Take it easy first quarter college or make it hard?

[Syringer]

I'm currently signed up for 18 units for my first quarter this fall..and figured it'd be good to make things hard for myself to start with, then subsequent quarters seem somewhat easier.

But do you guys think that's a bad idea, and that I should just take it easy and just adjust on my own with each passing quarter? That would mean taking just 3 classes and 13 units.

I feel it'd be better to just jump in the cold pool rather than dip your toe in it, but from your guys' experience is that a good idea?

 

[Ns1]

what kinda classes are you taking?

i'd say take it chill, concentrate on your core with 1-2 major classes that way if you decide to change you won't lose to much time

more party less school

that's what years 2-5 are for

 

[notfred]

What classes are you signed up for?

 

[IcemanJer]

you wanna give yourself some time to adjust to he college life (ie. partying ). I'd say take it easy, start off with a high GPA.. it's easier to maintain than to increase.

 

[brtspears2]

I suggest going for it. I started out with 13 units, got lazy for the next 2 yrs. Get your mind into college mode quickly, it's totally different from high school.

 

[aphex]

Why not go a middle route, 14-15-16 credits....

Get the best of both worlds....

Once i got the hang of college, my best semesters were those with 15-16 credits, not those with 12-13

 

[optoman]

I started off hard and it was horrible. Go with the easier class load the first semester to get a foot hold. You can always take a class during the summer at a different school if you need to catch up on classes.

 

[dullard]

I know people who consistantly had low grades during their first part of middle school, high school, and not-surprisingly college. Then their grades resumed to their normal high levels. These people just need a bit of time adjusting to the new atmosphere. If you are one of those people, cut back a bit at the start.

But for the rest of the people, I'd say go all out. Your freshman year will be so much easier than the rest (for most majors). Often your freshman year will be simply a repeat of highschool. For example all of my calculus, physics, and chemistry was an exact duplicate - so it was more of a refresher. So if you can handle it, take as much as you can for your freshman year so you have fewer courses to worry about when you actually get to the tough courses in your junior year.

 

[Syringer]

Originally posted by: notfred
What classes are you signed up for?

The classes aren't too bad actually..

Linear Algebra
Microeconomics
Human Evolution
Southeast Asian Studies (intro)

If I'm going to drop a class it'll probably be Human Evolution..

 

[optoman]

Originally posted by: Syringer

Originally posted by: notfred
What classes are you signed up for?

The classes aren't too bad actually..

Linear Algebra
Microeconomics
Human Evolution
Southeast Asian Studies (intro)

If I'm going to drop a class it'll probably be Human Evolution..

That is not a bad class load. I would have to say to not drop any of those classes. I ended up taking 3 science/math classes and only one easy class in the humanities. You might have 2 classes, algebra and economics that might be a little hard but the other two should be sleepers. Stick with the 4 classes and remember to wrap the little rascal. Cheers

:beer:

 

[KEV1N]

Are you living in the dorms? I recommend taking a light course load (3 courses). First of all, in the dorms you will not be able to study (solution: go to the library). Second of all, you will have to deal with the shock of "instant freedom" and the overload of social interaction that comes with moving away from home to essentially enter a bubble with thousands of 18-2osomethings. However if you're living at home, take a lot of classes.

 

[TuxDave]

I say start off like a upside down parabola. Start off with 15 or so credits. That way you get used to the lecture enviroment, the midterm styles of the professors and the horrible final schedule that you're most likely gonna end up with. Then start revving up by the end of sophomore year into junior year. Once you hit senior year, slacker heaven....

 

[arod]

Take the first semester easy.... so you give yourself time to adjust to college life... I can tell you now there is a ton more studying involved in College than there was in High School... and the partying doesnt help.

 

[miri]

The only reason I think to take it easy the first semester is if you wanted to join a fraternity/sorority

 

[lchyi]

Don't take it easy first quarter it'll be harder for you in the future. Trust me, if you got into college, you can comfortably take 16-18 units a quarter and still have a lot of downtime. It's all how you manage your time. Just consistently fill your quarters up with as many units as you can handle, the class you don't take this quarter you're gonna have to stuff in next quarter anyway right?

 

[thebestMAX]

My advise and what I did first semester with Chemistry, Zoo, Comp Anat and Algebra.

Light load but hit it hard. Find out what it takes to make it in your school.

Of course I was out of High School for over 12 years when I went back to College.

 

[radioouman]

I hit is hard the first semester (Chem, Calc, Microecon, Western Civilization, and something else...) and it hit me hard back. I like the idea of taking a bunch of easier classes the first quarter, so you have to get used to managing all of those classes, but not enough to kill you.

I did better when I took about 16-17 hours of class than I did with more than that or less than that. It's all about managing time wisely.