Quick College Course Load Question

[Mermaid]

What's the average number of courses for an undergraduate to carry? Alex handed me his grades today and it looks like he took only four classes last semester. Is he going to get his BA in four years if he keeps this kind of schedule? I think the kid is pulling a fast one on us with such a light load!

 

[Miss Kitty]

15 hours is average

 

[TooFarTampa]

:scratch: Hmm, fewer and fewer students actually graduate in four years now. At least down here. The ones who do are usually the ones who really need to get a job ASAP. (I was one of those.) The rest are happy to have funn for an extra semester. Or two. Or six.

I think 12 credits (four classes) is low if you are on the 4 year plan, but probably close to average. 15 credits was a heavy schedule. I don't know if things have changed a lot in 15 years, but I remember a lot of fellow students went for a summer or two to stay on schedule.

Incoming freshmen should really take no more than four courses in their first semester. But he's a sophomore, right?

 

[TripleB]

I found that anything over 12 hrs interfered with my work on a planned thesis "Beer and the College Male". Although the planned thesis never really materialize, the knowledge and experience recieved during the research has proven to be valuable.

 

[Miss Kitty]

I think if you go below 12 hours you are considered a part time student at many schools.

 

[lindatat]

I think if you go below 12 hours you are considered a part time student at many schools.

Exactly - and I also think that it would be virtually impossible to graduate in 4 years if you only took 12 hours each semester.

 

[Jdarg]

2 words.

Summer school. I think lots of college students are taking summer classes now- college is no longer and spring/fall semester thing. It is year round school!

 

[Mermaid]

So what I'm hearing is that Alex took 12 hours this past semester but he really ought to up it a bit. He's registering tonight so I will be sure to look over his shoulder to see that he takes one extra class (just to make sure ;-) ).

Thanks everyone.

 

[Miss Kitty]

So what I'm hearing is that Alex took 12 hours this past semester but he really ought to up it a bit. He's registering tonight so I will be sure to look over his shoulder to see that he takes one extra class (just to make sure ;-) ).

Thanks everyone.

Good luck. We have been very pleased to see both of ours graduate (well, MS in 2008) in 4 years. Then again, they both took some summer school...because of either a double major or a minor. I have friends that have told their children they will pay for 4 years and then the gig is up.

 

[jessifunn]

summer school is where it's at!!! you go for a month 2 or 3 times a week and then you are done.