I am a Chemistry major. In the Fall 2017 semester, my schedule is:
Calculus II–5 credits
Organic Chemistry I–3 credits
University Physics I (Calculus Physics)–4 credits
University Physics I Lab–1 credit
Theater 111–3 credits
Everyone I ask says I am taking too much, but if I put off taking any of these courses, I would delay my graduation by one year. I know that I shouldn’t rely on responses from anonymous people on the Internet, but I wanted multiple perspectives on this.
The average engineering major would be taking a similar schedule, so plenty of people do accomplish it. How have your grades been in previous semesters?
I got As and two Bs last semester. I am pulling straight As right now. Last semester, I took Introductory Biology I, General Chemistry I, Public Speaking, and College Algebra.
Personally, I’d probably try it and keep an eye on the rules and deadlines for dropping a class. If it ends up being too much to take at a time, you could probably find at least one of those classes somewhere else, such as at your local community college, over the summer. (Or take it in the spring and take whatever spring class you displaced over the summer.)
I agree with @bodangles Keep an eye on how you are doing and when coudl you withdraw…you could possibly make up Calc 2 or Theater over the summer and still stay on track. Make sure to get help if you are struggling early…also for Ochem form a study group and also buy the book “Organic Chemistry as a Second Language”.
The “big three” - math, chem, physics- plus an elective is pretty standard for a STEM major.
The only question is your elective - Theatre classss can be a ton of work (can you fit hands on projects, rehearsing scenes with other students, perhaps mandatory to attend a performance or two into your schedule?). Obviously that’s a gen ed and not part of the chemistry major. If you’re worried, I’d look at maybe an easier elective.
Seems very heavy in STEM, even if you are a chem major. Some schools only recommend doing 2 of the big 3 in a semester (at least one of those classes usually include a lab and/or discussion sections if your school does its classes that way). That 5-unit calc class could be a killer, and O chem tends to be as well (but maybe not for a chem major). It’s class time AND out of class time.
I agree with @AroundHere that the theater class may require a lot more of your time than you realize. With such a heavy STEM load, I’d go for a lighter elective that won’t demand much out of the classroom time.
Calculus II is a co-requisite for University Physics I, so it’s not like I could Displace that course.
It’s 4 classes. Seems like a common schedule for a Chemistry major.
^^ it is a common schedule. Mine for biochemistry first semester was Biology, Calc I, and Gen Chem. Then 2nd semester it was Biology II, Calc II, and Organic I. I’ll start physics next year but since you’re a chemistry major you’re taking physics now instead of biology.
Also talk to your adviser and see what they think.