How Many Classes Should I Take My First Semester of College? Here's How to Know

Tips and questions to help you figure out how many classes you should take in your first semester of college

How do you decide how many classes to take in your first semester of college? Do you just pick a random number or is there a formula or strategy you can apply?

Lots of students are confused when it comes to choosing the number of classes to take per semester. Some students think they have to take as many classes as they are allowed to, while others would prefer to take the least number of classes they can get away with.

While there are no set rules (relatively speaking) or formula you have to follow, there are some things you should consider before making a decision. The first semester of college can make or break you, so it’s important that you get it right.

In this post, we are going to look at some things you should consider if you are trying to decide how many classes you should take (especially in your first semester of college).

Now, here’s how to figure out the right number of classes to take.

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1. TAKE THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF CLASSES OR CREDIT HOURS TO SATISFY A SPECIFIC REQUIREMENT

There are some circumstances where you don’t have much say about the number of classes or credit hours to take. For example, if you are paying for college with financial aid, you may have to take a certain number of credit hours each semester to remain eligible.

If that’s the case, then the decision is out of your hands. So, go ahead and take the number of classes that are required to satisfy a specific requirement.

There are also circumstances where you have to maintain full-time status as a student. What’s full-time may differ, but it’s usually between nine to fifteen credit hours (anything from three to five classes).

So, the first thing you should consider if you are trying to decide how many classes to take in your first semester of college, is whether or not you are under any obligation to take a minimum or required number of classes.

2. DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF CREDIT HOURS YOU NEED TO GRADUATE

Another thing to consider when trying to choose the number of classes to take is how many credits you need to earn a degree. The number of credits will depend on the major you are enrolled in.

For example, if you are in a community college, an AA or AS (Associate of Arts or Associate of Science) degree would require anything from sixty to seventy credits to earn your degree. In the college I attended, you need seventy credits to earn a nursing degree.

But, it doesn’t end there. You still have to consider how many prerequisite courses you have to take. Also, if you have been out of college for a long time, or an older adult going back to college for the first time, you may have to take some developmental classes as well.

As you can see, you may need a lot more than sixty or seventy credits to earn a degree from a community college. You need a lot more if you attend a four-year college or university.

So, this is something to think about when you are trying to choose the number of classes to take ( or what classes to take), for your first semester and beyond.

3. HOW MANY CLASSES SHOULD YOU TAKE YOUR FIRST SEMESTER OF COLLEGE: HOW MANY CAN YOU HANDLE?

One of the mistakes many college students make is enrolling in too many classes at once. Before you sign up for classes, first assess your current obligations or responsibilities, then ask yourself “how much school work can I handle on top of this?”

Do you work? Are you a parent? Do you have other obligations you need to focus on while in college? These are all questions you should ask to help you determine how heavy your college workload should be. While it’s good to be ambitious, I think it’s more important to be realistic about what you can handle.

The first semester is a great time to try out a few things. Start by taking the minimum number of classes that are required. At the end of your first semester, if you think you can handle more classes, then you can increase the number of classes you enroll in.

Never underestimate how much work you have to do to succeed in college. So pace yourself, ease into it, especially if you have been out of school for a long time, or you are a working parent.

4. HOW FAST DO YOU WANT TO COMPLETE COLLEGE?

Are you in a hurry to complete college? Many students want to graduate from college as fast as possible. There’s a reason why so many college students sign up for accelerated degree programs.

If you want to complete college as fast as possible and you are up to the task, then you can take as many classes or credit hours as your college allows. Some colleges will allow you to take as many as twenty-one credit hours per semester.

However, before you decide this is a good idea, you have to think about the effect this would have on your life. Are you willing to give up your social life and time with family and friends?

How would this affect your health and finances? Are there alternatives to graduating early without taking too many classes at a time?

While many students have been successful in taking this route, there are lots who tried and failed. Some of them got too overwhelmed and were forced to drop some of the classes they signed up for.

My advice to you is to think about this with an open mind. Explore other alternatives, then make the best decision that you can with the information that you have.

5. THINK ABOUT THE WORKLOAD FOR EACH CLASS BEFORE YOU DECIDE

Not or classes or courses are created equal. The workload of one class can be greater than the workload of three classes combined. It all depends on which classes you choose.

For example, in my first semester of nursing school, we had to take only one class, “Fundamentals of Nursing.” The class was an eight-credit class. I can tell you that the workload from that one class was more than the workload from four classes I took one semester.

Between assignments, tests, clinicals, and labs, I felt like I was drowning. I am not sure I could have taken any more classes that semester. I guess that’s the reason the college encourages you to complete all your prerequisites before you start the program!

So my point is, it’s not just about the number of classes you take, you also have to consider what classes you take in the first semester of college.

Before you make a final decision, go through the syllabus of each class you plan on taking so you can gauge how heavy the workload is. You can also talk to a few people who have taken the classes or ask an advisor about a particular class.

6. HOW MANY CLASSES CAN YOU AFFORD TO TAKE?

For lots of college students, the question boils down to the number of classes they can afford each semester. It doesn’t matter how many classes you’d like to take if you can’t afford it.

If you are paying out of pocket for college or maybe a parent or family member is paying for college, then you probably won’t have much say in the matter. Because at the end of the day, you will have to go with what they can afford.

Don’t put yourself under too much financial pressure in college. Go with whatever you can afford each semester, and before you know it, you will be through with college. Affordability is a big factor when it comes to how many classes you should take in your first semester of college.

TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT NUMBER OF CLASSES FOR YOU

Here are some more tips to help you choose the right number of classes in your first semester of college.

1. DON’T FEEL PRESSURED TO TAKE TOO MANY CLASSES

Don’t feel pressured to take more classes than you are comfortable with. You know what you can handle and you don’t have to prove yourself to anyone else. If you feel comfortable taking only a couple of classes, that’s what you should do.

Remember there’s a learning curve in the first semester of college, so allow yourself time to acclimatize and find your comfort zone.

It’s okay to take one or two classes if that’s all you can handle at the moment.

2. DON’T TAKE CLASSES BECAUSE YOUR FRIENDS ARE TAKING THEM

Peer pressure is real, especially for young college kids. Many of them don’t want to feel or look odd among their peers, so they make decisions based on what their friends are doing.

Don’t sign up for classes because someone else thinks you should take them or because you need their approval. Always do what you feel comfortable with and what’s right for you.

3. ACCEPT YOUR ACADEMIC LIMITATIONS (IF ANY)

There’s no shame in accepting you have some academic limitations that preclude you from taking too many classes at once. Some college students need more time to study and understand their course material. If you are in that situation, then taking too many classes at once is not the right thing to do.

Always set yourself up for success not failure, so know your limits and feed into your strength.

4. YOU ARE NOT INFERIOR IF YOU SPEND A LONGER TIME IN COLLEGE

Student parents tend to spend a long time in college because they have to juggle work, school, and parenting. Some of them take up to six years to earn a degree from a community college. I know that seems terribly long, but it’s still better than nothing.

There are single students who have to work and support themselves too. These students also take longer to complete their degrees. Know that you are not inferior if you spend more time in college than your peers. Go at your own pace and keep plugging away.

5. YOU CAN’T ALWAYS CONTROL HOW MANY CLASSES YOU TAKE

Sometimes you have no control over how many classes you can take per semester. For example, in my nursing program, the schedule of classes was decided for us, it was fixed and there was nothing I could do about it, so I just rolled with it (not that I wanted to take any more classes!).

If you find yourself in this situation, then there’s nothing you can do. The decision is out of your hand, so you just do the best that you can.

6. ALLOW SOME MARGIN IN YOUR SCHEDULE

Don’t fill up your days with too many classes at once. Many students who sign up for too many classes end up feeling overwhelmed or burning out. Many lose motivation in college, and some even end up dropping out.

It’s better to start slow and work your way up than to start with too many classes, then decide it’s too hard, and give up.

Slow and steady is better than crashing and burning, so make sure you leave some margin in your schedule.

7. HOW MANY CLASSES TO TAKE FIRST SEMESTER OF COLLEGE: HOW DISCIPLINED ARE YOU?

How many classes you can take your first semester of college depends on how disciplined you are. Are you the type of person that can stick to a routine or schedule?

Are you productive or prone to procrastination? Do you enjoy reading and studying or would you rather do something else?

Your answers to these questions will determine how many classes you should take in your first semester.

8. FEWER CLASSES INCREASES YOUR CHANCES OF GETTING A HIGH GRADE

Enrolling in fewer classes will allow you to devote more time to them. When you take one or two classes, you can really focus on them because you don’t have to spread yourself too thin.

This can increase your chances of doing well and earning a better grade. If you can devote only a limited time to studying, you are better off taking fewer classes and acing them, instead of taking lots of classes and barely passing.

9. TAKING FEWER CLASSES MEANS SPENDING A LONG TIME IN COLLEGE

Yes, I know this sounds like a contradiction, but I want you to think about this too. Taking one or two classes each semester means it might take you up to six years to graduate from a community college.

Do you really want to wait that long to earn a degree? If you need a degree to get a better job so you can earn a higher salary, do you want to wait six years or more for that?

If this idea doesn’t appeal to you, then you will have to make some sacrifices and push yourself a bit more. Meaning, find a way to take more classes so you can graduate sooner.

10. THINK ABOUT HOW LONG THE CLASS IS

How many classes you should take also depend on how long the classes are. For example, 8-week classes are going to be more intense than 16-week classes.

If you are taking short-format classes, consider taking only a few at a time. I have seen some students attempt up to three or four classes in the summer. Summer classes usually run for six weeks, so taking three or four at a time can be pretty brutal.

So, think about how long the classes are before you decide how many you should take.

11. MORE SUPPORT, MORE CLASSES

If you are a mom or single parent, you can take more classes if you have a reliable support system. A support system makes it easier to take as many classes as you’d like.

If you are a single parent with no support system, consider taking only a few classes at a time. This is true whether you attend an online college or not. If you don’t have someone to watch your kids when you have to go to class or study, you are going to have a time getting through lots of classes.

So, the more support you have, the more classes you can take.

12. GOOD TIME MANAGEMENT SKILLS MEANS MORE CLASSES

You can take more classes in your first semester of college if you have good time management skills. If you don’t know how to manage your time, you are going to fall behind in college and that’s not a good way to start your college life.

If you know how to eliminate distractions and prioritize, then you can take as many classes as you want (as long as you can handle them).

As you can see, there’s no clearcut answer to how many classes you should take in your first semester of college. A lot depends on your goals, personal circumstances, your major, and a few other factors.

Closing thoughts on how many classes should I take my first semester of college?

When it comes to how many classes you should take in college, there’s no magic number. So, go ahead, use the tips and questions in this post to figure out the right number of classes for you.

Don’t forget you can always scale up or down depending on how your first semester goes. So, don’t sweat it. And, whatever you do, remember to take care of yourself and have fun.

Are you trying to decide how many classes you should take in college each semester or in your freshman year?