Is this too many classes for a summer semester? The semester lasts 9 weeks. I’ve already registered for 9 credits (3 classes):
Public Speaking - 3 c.h.
American Government - 3 c.h.
Spanish 2 (online) - 3 c.h.
I don’t know if the online class makes a difference; I’ve heard they’re about the same workload as a traditional setting. I’m just really needing to catch up, because I didn’t take many classes over the fall and spring (I’m a freshman) and I’m really wanting to get my Associates by next spring. I just don’t want to be completely overwhelmed over the summer, especially because I’m particularly nervous about taking public speaking.
This sort of post occurs quite frequently on this forum, but nobody can answer your question because we don’t know you. A 3-course load would be quite reasonable for a student who has previously earned good grades without spending excessive amounts of time studying, and who does not have too many outside responsibilities. On the other hand, such a load would be highly inadvisable for a student who has not earned good grades without studying all the time, and who has many outside responsibilities (family, friends, social, job, etc.).
If you have easily handled a full semester load in the past, earned high grades, are not simultaneously committed to a significant number of employment hours, and don’t have unavoidable family/friends responsibilities, then you should be able to handle such a load in the Summer.
I took 12 credits one summer, split into two 5-week sessions. It was too much because one of the courses was a literature class and involved too much reading. Mark Twain. Volumes. It also became not enjoyable because I just didn’t want to read one more page.
It really depends on the person. For me three would have been too much. Do you normally get at least B grades or higher? If not I would say it’s too much.
How many courses did you take during the fall and spring? 3 classes in the summer would definitely be comparable to a full-time normal semester. At my CC’s we would usually cover 1 chapter of the textbook per week, so things move at a very pleasant pace. During the summer, you’ll likely need to do 2-3 chapters per week instead, so lots of reading! It’s definitely easier than the 5 week winter session I did once. I took 9 units during that semester and it was wayyy to much for me to handle. I even missed the deadline to submit my final for my online health class, but luckily the professor was willing to work with me. The only class that concerns me is Spanish. Like a math or science course, foreign languages require a lot of practice and study time. If you’re not planning to work, this workload should be more than doable. Just test the waters and see if you can handle it. And remember, the drop deadlines are typically quite different for summer classes, so make note of that Good luck with the summer courses. They can be quite fun and the class sizes are sometimes smaller than usual.
Personally, I would say that 3 summer classes at a community college is not a lot at all. Especially, considering that you are not taking taking difficult classes. For instance, Public Speaking should be super easy and barely any work.
Last summer, I took 3 classes (government, history, and computer), and that wasn’t tough for me at all.
I am taking 5 classes this summer (14 credits). A friend of mine is also taking 5 classes (but his are worth 18 credits in total). So, honestly, I would say that you should be good with 3 summer classes!
I think those 3 courses will be fine. Public speaking is a great choice, I wish I could’ve done that last summer instead of taking it the whole semester. Same as American Government, it should be fine. I don’t know about Spanish 2 since it is fast paced.
Normally 2 courses in a 6 week summer session is considered a full load.
3 courses in a 9 week session should be equivalent to that, so I’d guess you are fine.
When a student tries to register for more than 2 summer classes in the SJCC/EVC portal, they get an error message that they need to get special permission to overload. If you can register freely, that is further validation that 3 classes is normal for the session you’re doing.
Good luck with the summer courses. They can be quite fun and the class sizes are sometimes smaller than usual.