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<p>This is true. People at MIT push their limits in all sorts of ways, and often get a great benefit from it. The problem is that too many people either don’t realize when they are well beyond their limits, or they are too ashamed to admit it (because they’ve been led to believe that anyone should be able to do what they are trying to do).</p>
<p>One of the brighter guys I know from MIT, absolutely refused to take more than four classes a term. He said that he took five classes once, and that it was just too much intellectual multitasking for him personally, and that while he was still getting good grades, he didn’t learn the material for any of his classes nearly as well. So he never did it again (even though his social group was one where it is popular to take tons of units). That guy understood his limits. And, like I said, he was very, very bright, and a top student.</p>
<p>I knew another guy who took 100+ units several terms in a row, got very high grades, was learning the material to his satisfaction, and still had more time to goof off/do extracurriculars than most people. He also knew his limits. If your limits are closer to his, you will probably discern this early on.</p>