<p>I'm going into my university with 24 college credits and, if all goes well this coming May, a total of 33 college credits through AP credit. I'm looking into either chemical engineering or industrial engineering. I need a total of 138 credits to graduate with a chemical engineering degree. My goal is chemical engineering. </p>
<p>I've looked through my university's suggested four year plan and I've seen there are about one or two classes that are electives each semester so I was thinking I could just not take those classes and let my AP credit take care of those. My problems come up with my STEM courses. </p>
<p>Chem I and Calc I and II will be 'crossed off'. Physics B is not the equivalent to Physics I so I'm not worried about physics. I'm confident in my chemistry skills so I was hoping to hop into Chem II first semester. I am not confident in my calculus skills and know that hopping into Calc III would be disastrous. </p>
<p>My question is would I really be missing out by skipping Chem I and Calc I? I'm stripping down my courses so I'd be only having about 12 credits a semester. I want my course load to be as light as possible! I won't be working, but hopefully after a semester/year or two I'll get into some internships. (I'm looking into a research program for my second semester.)</p>
<p>Any suggestions to knock out any more classes in the long run?</p>
<p>If you think you’re not confident about a subject, you’re pretty much right. Anything you have doubts about skipping should not be skipped. Not much to discuss there.</p>
<p>As for the classes you do feel confident about skipping, you really just have to be honest with yourself about them. Do you know the material well enough that taking it again would just be a waste of your time? If no, take it again. If it’s close, try brushing up on that material on your own. If you’re pretty sure you can handle what comes next, you should do alright.</p>
<p>Internships are for the summer, mostly. Take a reasonable schedule and use your summers for internships. Don’t do a light course load this early - save it for the more difficult semesters (junior year).</p>
<p>^^ Ditto</p>
<p>You can still take the usual 15 credits during Freshman and Sophomore years and cruuuuuuuuise the last 2 years. The extra time not only helps you dedicate more time to the junior/senior courses, it allows you to conduct job interviews during your senior year more freely.</p>
<p>Thanks, guys!</p>
<p>Neo, are there still internships in the fall and spring? I’m saving my summers for study abroad. </p>
<p>GLOBAL, I like the idea of packing on the credits earlier on. I’ll look into the four year plan and see what I can switch around.</p>
<p>For courses that are important prerequisites of other courses*, find the course numbers for the courses you are allowed to skip at your university.</p>
<p>Put “[course number] final exam” into your university’s search box. If any final exams come up, use them to assess your knowledge of the course material that the university courses include.</p>
<p>If you have small gaps in your knowledge, you may want to self-study them. If you have large gaps in your knowledge, you may want to retake the course.</p>
<p>Note that starting in a math course more advanced than calculus 1 can allow you to start the physics sequence earlier, potentially easing the schedule pressure later on.</p>
<p>*This typically means math and physics generally for engineering majors; it also typically means chemistry for chemical engineering majors.</p>