonehead, you really would recommend forgoing summer school to take an internship, even it it sets you back an entire year?</p>
<p>Lake Jr. will confront these options soon. A poor decision at last year’s (freshman) registration means that he won’t be able to take specific Chemical Engineering requirements, namely Organic Chem I and II, this year. He’s got one REU under his belt. He was fortunate to get an REU as a rising sophomore. Another REU next year would be great, but I think getting OC out of the way would be better. Otherwise, having to enroll in OC during the next academic year means he’ll be forced to wait another year to take upper level Chemical Engineering classes. I think you’re indicating that the money and experience of an internship or Co-op will be highly advantageous. I agree, but without the background in upper level Chem-E coursework, a summer job after his sophomore year will be a crapshoot.</p>