<p>Well, it’s difficult, but it can be more or less difficult depending on which classes they are and what types of work they require.</p>
<p>For instance, I once took three “communication intensive” courses in the same semester, while taking a total of 75 units. CI courses require a lot of writing, so I was pretty much writing at least one paper every weekend in addition to other classwork and work for my lab (and competition season for cheerleading). I was glad to see that semester end, for sure. But I don’t know that I can quantify how hard it was – it was hard, but I did it, and I got the best semester average I’d had at MIT to that point.</p>
<p>I think it does get easier to pull heavy courseloads when you’re a junior or senior – it’s not that the courses are any easier, but you know how to manage your time better and you know what you need to do to get the work done.</p>
<p>If you’re thinking of a double major, I would advise taking sort of a test semester. The second semester of my sophomore year, I knew I needed to complete 60 units with at least a B average in order to double, so I decided to make that my test – if I couldn’t do it, then I just wasn’t going to double. Before you go to MIT, you just don’t have any idea if it’s possible – some people on this board are capable of a lot more than they think they are, and some people on this board are not as capable as they think they are. That’s something you’ll figure out by the time you’re allowed to declare a double during the first semester of your junior year.</p>