Taking 19 credits first semester

<p>As my topic title states, I signed up for 19 credits, which is the maximum per semester, at my school. I decided to not take any mathematics/science classes because I do better when I do not combine my studies with different sorts of subjects, so I am taking those classes next semester. Most of these classes are nearly all humanities/social science classes like intro to psych, intro to linguistics, two english classes (one being honors), intro to sociology, and a language. I was thinking about just keeping this for now and drop my linguistics or soc class if I don't like one of them, which would then bring me down to 16 credits. I also plan on taking 15-16 for next semester. What's your thought on this? 19 credits in all humanities/social science class do-able with a good gpa (3.5+)? Honestly, i'm not too scared; I love humanities and social sciences, but everyone who I talked to said to take 16 credits instead, so i'm putting some second thoughts on my dilemma. My schedule is also well-planned; everything is distributed evenly. Have you taken 19 credits? Is it do-able?</p>

<p>19 sounds crazy! But I know someone who was able to do 19 credits with good grades. I guess it just depends on your work ethics and interests in your classes, but since you planned it out well with your own interests, it may not be too bad. Just take them and drop one if it doesn’t appeal to you. Good Luck!</p>

<p>I’ve taken 18, but that didn’t work out to well. It took my schol forever to get me my financial aid money (Didn’t get it till the 8th week of school) so I had to drop 1 class and a lab. So that left me with 14 in my first semester and I took 12 my second. I’m working on my schedule for this year now. Currently I have 12 credits. I found 2 other classes that I could take that i’d find interesting, that would give me 18 hours again.</p>

<p>What is your intended major?</p>

<p>Note that if math and science courses typically have chains of prerequisites, so if your intended major depends on them, you may need to start taking them early.</p>

<p>As an entering student, you may not know how well the credit values correspond to workload. They are supposed to be proportional, but often are not. Science with lab, art studio, music performance, and computer science with programming courses are often more work than their credit values indicate. Courses with large term projects can also be more work.</p>

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<p>If you took only 26 credits first year, then you are 4 credits behind the normal schedule if you did not come in with AP or other credit. If you need financial aid, check to see what happens if you have to take an additional semester to graduate. If that is a problem, be sure to “make up” those 4 credits over your remaining semesters.</p>

<p>LOL I came in with AP credits</p>

<p>It really depends on the person. I took a lot of humanities courses (Anth, Soc, Comparative World Religions, Honors English, something else and math) my first year of college and it was great. There was a lot of assigned reading to do and papers to write, but it was the easiest semester I’ve had by far. The classes – with the exception of Soc-- were all interesting and I actually like writing papers so it was great and I finished with a 4.0. It’s definitely doable. I didn’t have 19 credits (16?), but just be prepared to read a lot.</p>

<p>19 may not be as hard without technical courses. I’m taking 14 in one quarter, which is how much my school prescribes, but I’m taking calculus, chem, and engineering orientation. So I was thinking of adding another course, but that would be too much work and some killer Thursdays. Your workload totally depends on the nature and breadth of the course. If you are taking introductory humanities classes, your 19 may be pretty easy.</p>

<p>I took 19 units my first semester, too. Had a 4.0 GPA–I was taking Music Theory, Int. Algebra (I would’ve loved to be in Trigonometry, but the placement exam placed me into that course. Oh well, it was an easy A since I already knew everything covered in the class due to taking it before in high school), Writing, and Japanese. </p>

<p>I also took 19 units in my 2nd semester and almost had a 4.0…except my C in Chemistry killed it. D:</p>

<p>@ucbalumnus,</p>

<p>I’m currently an English major, but I was thinking about double majoring so i’ve been dabbling at some intro classes in the liberal arts.</p>

<p>Edit: To others,</p>

<p>As mentioned, a pretty much all of these are humanities/social sciences, which I find pretty easy. Thanks for all the responses, though. I’ll keep it like this and go to class the first week; if I don’t like one, i’ll drop it, which will keep me at a nice 16 credit balance.</p>

<p>I am also taking 19 credits. Honestly, I don’t think it is too bad and if it really is too much you can always drop a class.</p>