<p>Yale requires that you take 5 courses every other semester to meet the 36 course requirement. Can anyone tell me if this is really tough to do? I'm asking both about workload and just the mechanics of scheduling. I ask because when I look at the course descriptions and the times the courses meet, it seems really hard to fit 5 classes in. Thanks.</p>
<p>It's not. I'd recommend taking only four courses first semester of your freshman year to acclimate. Five isn't so bad. Remember, you don't have class every day like in high school. I'd also take four courses both semesters senior year so you have plenty of time to work on your senior project/essay, apply to grad school/look for jobs, and party.</p>
<p>As for scheduling, there should be at least dozens of classes that appeal to you every semester, so you should be able to make something work. Many classes are offered year after year, so if something doesn't fit into your schedule one year you can take it the next.</p>
<p>For a number of people, the biggest scheduling issue involves creating a schedule where you have no classes on Friday.</p>
<p>My daughter's experience has always been that there are too many interesting classes to fit into five slots. You do have to be careful to balance your load a bit for the semesters where you take 5 courses so you're not burried, but it's not hard to do at all. Sometimes the classes you really want to take meet at the same time - that can be frustrating, but AA is right, you can take the course the next year if it conflicts with another.
Some of the really crazy Yalies take 6 courses during a semester! (And then they wonder why they don't get As in all of them :)
Fortunately, my D hasn't tried that one yet. The kids do work hard at Yale.</p>
<p>Technically I'm taking 6 courses this semester (first semester of my freshman year) since lab for chemistry is counted and graded as a separate course. I'm also taking freshman organic chem, which is really hard. My courses are worth 5.5 credits and they're all pretty interesting. I've had a tough time this semester balancing everything and dealing with the workload, but part of that is due to the fact that I have been inefficient/disorganized. If I were more organized, I'm sure I would not be as stressed or overwhelmed right now. However, I would not recommend this kind of courseload to anybody else their freshman year. I have been able to enjoy my semester and to go out most weekends. Still, the stress and anxiety is always there. Again, if you are a very organized person, it's manageable, but you also have to keep in mind extracurriculars (if you want to do them).</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses. Now throw a varsity sport into the mix, do you think it is still manageable?</p>
<p>My three roommates were all varsity athletes. I won't say it was easy, but it was absolutely manageable. While they had to organize their time wisely, they were able to play their sport, succeed academically, and have a good social life.</p>