How many credits is realistic in a semester?

teedee

Hi,

I am trying to plan classes for fall, and this will be my first term at SFU.

My question, is how many credits is realistic?

I am looking at hopefully taking 5 classes a term. A mix of UD and LD classes, totally 15-16 hours of credit.

Is is a normal full workload or too many?

I am transferring in, and hoping to finish a double minor in Ling and Kin.

Thanks 

ryan

That sounds perfectly reasonable. I took 15-16 credits over my first two years until course availability led to me cut back a little. Personally I have found the difference between 12 and 15 credit semesters to be negligible. That said the courses you choose will have the most impact on how hard of a semester you have.

But yeah 15-16 is fine. In some programs people do up to 18, Beyond that I am under the impression you need special permission. 

smythsfu

I took this 16 credits this semester and it was way too much. I literally had no life outside of school work. But it is do-able. Just depends on the person 

teedee

thanks for the input.

Sorry about the spelling error in my first message too!

Cheers.

Annie

@lakerfanatic -- exactly!  Have to factor in Life too. Work, family obligations, etc. are big factors.  Study habits and time management count as well.  Sometimes busy people simply dig in and get the work done.

BeAnBeAn

I think 4 is the best because you stay on your feet but at the same time have room for other stuff. I did 4 my first sem and I was scared I wouldn't hit my 3.5 GPA goal and got pissed off and made the mistake of doing 3 the next sem to boost my GPA and boy was that a mistake. 

Taking too less ends up making you lazier which happened to me and you do less than what you would have with more creds. Like so much free time but you waste more of it.

Taking too much and you just use too much time in school but whatever, depends on the person as is said over and over.

I say 4-5 is the best but 4 is the best for me. I'll try 5 one semester. Maybe not lol.

Flash

Had 5, it's too much. 4 is more acceptable, tho 2 of them are 4 hrs each. But the whole idea of only having 4 finals help a lot. Next term I'm planning to take 4 classes again, which will actually be 14 credits and 15 actual hrs. But only 2 of them have finals, so that should be sweet.