<p>“First-year students are expected to select a total of four 4-credit courses (16 credits). You may wish to add a 1- or 2-credit course (e.g., dance, piano, concert choir).”
[Course</a> Selection :: First-Year Program :: Mount Holyoke College](<a href=“http://www.mtholyoke.edu/firstyear/course_selection.html]Course”>http://www.mtholyoke.edu/firstyear/course_selection.html)
I am pretty sure that as a first year you cannot register for more than 19 credit hours without advisor and dean of first-year studies approval.
I believe the process may be the same for first semester transfer students as well.</p>