College Question

[PrinceofWands]

Seriously, there's a lot of variables.

First, since you say 15-20 is a one class increase I assume you're on the quarter system where a full class is 5 credits. It's harder to take more classes on the quarter system because you have 3-6 fewer weeks of class.

It matters what classes you're taking, and what you're good at. When I take 6-10 classes at a time I make sure it's mostly stuff I'm comfortable with. If I have to take a class I don't like, or don't already know about, I try to lower my credit loads.

Some people work better under pressure, some don't. If you have NO other claims on your time then I think most anyone should be able to handle 5-6 full time classes, even on a quarter system. More than that on quarters is tough though. On semesters most should be able to do 7 or 8.

There's always the differences in profs and workloads though. I only have 4 classes this semester, but more than a couple dozen books and 3 fairly large research projects. I'm also taking one of the hardest professors on campus for my Constitutional Law class.

 

[PrinceofWands]

Originally posted by: chickadee

Originally posted by: falias

Originally posted by: chickadee
Ive taken 19, but because a few were labs and other thigns it worked out to be 8 classes I had been taking. It depends on how good at school you are and the severity of the subjects you are taking...

if you do an even mix of easy classes and hard classes it shudn't be so bad. or if all medium classes, then it might be okay. If you require a lot of study time to learn things and you're taking all really hard classes, then that might not be the best option. Plus the only reason people pile on classes like that is to pick up extra majors or graduate early. Whats more important to you. Getting done early, or being able to have time to go to that random party some night? You'd prolly have to pick one or the other. Otherwise its a waste to pack in all those classes, then go to parties and wind up with C and D averages in everything.

I personally take the max number of credits I can (mainly now because i took a semester off and are a bit behind and because i dont drink or party) and just balance it out with taking one maybe two classes I think I could do easily but are required of me (like the english courses and math) then take one or two medium classes towards like my business degree, then pack in one maybe two courses that would be hard for me - the science classes and my honors/graduate classes.


...And just out of curiosity, what kinda school do you go to where just one more class is worth five credits? What the heck kinda class is that?

University of Washington....I thought 5 cr/class was normal...

:giggles: silly west coast people.

I've been to four seperate schools on the east coast (NJ/NY region), and at every one of them each class is only 3 credits. The only class that counts as 4 is science (3 for class plus 1 for lab). But that 1 measily credit for lab equates to a 3 hour lab sciences on Monday Mornings or Friday afternoons ;/

in which case though, 4 classes seems like a rather light semester at 5 credits a pop.?

It's not all west coast schools. Usually it's the difference between semesters and quarters. I had no idea UoW was on that system though. WSU is semesters and 3 credits for full time. We don't have friday classes, so you go 1 1/2 hours M & W or Tu & Th. Lab classes add a credit for the lab section.

 

[PrinceofWands]

Originally posted by: falias

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: chickadee

:giggles: silly west coast people.

I've been to four seperate schools on the east coast (NJ/NY region), and at every one of them each class is only 3 credits. The only class that counts as 4 is science (3 for class plus 1 for lab). But that 1 measily credit for lab equates to a 3 hour lab sciences on Monday Mornings or Friday afternoons ;/

in which case though, 4 classes seems like a rather light semester at 5 credits a pop.?

I believe the trimester system assigns higher credit values to their courses. This may be his case.

Yes.

How many credits do you need to graduate in general, at lets say a college on the east coast? I'm sure somehow they figure out to being the same if you are comparing them otherwise it just wouldn't be fair.

I transferred from a quarter school to a semester school. A 5 credit quarter class was worth 3 credits. Some transfer at a different rate based on class difficulty and other things though.

Generally speaking:

On semesters
60 = Associates
120 = Bachelors
156 = Masters

On quarters
90 = Associates
185 = Bachelors
I've never seen graduate credit loads on a quarter system.

Just remember that different programs carry different req's though. Education certification in addition to the degree requires about 12+ extra classes (classes, not credits) per endorsement area.

 

[PizzaDude]

oops...see below

 

[PizzaDude]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
I managed either 18 or 19 credit hours every semester, worked 40+ hours a week, commuted 30 minutes each way to school, coached soccer, and had a family. Wasn't that hard, except that I had to get by on 6 or fewer hours of sleep. My grades did not suffer.

The key to college (my #1 advice for all of my students who head to college) is to treat it like a full-time job. Have a class at 8:00, then the next class at 10:00? Here's a clue - the hour from 9-10 is *not* time to watch television. Study. Do homework. Start researching that paper that isn't due for 6 weeks. Take 30 minutes for lunch, and perhaps a couple of 5 minute breaks during the day... there's enough variety that you should survive it just fine without becoming a basket case. You'll actually find that by keeping organized, you seem to have a lot more free time than your friends, especially during the evenings, and more especially, Sunday night. Start your semester off that way... during the first free hour that you have, spend it studying, reviewing the course outlines... even start that paper that's assigned for 2 months away. Why put it off and agonize over it during the week before it's actually due? NEVER miss a class, for any reason except you're knocking on death's door. Missing a 1 hour class = 3 hours of trying to understand what you missed. (Well, for real courses anyway; we all have had those courses where you could show up for the exams and still pass with flying colors.)

Fvck that...

I'm going to have fun at college, thanks.

I'm taking 12 credits a semeser this year(my 4th and final year) and I plan on spending more time having fun than studying.

I also plan on working 15-20 hrs a week.

 

[jmcoreymv]

I've taken 22 units for a few quarters in a row. It was pretty easy, dont be such a girl.

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: SampSon
dont.
unless you're a hardcore ubernerd, then for for it.

 

[Kanalua]

Don't do it. you will regret it, and your grades will suffer. Take 17, 18 if you must...but that extra class (or classes) will really take you over the limit.

 

[Cloud Strife]

I'm taking 17 my first year.

CS - 5
ECON - 3
CALC I - 5
PSY - 4

All classes are 50 minutes each except for psychology, which is 1:30. =\

I'll need 120 credits to graduate. That means I'll need to average at least 15 credits per semester to graduate in 4 years.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: GuideBot
Remember, for each hour you spend in class, you're going to spend at least that much outside of class for the same course.

The estimate I hear is 1.5 hours outside of class for every hour in class, hence 16 hours = 40 hours = a full load.

That varies by personal abilities, personal ambition, and the difficulty of the classes.

I liked having a light load my senior year.

 

[clamum]

Sounds like you could do it... anthropology right? Online at a community college, 200/2000 level? That shouldn't be too bad from the sounds of it.