<p>I’m picking out courses right now, and I was wondering… how many courses does the average science-oriented Wellesley student take per semester? Would five be too many?</p>
<p>Pretty much everyone takes four, and as a first-semester first year you’re barred from taking more. I certainly know people who take five, but I’d be wary, especially if more than one has a lab. I’d wait until after your first semester, by which time you’ll have a much better idea of what you can handle. No point in crushing yourself as a freshman.</p>
<p>It depends on how many lab-based courses you want to take simultaneously. One lab course in a semester plus three non-labs is pretty average. The students who decide to take two labs sometimes trim themselves down to three total courses because of the increased time demands.</p>
<p>As jabberwocky noted, you aren’t allowed to take more than four courses your first semester, so that answers your final question. As for it being too much, in general … yes, probably. Labs require a huge amount of time–more than you’ll likely have to spare if you take five classes. If you’re taking five non-lab classes, it’s not as stressful.</p>
<p>I took five classes as a second semester first year and a first semester sophomore. I had one lab and two labs, but it really depends on the courses and whether you’d rather be doing homework or ECs or other stuff in your spare time. I felt like I was doing three quarters of everything I needed to, however I feel that way when I take four classes too (keep in mind the adage if you want something done, ask a busy person).
Take five classes only if you are incapable of ditching one of the five. Course greed, for me was usually the reason I did five. I’ve often found that I really shouldn’t have bothered with one of the classes I’ve chosen, but I never figure that out until the end of the semester when I look back and realize that I’ve wasted my time and the class was not that great.</p>