What's the max amount of units you'll take in one quarter/semester?

[obgyny]

i'm just curious. i had a friend who took ~22 units every semester and said it was no big deal. meanwhile, 15 is plenty for me!!! my counselor has me written down for 18 units for my spring quarter!!!

edit: sorry for the messed up number categories (overlap) in the poll....i wasn't thinking when i created it apparently...and i can't find a way to change it....oh well, let me know ur opinion by replying!

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[LifetimeDoc]

Depends on the course, the professor, the university. Some courses are easier than others, some have hard or impossible professors.

 

[sehnsucht]

at my university, 17 was the maximum and you needed to petition to take any more than that per term. between work and 17 credits, what I had for undergrad was enough. 22? holy mackarel, did this person not sleep?

 

[obgyny]

22? holy mackarel, did this person not sleep?

i'm not sure. however she didn't work and she did it all after having surgery on her writing hand! she probably didn't get the best grades, but still!!!

 

[xcel]

I took a few semesters with 21. That was the max for us. But I had one or two semesters with 16 credits. Averaged 18 hours over the whole 4 years. Of course, I was an engineering major and you're basically required to take on that much work if you want to graduate in 4 years.

Just keep a tidy schedule and know your limits. You should be fine.

 

[obgyny]

I took a few semesters with 21. That was the max for us. But I had one or two semesters with 16 credits. Averaged 18 hours over the whole 4 years. Of course, I was an engineering major and you're basically required to take on that much work if you want to graduate in 4 years.

Just keep a tidy schedule and know your limits. You should be fine.

i could maybe understand taking 21 units if all u had to do was school (i don't know if that is ur case), but i have to work and do other things!!!

 

[corbis11]

I took 18 once and it was fine until finals week.

 

[armybound]

I took 18 once as well. I doubt I'd ever take more than that, though it's still do-able.

 

[jochi1543]

16 per semester was the standard load at my school, I took 17 credits 3x and was fine (4 regular courses and 1 1-credit course). I don't think I'd enjoy taking 5 regular courses, though, especially if any of them are with labs. ETA: I worked 10-20 hours a week and volunteered for 3.

 

[medicalCPA]

My school's maximum is 18. Anything beyond that requires permission from the dean of your school. But I'm in a special program and do not have to get permission to take above this number. However, I have spent 6 semesters at my school, and the number of units/credit hours I have taken each semester have been in the following order: 17, 24, 25, 25, 29, 26. I'm signed up for 27 next semester. In the semester I took 29 credits, I took Genetics, Virology, Human Physiology, Biochemistry, and Organic Chemistry I. The remaining classes were business classes. I also worked in my school's library that semester, 20hrs/wk. It was tough. Mondays were the worst. I would be in class from 9 to 5, with a night class beginning at 6 and continuing until 9 at night.
But I'm studying Biology and Accounting, and I'm just taking all these hours so I can finish in 4 years, no longer.

 

[obgyny]

My school's maximum is 18. Anything beyond that requires permission from the dean of your school. But I'm in a special program and do not have to get permission to take above this number. However, I have spent 6 semesters at my school, and the number of units/credit hours I have taken each semester have been in the following order: 17, 24, 25, 25, 29, 26. I'm signed up for 27 next semester. In the semester I took 29 credits, I took Genetics, Virology, Human Physiology, Biochemistry, and Organic Chemistry I. The remaining classes were business classes. I also worked in my school's library that semester, 20hrs/wk. It was tough. Mondays were the worst. I would be in class from 9 to 5, with a night class beginning at 6 and continuing until 9 at night.
But I'm studying Biology and Accounting, and I'm just taking all these hours so I can finish in 4 years, no longer.

yeesh 29 units and a part time job. did u sleep?? did u get decent grades???

 

[AKN]

My worst semester (thus far) was 18 hours and working 16 hours/week. Twenty years later, this semester might beat it -- 12 hours of class (two with labs) and working 35-40 hours per week.
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[146233]

I did 21 credit semesters and worked 36 hours/week. No big deal.

 

[medicalCPA]

yeesh 29 units and a part time job. did u sleep?? did u get decent grades???

Yes, my grades turned out to be decent, but I didn't think I would make it through Orgo I. And yes, I slept. Too much, sometimes. And sometimes I pulled all-nighters, but those days were because I refused to do my homework on time.🙂

 

[beauregard]

I did 21 credit semesters and worked 36 hours/week. No big deal.

You must be out of your mind!

The most I've taken is 19. I wouldn't do it again.

 

[CS77479]

The least I've taken so far is 19, I'll be taking 24 credit hours this fall though.

 

[skinnylindsay]

Max courseload at my school is 18 hours. After that, you have to request special permission from the Dean.

For those who are taking 20+ hours, how many credit hours are each class? At my school, most classes are 3 hours, some science classes are 4 if they have a lab. So for someone taking 27 hours, were you taking 9 classes at once? Wow.

 

[Auron]

I'm taking 17 in the fall. I have no limit, I take as many hours as needed. I'll just step it up a notch.

 

[TheRealMD]

Max courseload at my school is 18 hours. After that, you have to request special permission from the Dean.

For those who are taking 20+ hours, how many credit hours are each class? At my school, most classes are 3 hours, some science classes are 4 if they have a lab. So for someone taking 27 hours, were you taking 9 classes at once? Wow.

Yeah, I feel that's a bit out there. I've seen people pull 20 hours and am still baffled. 17 hours + 9hrs/wk for MCAT prep made last Spring hell for me.

 

[MEG@COOL]

i took 18 hours 3 of the 4 semesters I did as an upper classman. I guess i could have done more but after 18 you had to pay more and i didnt need to take more or work that hard.

 

[Bacchus]

I wouldn't take more than 18. Our max is 20. After that go talk to the Dean and be ready to fork over ~1100 dollars per credit.

 

[littlealex]

I started off college taking between 17-19 units a semester for the first two years. Then I learned that I don't need to kill myself, and started taking 15-17 units a semester for the last two years.

The biggest difference? Finals week.

Having 4 finals in 5 days is a LOT harder then having 3 finals in 5 days.

 

[CS77479]

Max courseload at my school is 18 hours. After that, you have to request special permission from the Dean.

For those who are taking 20+ hours, how many credit hours are each class? At my school, most classes are 3 hours, some science classes are 4 if they have a lab. So for someone taking 27 hours, were you taking 9 classes at once? Wow.

Well, for courseloads of over 19 credit hours you had to get an over ride, but that just meant I went to my program's office and signed my name on a list. My 24 credit hours will be:
1x 5 credit hour class
1x 4 credit hour class
5x 3 credit hour class
I'm only taking 8 credit hours in science though, everything else is in the languages, history, and english.

 

[medicalCPA]

Max courseload at my school is 18 hours. After that, you have to request special permission from the Dean.

For those who are taking 20+ hours, how many credit hours are each class? At my school, most classes are 3 hours, some science classes are 4 if they have a lab. So for someone taking 27 hours, were you taking 9 classes at once? Wow.

Weird thing is, the only time I ever took 9 classes at once was when I took 24 hours. My 29 hour schedule was as follows
Genetics, 4 hours with lab
Virology, 4 hours with lab
Human Physiology, 4 hours with lab
Orgo I, 5 hours with lab
Biochemistry, 5 hours with lab
Tax Accounting I, 3 hours
Financial Management, 3 hours
Folk/Social Dance, 1 hour
Total 29. It's not as bad as it sounds, actually. My school invests relatively heavily in distance learning technology, so I took Financial Management online and Tax Accounting and Dance as evening classes.
And even though I have 27 hours next semester, it's eight classes, and includes piano and voice lessons.

 

[Aynsl156]

I once took 30 hours in a semester, and that was 10 classes. One of the big biology classes had a 2 hour lab, though, so that was 5 hours right there. It wasn't too bad, you just had to stay on top of things. I always did my papers the day they were assigned anyways.

 

[jdh71]

i'm just curious. i had a friend who took ~22 units every semester and said it was no big deal. meanwhile, 15 is plenty for me!!! my counselor has me written down for 18 units for my spring quarter!!!

How many labs - that is the real question. I could do 22 hours of social science bullshizzle standing on my head, hand tied behind my back, and 3 three beers into the sixpack . . .

 

[Bacchus]

I like how some people have no life... Unless you're double majoring or have a minor I don't see the point of more than 18 credit hours/semester.

 

[skinnylindsay]

The most I've ever taken in one semester was 16, and I wanted to jump out of the window. I'm looking forward to only taking 12 hours this fall (4 classes). Gotta love that AP Credit.

 

[copingmethods]

The most I've taken is 23 (quarter), although 5 of those were research credits, so it wasn't any extra classwork. So more like 18 + research/volunteering. Although I took my Kaplan class that quarter too, so it was definitely tough.

 

[ChiDoc27]

I took 20 last semester, played varsity sports, and volunteered at a hospital. It sucked around finals time and when I had to have a surgery, but besides those, it was totally do-able. Next semester is 22 w/ sports, volunteering, and part time job. It's just about managing my time... anyone could do it...I'm not exceptionally smart. 🙂

 

[Hyperstudyosis]

I'm taking 18 hours this semester:
Biology with lab- 4
Chemistry with lab and recitation- 4
Anatomy & Physiology with lab- 4
College Algebra- 3
Freedom in American Society- 3

I'm also planning to work 15 hrs/week and volunteer one afternoon per week and hopefully have a social life too. It'll be busier than last semester was for me...last semester I had 16 hours, but only one was a science class and all the other classes were ridiculously easy, so I was pretty bored. I'm looking forward to more of a challenge this semester.

 

[Bacchus]

I'm taking 18 hours this semester:
Biology with lab- 4
Chemistry with lab and recitation- 4
Anatomy & Physiology with lab- 4
College Algebra- 3
Freedom in American Society- 3

I'm also planning to work 15 hrs/week and volunteer one afternoon per week and hopefully have a social life too. It'll be busier than last semester was for me...last semester I had 16 hours, but only one was a science class and all the other classes were ridiculously easy, so I was pretty bored. I'm looking forward to more of a challenge this semester.

Well, when you get to BIO II which is system based for all kinds of different organisms, you'll be set since you had A&P. Just don't get backed up because Bio and A&P = memorization. As far as volunteering... I came up with the idea to do it on a Saturday that way my week isn't too packed. Try that if things get too heavy.

 

[Meatwad]

I once took 30 hours in a semester, and that was 10 classes. One of the big biology classes had a 2 hour lab, though, so that was 5 hours right there. It wasn't too bad, you just had to stay on top of things. I always did my papers the day they were assigned anyways.

Ten classes, that takes the crazycake.

 

[obgyny]

I'm taking 18 hours this semester:
Biology with lab- 4
Chemistry with lab and recitation- 4
Anatomy & Physiology with lab- 4
College Algebra- 3
Freedom in American Society- 3

I'm also planning to work 15 hrs/week and volunteer one afternoon per week and hopefully have a social life too. It'll be busier than last semester was for me...last semester I had 16 hours, but only one was a science class and all the other classes were ridiculously easy, so I was pretty bored. I'm looking forward to more of a challenge this semester.

i love ur user name!!! i think i have a touch of that disease!!!😉

 

[cystapharm]

to OP....this poll's result may be biased because your scale breakdown shows repeated numbers. 12-18, 18-20, etc.

 

[obgyny]

to OP....this poll's result may be biased because your scale breakdown shows repeated numbers. 12-18, 18-20, etc.

ya ur right....i wonder if it's too late to change it since ppl have already voted?? i'll try...

oh well, i think i got an idea from people's responses (that most of them are crazy😉).

 

[brbsb]

18 hours in one semester is the most I've taken, but I've taken it now 3 semesters.

 

[beauregard]

Well, I have 18 hours next semester, but all but 1 credit hour is science.

Organic w/ lab (5)
Cell bio w/ lab (4)
neurobiology (3)
biophysics w/ lab (4)
research (1)
senior seminar (1)

So.. that's 9 classes in all. And I have 2 jobs. And I volunteer at a clinic every week.

Shoot me now.

 

[BoxerCar12]

I think the least you can take here is about 17, most I've taken is over 24. Average about 20. Taking 18.5 this semester (only 2 science courses, 1 engineering, rest are random other ones)