gxing

I know the norm is 4 classes, but how unmanageable would 5 be? I've heard that you need special permission to take more than 4 -- is that true? My friends going to other colleges are taking 5, even 6.

Thanks!

mzhang23

You can't take five your first semester unless you get special permission from your advisor and dean.

albert87

i'm planning to take 5 cause there are some courses i absolutely don't want to miss... it is so difficult to narrow down to 4 courses.

And I notice that the fall term Seminars are more interesting than the spring term Seminars.

mzhang23

Keep in mind some courses may have already filled up.

Silly Puddy

Different advisors will differ in what they tell you about 5 courses. Some will say "No way!" (relatively rare), others will warn you that it may be rough, and others yet will smile and sign off.

In general, my advice would be to take four classes, because, hey, it's Princeton, and you're inevitably going to bump into tough classes. Use first semester as a chance to dip your foot into the pool and see what it feels like. Chances are, most of the classes you want will be offered again sometime, and there's really no point in digging yourself a hole early on.

That said, here's something you may want to do: register for five courses, try them out for a week or two, and then drop the one you like least. Unless you're 110% certain, though, you need to make sure you drop a class, because even if things seem fine early on, the material can build up very quickly, and the difference between four and five classes is really more massive than it may seem.