nobromo

i know some classes need two semesters to teach. but are classes listed in penn register ususally 1 semester unless otherwise noted? im asking b/c i am going to be a freshman and am trying to get an idea (yes early)

nobromo

also when the site saws 12 c.u. does this mean 12 1 semester courses? i mean that doesnt seem like much to get an econ major. im asking b.c im interesting pursueing a second major in econ (dual degree in six years)

tenebrousfire

yeah each class is 1 semester, and so 12 cu is 12 classes

Rudess

six years? Undergrad is not PhD man.

tenebrousfire

what in the world are you trying to dual degree with econ that it'll take a whole extra two years to finish?

nobromo

^^engineering (cheme) which is 40+ credits and i dont want to have to take 5 classes a semstered for 4 years b/c in order to graduate SEAS with one degree 40 credits=5 classes. also i figure if i plan on spreading the workload i might as well get a dual degree since i dont want to go into the technical aspect of engineering i want to work in management or something else (esp since i cant get into Jerome Fisher)

cliffs-
-i want to dual degree (didnt get into joint)
-engineering is 40 cu or 5 classes a semester
-in order to get to degrees i need to take longer than 4 years b/c you cant take 6 classes a semester
-i am lazy and only want to take 4 classes a semester

tenebrousfire

umm

you can take 6 classes a semester (some take 7)

and no single-degree engineer gets away with 4 classes any semester without tons of ap credit (or, unless they're a second-semester senior)

are your parents willing to pay another 2 years' worth of tuition?

nobromo

im not rich but my parents are willing to shell out the extra 100k or so i guess. i mean ill probably take classes over the summer and find ways to get free summer housing (take up a job on campus to pay for classes?)

i mean i dont want to limit myself since i want to make sure i have lots of options when i get out so i can get a job/go to grad school.

also i fear my abilities to maintain a decent gpa while taking more than 4 classes. my bro took 5 in college and totally got stressed out/grades dropped like a rock

tenebrousfire

the point is that pretty much everyone who attempts a dual engineering and college degree finishes in 4 years; only m+t kids doing the bse routinely stay an extra semester or year

and i'm sure you understand that when you're applying to grad school or to jobs, they'll likely be turned off by the fact that you need 6 years to do what most do in 4

you'll also be seeing all your friends graduate and leave you behind...

moreover, your academic advisor may not approve a schedule so lax - when you get the engineering student handbook and look at the recommended schedules, it's never less than 5 per semester...

why not just wait to see how you handle your first semester? you may find it easier than you expect, or you may fall out of love with chemical engineering or econ and want to pursue something else... no need to decide this now, especially if your post-grad plans change - or, for example, you may find you would prefer an econ minor, or the engineering entrepreneurship minor, instead of the econ major

mattwonder

No one takes 6 years to graduate. It's totally unheard of. Very few people take 5 years.

The sad thing is that if you only take 4 classes, they will come to consume all of your time.

Rudess

Welcome to college.

citylights919

Taking 6 years to complete college will not look good on a resume. Companies do not want to hire the person who took all their time, they want a motivated individual.

mattwonder

Let's be fair though - 6 years in college will never appear on a resume. You only put your graduation date (if even that) on your resume. It's illegal to ask age, and most people don't put any other age identifying things on there either (like HS graduation)

tenebrousfire

true, but for employers who ask for transcripts, they'll see 12 semesters (plus summer sessions) listed haha