<p>I’ve heard that you can only take 4 or 5 classes per semester at Amherst. But I have no idea what I want to do and was planning on taking lots of different classes to see what really interests me. So if there is a limit on the number of classes you can take, would it be a problem for someone like me?</p>
<p>To be completely honest, you'd probably get swamped if you tried to take too many anyway. I'm sure it's all for the best.</p>
<p>But then again, I don't know if there actually is a limit. Better ask someone who knows what they're talking about.</p>
<p>Amherst limits you to 4 classes per semester, especially in freshman year. You can apply through your advisor for the option to take 5 classes, however your academic record at Amherst has to be pretty impressive for them to agree.</p>
<p>There is the shopping option every 1st 2 weeks of the semester, to see which 4 courses are the best, so you can sample pretty much anything you want.</p>
<p>Honestly, with all the work we end up getting here, any more than 4 and you're really doing yourself bad. You won't be able to devote real attention to more classes.</p>
<p>I, as a parent was concerned when D told me she was taking only 4 classes. I come from the days when you took 5-6 or even 7 to get done faster and save $. Remember, the kids that attend Amherst are very bright and of course, I thought they could do more. But we didn't have the "optional tutorials" and outside meetings with assignments that many of her classes do - it's like taking all labs! You may think that it's just 3 hours of class, some reading, and studying - not according to D - The number of papers and reading is onerous, so four is quite enough. These bright kids have so much work to do that adding another class would really be difficult. Interestingly, she says that the amount of work is threefold over her hardest HS subjects, and there is NO busy work! All of it is relevant. They cover everything in depth, to the extent that many of her profs give tests online or outside of class so as not to take any time away from classwork.</p>
<p>I would discourage you from taking 5 classes in freshman year. That'd be suicide. 4 can be quite challenging. Shopping period should work to your benefit as you see what interests you, as would reading the course catalogue and talking to professors about the classes.</p>
<p>I feel that it's intense, but I'm also a lot less stressed than I was in high school. For one thing, I'm not in classes 30 hrs/week, I don't have pointless busy work, my classes start late in the day, and I have more time to do work and other activities. That's the other thing--make sure you leave a little bit of room to take advantage of all that Amherst has to offer outside of the classroom.</p>
<p>Unlike other colleges, where courses may differ in the "credits", all Amherst classes count equally. (Half-classes are private music instruction sessions, not something I'd consider a real class.) And profs expect you to give them quality work, so overloading is not a good idea.</p>
<p>I would like to take more classes because they're so interesting; however, there's really no time. There are so many out of class requirements that I really don't even have chances to attend the lectures that I want to. But math and science people seem to have a lot less work. I'm thinking about auditing a class or two. That way I can sit in, but I won't have the work-load.</p>
<p>I know some people who take five classes and seem to be okay. The maximum limit is six, but I only know of one person who's trying to do so.</p>
<p>Four classes is quite enough though for most people, especially if you take a science or language class and are planning to do other things besides just studying and homework.</p>