<p>Ok so I have a few questions here. Which of the two, five credits or five classes, come first? As in regardless of the number of classes do most people recommend five credits? For example if you take 3 classes that add up to five credits, will you look like you are taking a less challenging course schedule despite the fact that the credits for each of the classes are more? And how easy is it to have your schedule approved with 5.5 credits? I know that the deans require a written request for 6 credits, but what about 5.5? And last but not least, are there any half credit courses at Yale? I looked on the course schedule for fall of 2009 but I can't seem to find any.</p>
<p>No, credits come first. Taking five classes that add up to 5 credits is less difficult taking 5 classes that add up to 6 or 6.5 credits, which probably wouldn’t even be allowed your freshman year. And I think half credit courses are labs but I’m not sure.</p>
<p>Half credit classes are indeed labs. </p>
<p>You want to average at least 4.5 credits per semester to be able to graduate. Freshman fall, it’s generally recommended to take only 4 or 4.5 credits. Though special permission isn’t required to take more, both your freshman counselor and your residential college dean (who both have to agree to your schedule in any case) will likely advise against it, and some may refuse to let you take 5.5. Spring semester, however, 5.5 would be fine, assuming that you were able to handle the workload in the Fall.</p>
<p>The plan I had in mind was to take 5.5 credits first semester and then lower the credits the second semester to about 4.5. The reason I want to do this is because I’m going to be on the Yale women’s crew and from all the girls that are on the team, they tell me that they always try to take more credits first semester because the practice hours and races aren’t as rigorous as it is the second semester with sprint races and less time off. So that’s really why I wanted to do that. I am definitely not planning on taking any more years than the four undergrad years to get my degree and apply to med school, regardless of how it turned out for other people and what others may think. But I don’t know, things change. We’ll see. Thanks though! I appreciate all your advice.</p>
<p>I’m not sure what you’re getting at about not wanting to take more than 4 years to graduate. If you take 4.5 credits every semester, you will graduate in 4 years (you need 36 credits to graduate). You do not need to average 5 credits/semester, so there’s no reason for you not to take 4.5 each semester this year. That’s what I did as a freshman, and I can assure you that I’m on track to graduate in 4 years (in fact, I’ll likely have accumulated 36 credits by the end of Senior Fall).</p>
<p>Most classes are one credit. There are a few exceptions, such as double-credit intensive language classes. Labs are a half credit, but they are always (I think) taken in connection with a one-credit science class.</p>
<p>I think 5.5 credits first semester freshman year is a lot.</p>
<p>Hmm… Well thanks for your advice. I see what you’re saying svalbardlutefisk. I guess this was really for the future when I take harder classes where I am less prepared for them and so I take like 5.5 credits first semester and 3.5 second or something and to be able to focus on my work with crew. Thanks again!</p>
<p>Hunt: There are also 1.5 credit language classes - basically all intro and intermediate language classes are 1.5 credits.</p>