Credit Overloading

Thinking about taking more than 19 credits this semester? Make sure keep these things in mind:

Request Permission
Fill out the Overload Form and submit it to the Undergraduate Programs Office in Thornton A-122 (map). Requests are not guaranteed to be granted and working toward a second major or minor is not sufficient grounds for approving a course overload petition. You will need your advisor's signature for this form.

Look at the Long Term Implications
If you know you'd like to do a 4th and 5th year at Batten or are considering medical school after graduation, you'll have some extra prerequisite courses. Sit down and list all of your required classes and start dividing them into different semesters. Do you need to take those extra courses right now? Maybe you can do J-Term or take a class during the summer.

Strategic Overloading
Do some research. Ask other students who have taken those classes. What is the work load like? Is it heavy on reading? Writing? Problem sets? Try to get a sense of how many hours and what kind of work you'll have for each class

Balance Your Course Schedule
Maybe you're not an early bird. Maybe you like three day weekends and avoid Friday classes like the plague. If you're taking >19 credits, be honest with yourself. If you know you're going to be up late working, don't take 8 a.m. classes.

Midterms and Finals
If you're planning on taking 3 classes in Physics or APMA, you can generally predict how the course schedule will play out (2-3 big tests, 1 midterm, and 1 final). Avoid scheduling them back-to-back on the same day. If you do that, you'll likely end up with multiple midterms on the same day, so save yourself that hardship and focus on weekday balance when looking at classes on SIS or Lou's List.

Office Hours
Look ahead and see which classes conflict with office hours. If you can't make a professor's office hours because you're in another class at that time, you'll need to plan ahead and work with your instructor to find a different time to meet. This will require additional planning on your part.

Pick Fun Classes as Buffers

Love writing? Take STS in the semester that you're overloading. Do you have a favorite professor? They might be the respite you're looking for during a rough week with a lot of coursework. Build in spots in your schedule that might be less time-intensive (maybe that lab class you've been putting off).

Extra Curriculars
What days of the week do they meet? Are they on a regular schedule? Consider your course load and what days you'll have the most work when you plan your schedule.

Down Time
Everyone needs time to rest! You might need to build this into your schedule. If you have to watch Scandal, block off an hour every Thursday night. Your friends go to O-Hill together every Sunday and Wednesday night? Great! Put that in your schedule so you know you have an obligation at that time. (Even if it is a fun one!)

Ask for Help
Don't be afraid to ask for help if you start to feel overwhelmed. Free tutoring is offered through the CDE, all of your faculty have office hours, and you can also make an appointment with Lisa Lampe, the Director of Undergraduate Success to talk about study strategies and time management.


Have any other suggestions for students thinking about taking over 19 credits? Leave them in the comments below.