<p>Hi! I'll be going to college in Fall 2012 and I have a question about my course load (I've been researching last year's academic course catalog, etc)... </p>
<p>Right now I hope to have
Engl 110 (4 credits)
History 115 (3 credits)
Pysc 103 (3 credits)
FYSM (First-Year Seminar, required) (3 credits)
Math ___ (3 credits)</p>
<p>= 5 classes/16 credits.</p>
<p>I need 30 credit hours at the end of the academic year to hold onto my two scholarships.</p>
<p>Should I go with 13 credits my first semester (dropping math) and 17 my second? Or stick with 16 (keeping math) and then 14 my second semester?</p>
<p>I think people shouldn’t overload themselves the first semester of college. You need time to ease into the college scene and make friends, join clubs and whatnot. I say take math the second semester.</p>
<p>For a different perspective, I took 17 credits my first semester and 19 my second semester. 8 of those credits per semester was my first-year honors seminar, which made it somewhat tougher, because that required outside time besides reading and papers to write a musical (fall) and do debates (spring). I did perfectly fine, and had a reasonably high GPA (3.6-3.7).</p>
<p>Also I (not a math person, so it may be different) would want to get that math out of the way and done with.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t overload the first semester. Sixteen will probably be okay, but I wouldn’t do the 17/13 thing at all. You don’t want to overwhelm yourself after taking it easy like that.</p>
<p>Iluvpiano, I agree completely! I’ve worked it around to have either 14 or 16 credits my first semester… so I’ll go with whatever is available when I register for my classes. I feel like 14/16 is best for my first year… but I may even go 16+ the second semester if I feel confident enough. </p>
<p>I agree with the posters that say you need to take it easy in the beginning. College classes are so much more demanding than you realize. Are there more choices? Check it out and see if you can put in some other requirements that won’t be so mentally taxing, such as phys ed or electives that won’t be so demanding. You probably have enough that type of class, that will be required, so that you can take at least one in each of these semesters.</p>
<p>What about the summer? You mentioned only two semesters but many schools will offer 2 summer semesters that go by so fast. Summer classes are great, especially if it is a subject that is challenging for you. They are usually at least twice as long as the regular semester, so you can get some intensive instruction in those classes with a small student teacher ratio.</p>
<p>You might be thinking that a large load of classes is no big deal because you achieved so much more while in high school. You have to understand that it is a whole different world in college, and starting out be being a little easier on yourself is smart.</p>