Given a set of classes for 1 semester, how can you find the asolute max. that can be taken together?

Question

What I mean is, if you have a list of say, 300 classes, and you have the days and times that they must be attended, how can you find the combination of them that allows the most classes to be taken?

No classes should be given higher priority over others. No conditions apply except those given (very few). No, I am not looking for school advice.

I am guessing this would require some brute force solving with a computer, if anyone knows how I could go about doing that, it would be very appreciated ;-)

Thanks,

-David La Pierre

Answer 1

Apart from using optimization softwares (eg timetable creation softwares), I can give a few tips.

Choose classes which are offered on fewer days, since that reduces the chances of clashes.
Make a list of classes which clash, so you'll know you can't choose more than one of them.

Answer 2

Yuo would want to avoid any classes that require going each day of the week and avoid any that have 3 hour lab classes.

Best bet would be to find 6 courses that you attend Monday Wenesday and Friday, and 6 more that you take Tuesdays and Thursdays.

That would give you a total of 12 courses.