How Many Credits is Too Many?

<p>Ok, so I registered for classes by mail a couple weeks ago. The packet I got said that most freshmen take around 15 credits, and I had signed up for 17 (because of a couple 1 credit seminars). However, I misread the form and put alternatives for a class that didn't need them. So, the councilor thought that I wanted to take an extra class and is scheduling one of the alternatives as an actual class. Now, I'm up to 20 credits! The only thing is, I really like all the alternatives I chose and would love to take the class. I'm just not sure if I'll be overwhelmed. Should I take the class anyways, or drop it and take it later?</p>

<p>If you feel you’ll be overwhelmed, take it later.</p>

<p>first time in college i guess, the answer is yes</p>

<p>drop 6 credits or 5</p>

<p>dont underestimate a 1credit course</p>

<p>Well, you usually have several weeks to decide whether or not to drop the course, attend the class for a week or two and decide how you feel. If it’s too much, drop the class. If you think you can handle it, keep going.</p>

<p>its ok…
I know people who do 30 credits a term…</p>

<p>Holy hell. I’d die. </p>

<p>Wait, that’s not thirty credits in like…Papier Mache Creations of the Romantic Era 101, or Women’s studies, is it?</p>

<p>many people would say along the lines of not suggesting taking more than 15 credits for a freshman. that’s because you really want to have a social life and adapt to the college life during your first year/semester.</p>

<p>but in the end, it’s your choice of choosing it. =)</p>

<p>I found that I can go over the recommended course load but I will get less out of every single class because I only do what’s absolutely necessary. When I take fewer classes I have more time to engage with the material in each one and I will retain much more once the semester is over.</p>

<p>Otherwise I second PlattsburghLoser. Attend the classes for a week or two, see which classes you are the most interested in and how many you can handle, and then decide which classes to drop. Most colleges will let you drop classes shortly into the semester without a penalty.</p>

<p>im taking 18 hours this year as a entering freshman (one of them is a community service thing that will end before the school year really kicks off) and the program we used to register for classes would not let me take anymore than 18, although im really only taking 17 cuz i wanted to add a 1 credit honors seminar about Freakonomics.</p>

<p>

I am taking higher end maths/physics courses with ~30 creds per term.(~200% normal rate)</p>

<p>It is certainly not impossible to do, just not for everyone maybe. It all depends on who you are, some are working their ass of barely making 15 and others thinks that 15 is like a breeze.</p>

<p>I took 16 my first semester of freshmen year and 18 second semester. I had plenty of time with the 16 to do everything. Second semester I got a job, and worked a lot of hours, which made a time crunch. But with a job, 18 seemed very doable to me.</p>

<p>what major, what university …it all factors in greatly</p>

<p>Thanks everyone for your help. I emailed the school and asked to drop the extra class. There’s too much I want to do my first semester to worry about taking too many classes.</p>

<p>edit…</p>

<p>I’m an entering freshman and I’m taking 17 my first semester because I’ve literally got no choice. The only thing I got to choose was whether I wanted to take Western Civilization or World Civilization.</p>

<p>If you have no experience with college courses, start out with at most 18 credits. Then, if you are comfortable, take more. </p>

<p>I started with 18 credits and am now consistently taking 22+ (some semesters of 25+), with work, research, and volunteering. It is not very hard, but occasionally I come across a class that I have trouble with, but I feel like I would have done the same even if I had more time.</p>

<p>As an entering freshmen, I’m doing 16 for my first semester due to me having to work throughout college, but I’m pretty sure I’ll have no problem moving up in credits next year, but I chose to adjust before testing my limits, but I sure love my schedule. ;)</p>

<p>as a freshman, i took 19 credits first semester and 20 the second. it really isn’t that much, im planning to take 42 credits this year, and i am a double major.</p>

<p>As a freshman I only took 12 semester credits (reeeeeally crappy registration date, the only classes left were things like Advanced Korean and Pastry Making). In retrospect, I’m kind of glad I took so few because I really learned a lot about adjusting to college. I ended up with a 4.0 for the semester, so I think it was worth it:)</p>