course load for UCSD

[tesfawMD]

Hello everyone,

I will be transferring to UCSD this fall, and I am not sure if I should 12 quarter units (3 classes) or 16 quarter unites (4 classes). I have never been in quarter system before, so I don't know what to expect (all I know is that it is fast-pasted). On one hand, I don't want to take to heavy of a course load and get mediocre grades, but at the same time I want to stay on track and try to graduate within 2 years. By the way, I need about 100 quarter units to graduate because I still have a few GE's remaining. Does any have any advice on how I should handle my situation?

Thanks

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[CougarMD]

Hello everyone,

I will be transferring to UCSD this fall, and I am not sure if I should 12 quarter units (3 classes) or 16 quarter unites (4 classes). I have never been in quarter system before, so I don't know what to expect (all I know is that it is fast-pasted). On one hand, I don't want to take to heavy of a course load and get mediocre grades, but at the same time I want to stay on track and try to graduate within 2 years. By the way, I need about 100 quarter units to graduate because I still have a few GE's remaining. Does any have any advice on how I should handle my situation?

Thanks

It depends on the classes. I would recommend taking 12 just because things like section can take up a lot of your time just going to and from class, especially if you're not living on campus. Summer school is always an option and you could always "make up" those 4 units later. I think it is better to start out with a smaller load and work your way up, personally. Good luck, it is an awesome place to be an undergrad.

 

[QuesoAndFromage]

I find a lot of transfers (I go to another UC on quarters) say the quarter pace is fast and takes a bit to get used to, so just take 3 and see how you do

 

[DiamondBar]

Hello everyone,

I will be transferring to UCSD this fall, and I am not sure if I should 12 quarter units (3 classes) or 16 quarter unites (4 classes). I have never been in quarter system before, so I don't know what to expect (all I know is that it is fast-pasted). On one hand, I don't want to take to heavy of a course load and get mediocre grades, but at the same time I want to stay on track and try to graduate within 2 years. By the way, I need about 100 quarter units to graduate because I still have a few GE's remaining. Does any have any advice on how I should handle my situation?

Thanks

I also go to UCSD, I am a 2nd year. have fun!!

 

[JFry]

I went to UCSD...

Honestly the less you take on, the less interested you will be and the worse your grades get IMO.

You want to be a doctor right? a UCSD md phd told me UCSD med school is the equivalent of taking about 24 undergrad upper division bio units a quarter, so might as well try to get close to that and see what its like.

Not to mention if you normally take 16 units a quarter, you can take an EASY ass quarter when you have MCATs... I think that is the way to go.

 

[wingiv]

Went to UCSD. It depends on what you're doing. Best thing to do is take 2 upper-div classes, and take 1 easy lower-div classes. The lower-div class maintains your sanity. And do some extra-curric if you want. The VA there has great experience there, especially in the ER. Once you get to know everyone, you get to do some pretty crazy stuff that you're not supposed to be doing. And go surfing for sure. I only started, because a prof. told me that it is the one thing that I must learn/do at UCSD. I couldn't agree more. So enjoy the beach while you can.

I once maxed out at 24 units, and it's not bad. Finals are just crazy if you do 24 units.

 

[lll1I1lII1lll1I]

Anything less than 16 units is absolutely weak sauce, no matter what school you go to.

Quarter system doesn't mean you learn more nor do more work per unit. Taking 3 quarters of Orgo (or "Ochem" as UCSD kids like to call it) worth 4 units each is the same as taking 2 semesters of Orgo worth 4 units each.

 

[deleted202457]

I went to UCSD...

Honestly the less you take on, the less interested you will be and the worse your grades get IMO.

You want to be a doctor right? a UCSD md phd told me UCSD med school is the equivalent of taking about 24 undergrad upper division bio units a quarter, so might as well try to get close to that and see what its like.

Not to mention if you normally take 16 units a quarter, you can take an EASY ass quarter when you have MCATs... I think that is the way to go.

I agree with this just b/c of the wiggle room it leaves come MCAT cruch time.

 

[MexicanDr]

Not to mention if you normally take 16 units a quarter, you can take an EASY ass quarter when you have MCATs... I think that is the way to go.

👍

 

[Vadoff]

12 units is the minimum amount to be considered full time.
16 units is the amount most students take, and the amount needed to graduate on time (2 years for transfers, 4 years for regulars).
Even 20 is also easily manageable.

 

[jvesco22]

OP what did your CC course load look like?
As in how many units were you taking there? What were your grades during your highest-unit semester?
If you've been taking 18+ units per semester and have been able to maintain a high GPA, then I think you'll be fine with the 16 units.

Counselor's make those 12unit first quarter recommendations for the generalized transfer student (aka barely 3.0 GPA with bad study habits/no work ethic.)

If you fall into that category, then you should probably only take 12. But if you've been performing well at your CC, then 16 units should be very doable.

You want to be a doctor right? a UCSD md phd told me UCSD med school is the equivalent of taking about 24 undergrad upper division bio units a quarter, so might as well try to get close to that and see what its like.

And this quote above is just dumb. Don't listen to this guy under any circumstances. No need to take so many credits to "try to get close" to the medical school atmosphere. Your number one priority is keeping a high GPA...

 

[tesfawMD]

The highest course load at my CC was 13 units this fall and spring. In fall
I got all A's in three of my classes and spring I was close to straight A's but I got B+ in stats. I'm worried because handling these 13 units I took were overwhelming at times, partly due to my occasional laziness, but I got through it. I could of taken one more class at the time but, I was afraid my GPA would suffer.

OP what did your CC course load look like?
As in how many units were you taking there? What were your grades during your highest-unit semester?
If you've been taking 18+ units per semester and have been able to maintain a high GPA, then I think you'll be fine with the 16 units.

Counselor's make those 12unit first quarter recommendations for the generalized transfer student (aka barely 3.0 GPA with bad study habits/no work ethic.)

If you fall into that category, then you should probably only take 12. But if you've been performing well at your CC, then 16 units should be very doable.




And this quote above is just dumb. Don't listen to this guy under any circumstances. No need to take so many credits to "try to get close" to the medical school atmosphere. Your number one priority is keeping a high GPA...

 

[Big Dog]

Do the math: the typical quarter college requires 180 units to graduate, or 45 units per year average. That works out to 15 per quarter. You mentioned that you have 100 units to complete, which is already 10 units behind pace (which would be ~90 units after two years). Sure, the quarter system is a shock to the system, but you are already behind (~3 classes) a 4 year graduation pace. Eventually, you are going to have to pick it up.

 

[rHinO1]

It depends on the classes. I would recommend taking 12 just because things like section can take up a lot of your time just going to and from class, especially if you're not living on campus. Summer school is always an option and you could always "make up" those 4 units later. I think it is better to start out with a smaller load and work your way up, personally. Good luck, it is an awesome place to be an undergrad.

this is good advice 👍

I find a lot of transfers (I go to another UC on quarters) say the quarter pace is fast and takes a bit to get used to, so just take 3 and see how you do

so is this 👍

Anything less than 16 units is absolutely weak sauce, no matter what school you go to.

Quarter system doesn't mean you learn more nor do more work per unit. Taking 3 quarters of Orgo (or "Ochem" as UCSD kids like to call it) worth 4 units each is the same as taking 2 semesters of Orgo worth 4 units each.

this is not 👎

Although you may cover approximately the same amount of material, you are tested far more often in the quarter system. Sometimes in the semester system profs fall behind and/or gloss over material. In the quarter system this does not happen. Everthing gets covered and you are tested every 2-3 weeks, including 3 finals.

Also, the sections for UCSD classes takes up a considerable amount of time.

 

[VikingLegacy]

baleeted

 

[lll1I1lII1lll1I]

Although you may cover approximately the same amount of material, you are tested far more often in the quarter system. Sometimes in the semester system profs fall behind and/or gloss over material. In the quarter system this does not happen. Everthing gets covered and you are tested every 2-3 weeks, including 3 finals.

Also, the sections for UCSD classes takes up a considerable amount of time.

Uh, no. Professors gloss over the material in the quarter system too. I've taken classes at UCLA, I know. You learn much less material in a quarter than you do in a semester. You're tested more frequently, but that doesn't mean s*** if you're tested on less material each time.

 

[rHinO1]

Uh, no. Professors gloss over the material in the quarter system too. I've taken classes at UCLA, I know. You learn much less material in a quarter than you do in a semester. You're tested more frequently, but that doesn't mean s*** if you're tested on less material each time.

Tested on less material, maybe. However, you are tested more in depth on that material due to the increased frequency of tests. Doesn't mean ****? I would rather be tested less frequently, and more superficially, than have a test every 2-3 weeks and do 3 finals during the course of a year. In a series like o-chem the quarter system is more difficult, IMO.

 

[mx21]

i recently graduated from ucsd as a bioengineering major. you can sign up for four classes for now (16 units) and then if it gets too difficult, just drop a class and bring it down to 12 units. quarter system is kind of hectic... it was much easier for me to pull straight-A's when i only had 12 units versus 16 units, but it also depends on how many upperdivs and what your schedule outside of school looks like.

 

[lll1I1lII1lll1I]

Tested on less material, maybe. However, you are tested more in depth on that material due to the increased frequency of tests. Doesn't mean ****? I would rather be tested less frequently, and more superficially, than have a test every 2-3 weeks and do 3 finals during the course of a year. In a series like o-chem the quarter system is more difficult, IMO.

Increased test frequency and less material per tests doesn't mean you're tested more in depth. Don't kid yourself - that logic assumes that test length is directly proportional to how superficial the test is. You could make a 2 hour test on 3 chapters just as "in depth" as a 2 hour test on 2 chapters - one just has fewer questions per chapter. UCSD's tests aren't harder than UCLA's, and UCLA's tests aren't harder than other schools of the same caliber who are on the semester system.

I think it's ridiculous that UCSD kids somehow delude themselves into thinking that taking 3 classes at UCSD is like taking 4 or more classes at UC Berkeley or something. It's not true, and every adcom member knows this. More tests doesn't mean s*** except that you can't procrastinate as much. And procrastination doesn't make anything easier.

 

[rHinO1]

Increased test frequency and less material per tests doesn't mean you're tested more in depth. Don't kid yourself - that logic assumes that test length is directly proportional to how superficial the test is. You could make a 2 hour test on 3 chapters just as "in depth" as a 2 hour test on 2 chapters - one just has fewer questions per chapter. UCSD's tests aren't harder than UCLA's, and UCLA's tests aren't harder than other schools of the same caliber who are on the semester system.

I think it's ridiculous that UCSD kids somehow delude themselves into thinking that taking 3 classes at UCSD is like taking 4 or more classes at UC Berkeley or something. More tests doesn't mean s*** except that you can't procrastinate as much. And procrastination doesn't make anything easier.

You're right UCLA kids get tested half as often and twice as hard 🙄. I forgot how it works there. My bad, I didn't realize we were going to get into a prestige pissing contest.

Edit: what I think is ridiculous is how berkeley kids think C's at their school translate to A's elsewhere...