Taking 10 credits In the Summer Semester

Would it be wise to take 10 credits in the summer (Calculus as well as Physics with a lab)? Do you think ill be able to get A’s? Will I be able to work part time? Would it be too much?

Are they all in the same session? Overlapping sessions? Different sessions? 6 weeks? 5 weeks? 10 weeks? More data please :slight_smile:

Judging by your username and the classes you’ve picked AND your part time job, I’d say yes, it’s too much.

As for whether you can get A’s, my crystal ball is out of order.

If they were NON-overlapping sessions - maybe. It depends on your track record in math and science. Did you talk to your college adviser about this? I normally don’t advise my students to do take calculus or physics in the summer, if it’s a 5 or 6 week session. There just isn’t enough time to absorb all the content. An 8 or 10 week session for just one of the courses may be possible, with a limited amount of part-time work. And who knows about getting the A’s - my crystal ball has also been broken for several years now.

At some schools the summer session is the same material in half the time- this would mean 10 credits are like 20 during the fall/spring sessions. Plus- no breathing room with far fewer weekends to catch your breath, or holiday breaks (Independence day isn’t much). Can you handle 18 credits with a lab course during the regular semesters with ease? Taking one of the courses allows time to focus and immerse yourself in the subject. Even for an A student taking heavy loads during the semester with ease I do not recommend this. Recharge your battery, enjoy the season before hitting the books hard in the fall.

Oh, and forget working if you intend to be a full-plus time student. Forget enjoying your evenings and weekends. Those credits could be 25 more or less in class hours plus the homework/studying.

Have a life. Ten years from now you will never regret some things but likely will regret never taking the time to enjoy opportunities available then and not later. Don’t be in too much of a hurry to finish school.

It is a 10 week session and physics would be in MW while calc would be TH and H for lab do you think its possible without a job? I can always extend my time to another semester but i would be off track… would that be more realistic to do?

Meh, schools on quarters do it in 10 weeks. No job for you though.

One of my kids took three sessions of Ochem in the summer. She said it was the worst summer of her life. And no, she didn’t get A’s. She was only able to,work 4 hours a week…Saturday mornings.

Why do you need to take summer courses?

Or social life. Yes, it can be done, but it will be at the expense of just about everything else.

Been there. Done that.

If you need the courses, take them, but skip the summer job, and don’t plan on doing much else other than studying 24/7.

Thank you everyone for you reply! I just posted a new thread about my schedule and would appreciate it if you would help. Thank in advanced to anyone who does! http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/1843850-help-me-with-my-schedule.html?new=1

It’s great to make some academic progress in the summer, but this sounds like way too much. If you aren’t mentally and physically exhausted at the end of the summer, you will likely find yourself running on fumes early in the fall semester without having taken some measure of “recharge” time in the summer.

My roommate did it. Calc 2, Phys, Chem. Got F’s in all three. GPA reported .as .000 :slight_smile:

Think about it. Look at the responses you already received. None tell you it’s a great idea. Make a list of the pros and cons. Trying to get the answer you want doesn’t make it a good decision to attempt so much with NO time for other things and likely not enough time for the plan. I do not care what the schedule may be- already know it is too much.

My DD took 13 credits this past summer and did very well in the summer and fall semesters. A few observations: DD is a very high energy person. She did not work a summer job and made sure she had really good professors. She took one Maymester, one Summer 1, one Summer 2, and an online elective that took place over Summer 1 and 2. She took Econ, Stat, and Accounting . The elective was a liberal arts course. DD is very good with time management. She has two very different majors and may make her minor a third. She’s an unusual and very focused student. She would not do it again, but it worked for her.
Perhaps 6 or 7 credits over the summer may work better. If one is working, 10 credits would be very tough. I would suggest mixing an easier course with a harder one.
As a side note, we asked our DD on several occasions to consider dropping a course if it became too much.
Good luck!