<p>.... how many credits are you planing to take your first semester? And what's your reasoning?</p>
<p>I'll go first: 15 credits. Because--By taking less, I fear of falling behind and taking longer to graduate, there's many requirements in the financial economics major, both econ and math wise, and the core classes aren't getting any less either. b) I took 18 units, 5 classes, 4 of those honors at my Junior College, besides math (which I haven't seen in a few years) it was manageable.</p>
<p>My fears: Overloading. Junior College work does not compare to Columbia, I hear--kind of makes sense too. Also not an honors program. I can do well, but I have to put in the time.</p>
<p>Questions: Anyone with experience wanting to jump in and give some advice plus reasoning?</p>
<p>Random, Philly, I am particularly interested in your plans as we seem to share the same route.</p>
<p>P.S.: It would be cool to see you two for the July 19th orientation.</p>
<p>In my experience, from having many friends, acquaintances, ex-roommates, and an ex-girlfriend at UCLA, UCI, UCSD, Berkeley, and USC, it seems like a credit at Columbia is roughly double the workload of a credit at a UC or USC. So I guess triple to quadruple that at a junior college. I’ve been at Columbia for a year so I think I’m pretty accurate with my estimate. From having spoken to friends and acquaintances from other Ivy League schools, Columbia’s workload seems infamously high by comparison. These are conclusions I drew specifically from conversations with people I’ve met from Wharton and Brown. I think 15 credits should be perfectly fine.</p>
<p>I just registered for 14 credits for the fall semester. I was thinking of taking more but at the APS they told us that 4 classes were the most they would want to register you for. That sentiment was iterated when I spoke with my advisor and registered for classes.</p>
<p>I’m taking 4 classes (13 credits) my first semester as well.</p>
<p>Did anybody mention their concern with taking longer than the regular 4 years (or 3 or two for transfers) to complete their degree with taking less than 15 credits?</p>
<p>I expressed some concerns but they said they are pretty solid on the 4 classes. I rectified this by completing my art hum and cross cultural requirements with one class and will overload if necessary (need at least a 3.0 from the past semester for more than 18 credits)</p>
<p>“My fears: Overloading.”</p>
<p>This is justified. Depending on the courses you’re taking we may not see you again until December. Part of the experience at Columbia is just that, the EXPERIENCE. You’re going to have a difficult time getting good grades and meeting people, going to sporting events, going out in NYC, etc., if you’re taking 15 credits.</p>
<p>So what are most students doing? Enrolling in 12 credits and taking a semester or two longer to graduate?</p>
<p>Because I would still love to have some of the things you just mentioned ;-)</p>
<p>I agree with hellojan. In my first semester here at Columbia I buried my head in the proverbial sand, and camped out in Butler for three months. I was taking only 12 units, but 2 history classes and UW meant a lot of writing. And while I did well academically (3.7+), I did miss out on some of the experience aspects of going to school here. I would stick with 4 classes and find the right balance. </p>
<p>I recommend taking 4 in the fall, 4 in the spring, and 2 in the summer.</p>
<p>Also, choose your classes wisely. I took 2 history classes, UW, and a biology class. My advisor warned me that I picked heavy workload history classes, but because I loved history I thought I’d be fine. Needless to say, it took everything I had to stay afloat. I ended up doing well, but I was absolutely drained when the semester ended.</p>
<p>Im taking it easy with 12 credits this fall until I get used to everything. This is coming from someone who loves to overload courses. After taking a look at the introductory statistics classes among other things ( I am most likely a statistics major… maybe economics… ) at Columbia and it is nothing like I have ever seen. </p>
<p>First off, there is programming ( R language ) that is involved plus some other additional things that I have never learned in my introductory stats classes at my original institution. Reading professor reviews on CULPA was a real eye opener, so I suggest to review that site for certain courses that you are considering taking to get a better idea of what you are up against this fall. </p>
<p>Just be aware that Columbia introductory courses arent so “introductory” in the grand scheme of things.</p>
<p>Hey! I will be taking 12 credits. I wanted to take 15 but my advisor said not to do it, since (because of a scholarship I received) I must finish all my classes. So, I am taking University Writing, Masterpieces of Western Music, Logic of Collective Choice, and Race and Place in Urban America. Plus, University Studies (a pass/fail class required for the scholarship as well). I plan to do a double major (poli. sci. and sociology), so I am expecting to take more than 4 classes at a time after my first semester, plus summer, and, most likely, stay for an extra semester. I just hope my GPA does not suffer too much and I can still keep my sanity :)</p>
<p>I spoke with my adviser the other day, and she pushed me to take 15 so that I would have wiggle room to drop a class if I needed to, and keep all 15 if I felt it was manageable.</p>
<p>Just be aware that if you wait until the last day to drop a class, you’ll get a W and only about half of your money back. So you’ll be paying a couple of grand for what amounts to a question mark on your transcript.</p>
<p>Who is teaching the Race & Place course?</p>
<p>15 units? Make sure you bring your sleeping bag and a pillow to Butler!</p>
<p>Race and place course? What is that?</p>
<p>My Courses: </p>
<ol>
<li><p>University Studies ( a Pass/ Fail one day a week session; not really a course )</p></li>
<li><p>INTRO-COMPUT SCI/PROGRAM in Java. ( I already know C++ so Java will be cake since I am learning it now ) </p></li>
<li><p>PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS ( Already have taken a year of Econ )</p></li>
<li><p>UNIVERSITY WRITING ( Im worried about this one. ) </p></li>
<li><p>CALCULUS III ( I am repeating Calc III since they didnt transfer my Calc III Course )</p></li>
<li><p>Humanities course I havent figured out yet.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>As hard as this list may look, I already have experience in three courses ( Calc, Econ, Comp Sci ). So ironically, this can be a potentially easy semester.</p>
<p>Random, are you taking the Intro to Comp Sci. as a req. for Fin Econ? Also, why the Principles of Economics if you already have the Micro & Macro?</p>
<p>See you guys soon.</p>
<p>Random</p>
<p>I’m curious too – why the principles of you’ve already taken micro and macro? I took macro and micro and already received the approval from the economics dept that they will count towards the principles requirement.</p>
<p>Also, why didn’t they transfer Calc 3?</p>
<p>Random, you’re going to be really busy, bro! Good luck!</p>