<p>I read somewhere on here that Reedies only take 3 classes per semester. I'm really interested in Reed, but that would be a real deal-breaker for me, because as someone with such a range of academic interests, I want to take as many classes as possible to explore different topics. So is that true? And if so, does anybody at Reed take 4 classes per semester, or is that just completely ridiculous given the workload? Keeping in mind that I also want time to participate in extracurriculars, particularly theatre, which is quite time-consuming.</p>
<p>No, it is not true.</p>
<p>You can normally take up to 4.5 units’ worth of classes per semester, which in reality amounts to four classes (one class is usually worth one unit), or four classes and a seminar, or three classes and three seminars, or four regular classes and one reduced-credit class (you submit less assignments than the rest of the students and get half the credit), or something similar.</p>
<p>Most people prefer not to take four classes at once because it can be difficult to do well in all of them. Your advisor may try to discourage you from taking four classes in your first semester at Reed for that reason, but that will ultimately be your decision.</p>
<p>You can also petition to overload and take five (or even more) classes at once, but that option will only become available to you when you are a sophomore, and your GPA will have to be above 3.0 (or 3.3, I’m not sure). You will also have to come up with a good argument for doing that.</p>
<p>I have been overloading for two semesters straight now and it is doable. You need to be very good at time-managing and very invested in your studies, though. Most Reedies don’t believe it is a good idea as it tends to eat up your life.</p>
<p>What’s the difference between a class and a seminar? Thanks for the thorough reply!</p>
<p>Hi there! The difference between a class and a seminar is the number of hours you spend in class. But that’s also different depending on whether it’s a science/art class or not. So:</p>
<p>NON-SCIENCE:
CLASS: Meets for 3 hours a week (not necessarily all at once, can be broken up) [1 unit]
SEMINAR: Meets for 1.5 hours (generally an upper-level conference) [0.5 unit]</p>
<p>SCIENCE AND STUDIO ART
CLASS: Meets for 6 hours (divided up into lecture, conference, and/or lab components) [1 unit]
SEMINAR: Meets for 3 hours (generally an upper-level conference) [0.5 unit]</p>
<p>So for science classes, you’re spending a lot more time physically in class. But non-science classes generally have a lot more reading, so I think it balances out.</p>
<p>OVERLOADING, OR: A PERHAPS ENTIRELY UNINTERESTING NARRATIVE OF MY SEMESTERS AT REED
My freshman year I did 4 classes both semesters, and then tacked on a French class in the spring as an audit. That wasn’t for credit, but it meant I was practicing French, and the arrangement is something you work out with the professor. Usually it entails doing all of the reading (always, actually) and presentations, only not the long-form essays. Then my sophomore year I overloaded with 5 classes, and was fine–and for the spring they were all upper-level literature classes. My junior year, when I got back from Paris in the spring, I only took 3 classes, and didn’t feel like it was enough work. I felt like I was slacking off, actually. Senior year was 4.5 in the fall, although two of those were art classes (which means 6 hours class each) and one was a seminar. Now, in the spring, I’m taking 3 classes, since my thesis counts as 1 class. And it’s great, because all I want to do is work on my thesis.</p>
<p>Hope that was insightful and not just rambling.</p>
<p>Do you do any extracurriculars? And did you still feel that you had enough time to devote to them when overloading with 5 classes? This is all great info, thanks. =)</p>
<p>Note also that the minimum of 28 units to graduate means an average of 3.5 units per semester.</p>
<p>^ WRONG! </p>
<p>“The minimum credit required for graduation following a four- or five-year program of study is 30 units of academic work plus six quarters of physical education.”</p>
<p>See Credit Requirements:
[Reed</a> College | Catalog](<a href=“http://www.reed.edu/catalog/edu_program.html]Reed”>The Educational Program - Catalog - Reed College)</p>
<p>The idea behind 30 units as a minimum is: 7 units freshman year (Humanities 110 - 3 units) plus 4 per semester until final semester senior year where 3 units is advisable due to the senior thesis requirement.</p>
<p>Only a few departments offer 0.5 unit courses. All study abroad programs are awarded 3.5 units per semester.</p>
<p><a href=“http://web.reed.edu/registrar/pdfs/sched_12-13.pdf[/url]”>http://web.reed.edu/registrar/pdfs/sched_12-13.pdf</a></p>
<p>Note that some PE courses like rowing, sailing, hiking and skiing involve travel off campus and are more time consuming.</p>
<p>Thanks for the correction! :)</p>