<p>being a cashier at a pizza joint wasn't the most rewarding experience, but at least i had free food and only four days of work.</p>
<p>I worked 20h/week on-campus as a tutor and I was usually taking 19+ units (24 was the max). However, my job was not that intensive and I could sometimes review things or do homework while I was working, so I'm not sure if that counts. However, I did other things on the side. I was taking almost only science courses (physics, math, chem) except for English 1 & 2 and two History classes.</p>
<p>I did well, but I think I could have done better if I didn't have work. </p>
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Is taking five 3 unit courses a lot tougher and time constraining than taking three 5 unit courses?
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I think it's the other way round. 3 unit classes are often non-science classes for which you don't have to study that much. As an example, for my 3-unit history classes I studied less 20 hours the whole semester and didn't open the book at all. For my 5 unit physics classes that's how much I studied for each of them in 1-2 weeks. So you shouldn't compare 3 unit and 5 unit classes by the numbers of units, but rather by the contents of the class (and of course the professor you are taking). Expect to put much more work into a 5 unit upper-level math class than into two 3 unit history classes together.</p>
<p>20 hours for the entire semester? I honestly don't think I'll always find a teacher that's that easy. I always thought the three 5 unit classes were somewhat easier because there's less of a chance of things like tests/projects being due around the same time, and you can stay on top of things better because you only have three classes.</p>
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20 hours for the entire semester? I honestly don't think I'll always find a teacher that's that easy
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Well, not always but personally I didn't have any problems finding these easy professor for all my 3 unit classes.</p>
<p>It's the case that 3 unit classes are in general more "subjective" in nature than 5 unit classes. In Math, Physics, Chem, and so on everything you have to learn is exactly specified and it's easy to measure if you know the material or not: Either you can answer to problems or you can't. Teachers here have less room for personal opinions. Sure, exams can be a little easier or harder and lectures can be more useful or less useful depended on your teacher, but you still will learn the same basic things no matter who you are taking. </p>
<p>However, in many (of course there are exceptions) 3 unit GE classes professors have a lot of room to do whatever they want. Many English or History classes use different books and professors prefer different things: Some like to give Multiplce Choice quizzes, some make you read alot, some make you write many essays, and so on. Here it's not so easy to "measure" if you know what you should have learned. Basically, I don't remember ANYTHING from my history classes (and I haven't learned anything either), but I still got an A.</p>
<p>So, I would say that most 3 unit classes <em>can</em> be extremely easy if you find those easy professors/teachers. However, most 5 unit classes <em>will never</em> be easy because in order to pass the exams you have to know the material, no matter what. In other words, there is always a minimum amount of time you have to put into most 5 unit classes to learn the material. For many 3 unit classes there is no such minimum and you can get a good grade without studying at all.</p>
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always thought the three 5 unit classes were somewhat easier because there's less of a chance of things like tests/projects being due around the same time, and you can stay on top of things better because you only have three classes.
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Well, yeah, you will probably have less due at the same time, but your projects/tests for 5unit classes will take a lot more time than those for 3 unit classes. So the workload should still be the same. </p>
<p>And like I said above, it probably depends on the teacher. You may be able to get an A in an easy History class like mine by only studying 1 hour for a test, but you probably won't get the A in a 5 unit Math class, because 1-2 hours studying is not enough to know the material, no matter who your teacher is.</p>
<p>When I was at UCSC, I worked 11-14 hours per week as a Dining Admin Assistant for winter and spring quarter. Basically sat my butt down in front of a computer and entered data/went online, checked email, Facebook. I can say I got paid to update my facebook profile. Haha.</p>
<p>I was taking 19 units each quarter as well. It wasn't hard to balance, b/c I worked TTh, and had no class those days except night lab on Th. Then again, I was only working 11 hours a week.</p>
<p>As for the summer, coudln't find a research intern position, so I'm just doing summer school. Organic Chemistry. Gotta love that subject fast paced.</p>