First Semester Courses

[oceanlover]

I am in the process of registering for courses for the fall and was wondering how many classes/credits other students have taken for their first semester.  My school requires to take at least 9 credits, and my advisor recommended signing up for the mandatory 3 intro courses (6 credits total) and 1 or 2 elections (which would put me at 9 or 12 credits). There are these two electives I'm really interested in, but am debating if I should take only one or both. It's my first semester so I don't want to be too overwhelmed, but I also don't want to save too many courses for next year when my research is in full swing.

 

So I'm just wondering how many courses have other people taken for their first semester of grad school. How many credits did you find to be successful in, and how many were just too much?

Edited August 5, 2014 by turtlelover

[bsharpe269]

Will you be TAing? I like to stick to 10 hours (3 classes + seminar) as a MS student with no TA responsibilities even. I am a research assistant which usually ends up being at minimum a 20 hour a week commitment. I advice you stick with 3 classes for now so you have time for research as well and then add more in the spring if you find yourself too bored (which you won't!)

[St Andrews Lynx]

Do the courses repeat every year? If so, I'd stick with the one elective for now, and do 2nd one when it is next offered.

[tspier2]

Go with what's required so that you can get a jump on research. My institution requires four courses, but I don't have a TA obligation.

[spec789]

At my school, I have to be registered for 8-10 units to receive my fellowship. While most classes are 3 units each, with 3 units equal to at least 9 hours/week of work, the recommendation given was that I register for 2 3-unit courses, and 3 units under the rotation program. This slightly lighter than normal load is because of the quals in January, as well as to give myself time to adjust to the new university environment.

Edited August 5, 2014 by spec789

[themmases]

My degree has a very specific course sequence outside of electives, and also frontloads credit hours so there is more time for research in year 2. So I'll be taking 14 hours this coming semester (my first), which is four core courses and an elective, but only 11 hours my last semester.

 

I will also be working 10-20 hours/week this semester, but this is an RA job I got on my own-- it's not assumed that all MS students will be working.

[GeoDUDE!]

It depends on how confident you are in these classes; I took 12 credits my first semester and found myself spending ~8 hours total outside of classes. Often times, graduate classes are much easier than their undergraduate counterparts. Sure they go over more advanced material, but you go over less material, so if you understand it faster its as if you have very little work. 

 

I had enough time to do the class, teach, and get enough research done for my thesis proposal. 

Edited August 6, 2014 by GeoDUDE!

[bsharpe269]

It depends on how confident you are in these classes; I took 12 credits my first semester and found myself spending ~8 hours total outside of classes. Often times, graduate classes are much easier than their undergraduate counterparts. Sure they go over more advanced material, but you go over less material, so if you understand it faster its as if you have very little work.

I had enough time to do the class, teach, and get enough research done for my thesis proposal.

Also consider what types of classes you're taking and how well you know the field. Actually, you should probably get advice from the class ahead of you because it think it might just vary per program. For example, one of my bio classes first semester took me around 10-15 hours a week just on that one class and everyone else in class said that it took them a similar amount of time. My programming class first semester had us write 1 program a week but it was always pretty involved and would take about 5 hours a week and then I had a third, easier class. Also, I would rather take less classes and do very well in them than be average in more classes. Many people on here say that classes don't matter as much in grad school but I put a lot of effort into mine (as in want >97% in each class, not just want an A) and it has payed off. I have had multiple teachers approach my advisor to tell him how impressed they are with me, offered to write recommendation letters, nominate me for fellowships, and also ask me to be on advisory panels and stuff, just from teaching me in class. I'm not trying to say this stuff in a snobby way, but just in a "I really don't agree that you should slack in classes and shoot for a B+ average" sort of way. I'm also not suggesting that geodude did at all, just making the point that if less classes means you can put more effort in then I might be worth it in the long run to get your professors to be really impressed with you.

[GeoDUDE!]

Also consider what types of classes you're taking and how well you know the field. Actually, you should probably get advice from the class ahead of you because it think it might just vary per program. For example, one of my bio classes first semester took me around 10-15 hours a week just on that one class and everyone else in class said that it took them a similar amount of time. My programming class first semester had us write 1 program a week but it was always pretty involved and would take about 5 hours a week and then I had a third, easier class. Also, I would rather take less classes and do very well in them than be average in more classes. Many people on here say that classes don't matter as much in grad school but I put a lot of effort into mine (as in want >97% in each class, not just want an A) and it has payed off. I have had multiple teachers approach my advisor to tell him how impressed they are with me, offered to write recommendation letters, nominate me for fellowships, and also ask me to be on advisory panels and stuff, just from teaching me in class. I'm not trying to say this stuff in a snobby way, but just in a "I really don't agree that you should slack in classes and shoot for a B+ average" sort of way. I'm also not suggesting that geodude did at all, just making the point that if less classes means you can put more effort in then I might be worth it in the long run to get your professors to be really impressed with you.

 

Its true, I didn't get a 4.0. I ended up with a 3.8 in my program. It all depends if that extray .2-.5 is worth it to you or not.  For some people it might be: I chose to spend no more than 10 hours a week outside of class on classes and it paid of pretty well.

[bsharpe269]

Its true, I didn't get a 4.0. I ended up with a 3.8 in my program. It all depends if that extray .2-.5 is worth it to you or not. For some people it might be: I chose to spend no more than 10 hours a week outside of class on classes and it paid of pretty well.

I don't mean that I B or two is bad all and a 3.8 is obviously awesome! Honestly if you put effort into school and into relationships with professors then I'm sure that will be obvious to professors. I've definitely noticed a benefit in doing really well in classes but other people may have noticed a benefit from the extra sleep or research time. Most people on here have been successful and all with different approaches. I guess you just have to find the one that works best for you.

[RunnerGrad]

I have to take 5 courses during my first semester. That's 3 hours/week for lecture, and some classes have 1 hr/week of lab or tutorial on top of that. However, this is what my program suggests and recommends for full time students. I would follow whatever guidelines your program has recommended.

[WriteAndKnit]

I have 11 hours scheduled for my first semester; one is an undergrad course (I need a foreign language, and with my long-term goals it makes sense to take the language rather than just test for it), one is a two-credit How To Grad School, and the remaining two are basic rhetcomp and linguistic classes.

 

I don't have TA/research assistantship duties or a PTJ, but I *did* borrow extra for this year so I would be able to gauge my ability to adapt to grad-level classes before I added a job. 

[starofdawn]

I need to sign up for 12 credits, but 4 of those credits will be through a research position in my professor's lab. I'm only taking 2 classes, but one of those classes starts at 7:30am.... oy

[Threeboysmom]

I don't have a TA position I'm taking only six hours which is two classes. At my university nine hours is considered full time for grad students. I'm going to see how the first semester goes then possibly more hours next semester.

[bhr]

at my advisor's recommendation I am only taking six credits (MA), while teaching a four credit class. My program is only 30 credits, however, so most people do 6/6/9/9 (or 6/6/3/9/6 if they get a summer TAship or internship). That last semester is a thesis if you are doing that option.

[Monochrome Spring]

I'm taking 9 credits: 2 unit how to science course, 1 unit seminar on teaching, 3 unit undergrad stats course, 3 unit online course.

 

6 units are considered full time and my fellowship covers up to 10. I'm going to stick with 3 courses and 1-2 seminars (not the sit in and just listen for no credit kind) each semester.

 

I don't have any TA or RA responsibilities while I'm taking courses because I'm on fellowship. My remaining time can be spent on my own research.

Edited August 16, 2014 by Monochrome Spring

[Francophile1]

with TA'ship I had to take 3 classes, and That is a lot...you will have to be much more focused and prepared for each class compared to undergrad