# of classes per semester

countrytoconcrete
Wed, 26 Apr 2006 01:30:58 +0000

Somebody above said that you can always slack off and just take 4 classes…

I just want to say taking 4 classes is not slacking off, it is the norm, and it is what the university recommends. Dean DeTurck wrote a really good article earlier this year with his advice, and he basically said flat out that if you don’t need to take more than 4 classes a semester, don’t. Your academic and campus life will be better off for it, and it gives you just as much of a rewarding experience as taking 5 or 6 classes a semester.

If you come to Penn you’ll be surrounded by tons of kids who double major, take tons of extra courses, and achieve in high levels in other ways. I think that’s absolutely fantastic, and I know everyone has their reasons for doing what they do… BUT the point of this post is that you probably DON’T need more than 4 classes a semester, and the attitude expressed above about “slacking” is exactly what you should NOT be influenced by. Do what you think is best for you, don’t feel like you need to live up to what other people around you are doing… in the end, it won’t matter.

Edit: Chemaddict, I am not trying to badmouth you in any way, shape, or form… simply trying to point out that people on campus, either directly or indirectly, do pressure people to take more on than they need to. I strongly feel that people need to avoid that pressure and do what is best for them, regardless of what others do/say.