<p>It sounds like you don’t have much to lose by taking fewer classes and then adjusting in subsequent semesters. If you’re concerned that you will slack off if you aren’t kept very busy, why don’t you take fewer courses and busy yourself with other things? Get a job, become actively involved in clubs, play a sport, whatever you like to do. That’ll help structure your day more, and may help you have having TOO much free time that you waste it away not doing anything productive. Unlike taking an extra class, you don’t have to worry about a drop deadline or anything like that. If you find that you’re too busy with your coursework, you can cut back on the extra things that you’ve been doing without worrying about anything having affected your GPA. Once you have a better idea of what to expect, you can adjust accordingly from there.</p>
<p>Alternatively, if you’re really only worried about conceptual difficulty or grading policies, that’s something you can get a feel for very quickly within the first five days of classes. Take a look through the syllabus and read through the professor’s attendance and grading policies. Look at the topics that will be covered during the course. Flip through the course textbook (which you can usually look at in the library or bookstore, without having to purchase it–or you could buy it and then return it if you drop the class), and see what you think. Google some topics or problems. Look at when all of your midterms and assignments will be due. Are they all going to be in the same week? Are they more spread out? That’s all something you should be able to figure out within the first day or two of class.</p>