am a freshmen and i took 4 courses for fall and i'm dying.....its to much work.... so i was just wondering if i didn't take my elective next semester will that be a problem?
p.s this might be a stupid question but i have no one(with a clue) to ask this,
2006-10-31 12:48:52 · 13 answers · asked by blueberry 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
Yes it is ok. Better than burning out your first year. Pace yourself. Learn to balance your courses between hard and easy. Get extensions if you need to. Play it smart. Don't try to be an over achiever, just focus on doing good work without killing yourself in the process.
2006-10-31 12:51:30 · answer #1 · answered by Isis 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It might help to know that the first semester is always a burnout and I would never advise anyone to take 4 courses. You are getting use to a different pace and there is not as much nuturing and classes are much more difficult than when you were in high school. In addition, everyone looks like they know exactly what they're doing and you will feel you have no clue whatsoever. Believe me, your next semester and subsequent ones will be better. You will have learned the school and what is expected of you and know you strentghs and weaknesses and plan accordingly.
If you feel you need some down time one semester, there are several ways to do it. Take a couple of courses for the semester and then take a couple during the summer at a local college, or do the same (a couple each semester) and then take a heavy load the next two semesters. That's one way of lowering the cost of your education too. If you take over 16 credits per semester at some colleges, any classes beyond that are free. When in college, I looked and felt like hell the first semester (took too many classes like you), felt better the second, took 20 credits the next two, then16 average the following year. That way, for my senior year, I had only 12 to take that fall and 10 my last semester. I did my senior thesis, took an ungraded option course because my GPA was quite good and I only needed the credits and a 2 credit course that was playtime for me (ornithology). I was able to relax my senior semester. Plan it out and stick to what you're going to do and it will work out for you.
By the way, I have to say that I commuted to school so there wasn't that constraint of with having to maintain a certain amount of credits. Also, best advice? Get a good advisor!
2006-10-31 17:56:03 · answer #2 · answered by gwyneth03 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Are you getting financial aid for being a full-time student? If yes, nine credits might impact the amount of money received, since twelve is usually considered full-time.
Is there something you might enjoy, i.e. a course on health, yoga, etc.? How about a time management course? Find something easy to give yourself some breathing room if you need twelve credits.
Your first semester can be difficult and challenging. Try to stay ahead of the homework, so you do not get too stressed.
2006-10-31 13:08:18 · answer #3 · answered by Kathy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best advice anyone can give you is to talk to your advisor. But as a Freshman the courses aren't going to get any easier. If you're working, that's why you're stressed out. But it's not the quanity of courses that cause the problems. It's the level of difficulty of the courses themselves.
You have to very careful scheduling. But you shouldn't be hitting real dangerous courses (depeding on your major) till your Junior year.
The other responders are correct. It's take a long time tor graduate if you're taking 3 courses a semester.
2006-10-31 13:02:32 · answer #4 · answered by dtshaff 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well at my university, that was NOT considered "full time student"...in fact, 12 semester hours (4 courses) was the bottom limit for "full time student"...
And you might lose financial aid, scholarships, etc. if youre not fulltime....AND it'll take longer to graduate. Nobody can talk to you in the registar's office? You don't have an advisor?
Ok, good luck kiddo, I've been there and done that. If you take the smaller load next semester, you'll just have to take more classes down the road in a semester to graduate on time.
2006-10-31 12:51:54 · answer #5 · answered by Munya Says: DUH! 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Ask your advisor. Your school will have a minimum credit load to still be considered a full-time student (often, you can't live on campus if you're not full-time) - you probably don't want to fall below that. Consider taking an easy course - my acting class I took senior year was basically 'group therapy' twice a week. Ask around for some easy courses to take the load off.
2006-10-31 13:32:59 · answer #6 · answered by eri 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You could ask your college counselor. Usually, a person has to take 12 semester hours (4 classes) to be considered full-time, and be qualified for government aid, to be allowed to live on-campus, etc. If these things do not matter, then go at your own pace. To do well is more important than to adhere to some schedule.
2006-10-31 12:53:09 · answer #7 · answered by mistrhistre 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Your college counselor should work with you to answer the question specifically to you. Also, you may talk to a teacher you feel comfortable with and have them guide you a little. Three classes is just fine. Good luck in your college career.
2006-10-31 13:59:07 · answer #8 · answered by tiafromtijuana 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ask an advisor, they can tell you everything. I could if I knew all about your situation, but I dont. I took three classes spring of my freshman year and nobody died, but still.
2006-10-31 12:57:40 · answer #9 · answered by Amilucky0707 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I thought four classes was pretty standard. At least that's what I took when I was a freshman.
2006-10-31 12:50:36 · answer #10 · answered by bill_the_cockroach 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋