<p>I'm about to go to my advising session to pick my classes for next semester. As a music education major, I'm expected to take quite a lot of classes to fulfill my requirements, and many students don't graduate in four years. To avoid this, I want to pick up extra credit hours so I can graduate on time. How much would be too much? I'm leaning towards taking 19-20</p>
<p>20 is a very full load. It would really depend on how much practice time/reading time you need and would depend on your courses.</p>
<p>Upperclassmen, instructors and people in your department are best situated to advise you. You should be making relationships with them anyway. Ask them. Good luck. But I agree that 19-20 seems like the formula for a middling GPA and sleep deprivation.</p>
<p>What classes would you take?
A full load would be 15-16. Taking 18 would be a maximum, unless your university is easy and the extra twos are things like physical education and freshman seminar (as: getting along with your roommate, using office hours, using the library, etc - not the “interdiciplinary, in-depth study” freshman seminars).</p>
<p>If your school is anything like Ds, lots of music courses are 1 credit hour but take lots of time since they involve performance, rehearsal, etc. If this is case don’t overwhelm yourself. Look at classes you have to take and see if you can do some electives or general requirement classes over the summer to graduate in 4 years.</p>
<p>I’d talk to your advisor in the music department and work to set a schedule that will allow you to graduate on time. If you don’t have an advisor start with a professor.</p>