How many credits during the summer?

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How many credits during the summer would you say is too many credits to take? I am signed up for Chem. w/lab and an online English course. Would I be pushing it if I were to add an online Art History class too? Just a but of extra background info...I don't work and my kids are teenagers.

Specializes in NICU.

Would you be taking them all at the same time? (in the same summer session?) because that is a lot. Chem is very time consuming, especially in a summer session. I don't know what kind of English class it is, but it will probably have a lot of reading and writing, which is also time consuming. If you don't have a choice, then I'm sure you could handle it, but I'd suggest splitting them up in two summer sections (if your school offers them, usually 1 session June-July and 1 July through aug) - I'd take Chem alone and english/art together.

I think it is pushing it pretty hard. Assuming your summer term is half as long as your fall and spring terms, the chemistry is a five credit class, and the English and Art History are each three credits.... it will feel like taking 22 credits. Basically, you take the 11 credits in half the time. Factor in that the chem is a lab, which often feel like more credits than they are.... its a really heavy load.

On the other had, if you've had chemistry before and remember it (maybe you need to redo it because your's is more than three years old), so you need to just put the time in more than learn it. You love art so much that you've taught yourself more art history than the class will teach you.... or something similar and writing comes easily for you. Then it is probably doable, especially if your teens are willing to help with some meals and laundry. Maybe even some of the grocery shopping.

I'm taking an STNA program (6 credits), A&P 3 (4 credits), Microbiology (4 credits) and Psychology 2 (3 credits) over the summer. We run on quarters and the summer quarter is the same length as every quarter.

What you can handle completely depends on your learning capabilities. Some people can handle a lot, others can't. Just do what you think you can do.

I would also take chem alone and pair the other two, if you have two summer sessions to deal with. If only one session, I would still consider taking chem alone and save the English class for later.

Specializes in ICU.

This summer I am taking Organic Chem, online Composition II, and online Statistics. It is an 8 week summer session (our normal semesters are 16 weeks). I don't have any kids, but I work 50-70 hours a week. I'm not having any problems with my summer classes, 'A's all around and I don't feel too busy. Adding a humanity like Art History probably won't be too much extra work for you, especially online (not that online classes can't be challenging, but it's nice to be able to work on classwork whenever you're free - for me that's usually 3 or 4am, and online classes are great for me).

Good luck with whatever you decide!

Specializes in Critical Care, Clinical Documentation Specialist.

I took AP2 (w/lab), Micro (w/lab) and Gen Psych last summer; 11 credits in 10 weeks. My days were totally filled with school but my kids are teens and I don't work outside the home either.

I don't think Chem and English are bad together, but if you add Art History it may take more time than you want to spend. I don't know if your Art class is anything like Art Appreciation (3cr), but I could not believe the amount of writing in that class! I wrote more in Art Appreciation than I did in *both* my English classes combined! Just something to think about, can you take an easier class like Nutrition, Sociology or something like that?

Good luck!

I could not believe the amount of writing in that class! I wrote more in Art Appreciation than I did in *both* my English classes combined! Just something to think about, can you take an easier class like Nutrition, Sociology or something like that?

Good luck!

:eek: That's all I want is more writing than I anticipated. I already took Sociology so that is a no can do. I was hoping to be able to take a second online course to cut down on commuting time and the Art History was available, but now it has me wondering. I think I might look to see if there are any other online courses with openings. Thanks for the info!

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