Is it stupid to take 21 credits as an international freshman ?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Vanderbilt University
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<p>Is it stupid to take 21 credits as an international freshman ? Or is it possible?</p>

<p>I have no experience in choosing courses...</p>

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<p>[Overload/Underload</a> | College of Arts and Science | Vanderbilt University](<a href=“http://as.vanderbilt.edu/registrar/academicpolicies/overloadunderload/]Overload/Underload”>http://as.vanderbilt.edu/registrar/academicpolicies/overloadunderload/)

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<p>So you’ll pay extra to go over 18 hours. Although, this is from the A&S site, so if you’re in one of the other schools, you might not have to pay extra, but I’d bet the policy is the same.</p>

<p>As for how manageable that is, I suppose that depends on what you’re taking, but probably not… or at least not while still balancing social life first semester, getting used to college, etc. I’d say any current student is going to advise strongly against that many hours for the first semester.</p>

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<p>Don’t do that unless there is some really overwhelming reason why it must be done. You will be frantic, you probably will not do as well, and you will have little time to enjoy what Vanderbilt has to offer outside the classroom.</p>

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<p>so what about 18 credits?</p>

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<p>You don’t want to crash and burn your gpa in your first semester.
Don’t underestimate how much time you will need to do homework, readings and supplementals.
Plus the lure of socializing, hanging out and freedom from your parents can take a toll on your intentions for studying on weekends and evenings.
Take a lighter load and if you have extra time join clubs, exercise, enjoy campus life.
It’s about adjusting to your new life and balance.
Good luck.</p>

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<p>I was a freshman last year, valedictorian, 36 on the ACT, all that stuff. Anyways, I took 15 credit hours my first semester, and I was really surprised by how much work it was. It most likely depends on the major of course, but really, unless you are a real stickler for schedules and wasting almost no time, I would advise you not to take over 16 credit hours. Of course, if you really think you can handle it, go right ahead. The first 3 weeks will be fine, but when tests start cropping up, and you have 3 tests on the same day (Always happens, trust me), you’ll be in a pinch.</p>

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<p>listen to anotherazn</p>

<p>EVERYONE in your class was an honors student and has ambition and organization skills. There is no “bottom” quartile you can outperform. Success at Vanderbilt comes from making smart shrewd use of your time and thinking a year ahead at a time. You will have an academic advisor who can help you think clearly. You will have an upperclassman assigned to be around your first term. You will have RAs on your halls. Listen to them. Both of my honors students at Duke and Vanderbilt had to drop a course and it cost us money and was a headache although I can’t regret that they each found their “limits”. One partied too much the year he also went Greek and couldn’t figure out that he had to get to Breakfast at 8am and had to work Duke like it was a full time paying job just to get a B average till he was a sophomore…the other one over scheduled in his extra curricular attendances in many many activities and failed to study during the brightest part of his days when his mind was in top form. Studying from midnight till 3am usually backfires. All lessons learned but if you take advice from your fellow honors students…you will come out ahead. Grades matter. Ambition and determination matters. Common sense always matters. Applications for work and internships expect you to also speak to your life outside the classroom. Make sure you make time for friendship, downtime, lost weekends, and truly contributing in at least one way to the Vanderbilt community. My son spends a great deal of time on his outside of class contributions and this has in fact helped him more than it hurt him. Everyone is different but 21 hours is in the “silly” category. Try acing your 15 hours and ace your social growth and friendship growth…and getting 7 hours of sleep a night and some exercise.<br>
congrats on your admission. happy for you</p>

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<p>So if I drop a class to level it down to 16 credits, what happens (financial aid, costs, transcript)?</p>

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<p>16 credits is full-time, so you should not lose any financial aid at all. Your costs will be the full-time student cost. Your transcript will indicate you are enrolled full-time.</p>