<p>My D is a math major and enjoys it just fine. And, as noted earlier, many students work 7-10 hours a week.</p>
<p>As for American students, some are more independent, some are more like "princesses." </p>
<p>As for class load, I can only speak directly to the Smith experience. If you were at Smith, being bored and having lots of free time would not be a likely menu option.</p>
<p>Heh, Karen, high school for me was 'weird'. I know kids who used to study all day and night and be like 'ugh, I hate it' for the same courses I took while my life consisted of going to school in the morning, frowning at teachers before lunch cause I hated early mornings, enjoying a couple of classes then spending the last few periods at the lab working/having fun or going home early and doing whatever I like. Initially i'd study a lot then I was like 'meh, I'll need to go over these stuff anyway before exams so why spend time on it now'. :P (Yeah, pretty good crammer.) I did all my homework, assignments in time when I had them and needed to submit them but I was bored and didn't feel upto doing things because although I had harder units, it was getting too monotonous... science and math only. SATs didn't fall there as that wasn't part of the school requirement and to be taken independently. With SAT II -- it was the same stuff as A levels so nothing extra needed. My activities involved work mostly outside school so I didn't stay at school after classes ended. My parents just didn't like having the hassle of sending me to school every morning (they didn't let me travel by myself) and then wait for me till early evening. What's funny is when I was still in 10th grade, everyone was like 'the last two years are going to be hell lot of work, just don't ask, it's horrible'. However, I don't know if it's due to the curriculum change, but it seemed more like the hard work was Grades 8-10 (I loved 10, my teachers were awesome and I was involved in a lot of activities at school too).</p>
<p>In Japan, schoolwork and homework where in loads and there were a lot of stuff going on so it kept me busy but I enjoyed it. I am not exactly a social person so I didn't feel I was too busy with work. Then I'd come home and spend 4 hours watching TV and doing homework simultaneously as I always made sure I met all my deadlines and that my work were complete... while some people will go to school the next morning and try to hurry up and finish stuff... that just wasn't my way of getting things done unless I forgot my homework materials at school/forgot about a deadline.</p>
<p>This is the reason why I couldn't ever think of doing higher studies here... it's just boring, and too much memorizing your books. I wanted to have more variation, a more international environment and broader education. It's not worth it if you're just doing things for getting a degree and you don't enjoy what you're doing at all... hence boredom.</p>
<p>TheDad --- Yeah, been leading a princessy life (although in elementary school when my parents were busy working, I had to stay home alone and look after myself and the house from morning till after midnight). I didn't think there would be kids in America had that type of upbringing too. Here, it's a result of me being an only child and my parents just treating me like a doll after I became a teen as they didn't get to spend much time with me when I was a child.</p>
<p>"As for class load, I can only speak directly to the Smith experience. If you were at Smith, being bored and having lots of free time would not be a likely menu option."</p>
<p>TheDad, based on my daughter's experience thus far, Tsubie will find the same scenario at Mount Holyoke.</p>
<p>I think it varies with people... I mean I know some people who had only three subjects in A levels and where like 'kill me :/' and others who seemed to have enough free time even if they had six subjects and were a member of every ECA club x-x. Some people are so used to doing a lot from a young age that it's just 'meh' to them while for many of us, even the most brilliant of students, it can seem like a lot of work when you put everything together. I just find it odd that while there are many people discouraging me to take more than four courses for my first semester saying four is bad enough even if it's normal... I see others saying 'loads of free time' with that. Maybe it's just the way of approach or about the changes that they have to go through to fit a typical college life in place of their previous high school life... which would vary largely with which country you had been in, what courses you took, your school and your personal life back home.</p>
<p>It's true it will vary, and coming from a stenuous environment like the Japanese school system, you will probably be less challenged than some mohos (or smithies). But just know that college will be different, no matter what your academic preparation. It might not be harder, but it will be more of an adjustment than you think. It is very difficult to explain it, but you will know it when you experience it. </p>
<p>Because of this sort of "intangible" adjustment phase, I think it's a bad idea to start off with too heavy of a load. Plus, you have four years, no need to rush. At Smith you get to drop one class for free your first year, so if you absolutely must take extra credits, see if you can handle it and if it's too much, drop something.</p>
<p>What do you mean by "drop one class for free"? Does it cost money to drop a class or does it just not show up on your transcript?</p>
<p>Doesn't show up on transcript.</p>
<p>I agree with S&P. Those who underestimate the adjustment do so at their own peril and I'm not about to get into an argument trying to convince anyone.</p>
<p>Ice, I would have said so too but realized that I could speak with great certainty to Smith only...my knowledge of MHC is much more hearsay from folks who have taken classes at both, not those who are MHC students per se.</p>
<p>Well stated S&P and TheDad. Perhaps the ONLY exception would be a one credit PE class (Tsubie, there is a physical education requirement at Mount Holyoke) that includes NO academic load at all...just exercise once or twice a week.Be aware that some classes that can be taken for PE credit require papers and other assignments.</p>
<p>By the way, happy Father's Day to TheDad!</p>
<p>Hehe, yeah I've already registered for the P.E credit (although I don't want to be up at that time ~_~).</p>
<p>Actually it does cost money to drop a class. For the first ten days of class you can add or drop courses as much as you want. After that, first years have until pretty close to the end of the semester to drop a class without paying a fee. After your first year, you get one more free drop for the next three years. If you want to drop more than one class, and you've used all your free drops, you have to pay a fee, though it's a pretty small one. If you drop a class, as far as I know, it's expunged from your record regardless of if you use your free drop or not.</p>