<p>My estimation is that lab (or big project) courses are almost twice the work of non-lab courses.</p>
<p>Non-lab course work:</p>
<p>Read the book(s).
Go to class.
Do the homework.
Study for tests.</p>
<p>Lab course work:</p>
<p>All of the above as for non-lab courses (unless the course is only lab).
Read the pre-lab notes.
Go to lab.
Write up the lab.
(Though you at least don’t have to study for additional tests.)</p>
<p>So the three courses listed would be almost five courses’ worth of work, since two of them are lab courses. Five or six courses worth of work in a semester is doable if you have reasonable study and time management skills. But it may be a shock to a new student who is used to acing high school courses with little effort.</p>