WELL now!
Today I got out my list of classes I still need to take, and I counted up how many credit hours it was - I wanted to know how much wiggle room I had for taking extra classes, like music composition or choir.
And somehow the numbers came out to 17... 18.... and 18.
17's a full load at this college - if you take any more than 17 in a semester, you have to pay $609 per credit.
Now, I had calculated this all out a year ago I guess, and came up with a total of 20 credits per semester if I wanted to graduate on time. That was promptly vetoed, so I've been planning on 5 semesters here, and one semester off for an internship so I can graduate with a class.
But... if I could get out of here in 17, 18, and 18...
I'm not quite certain what I should aim for. Do I take the rigorous route, where I need to CLEP out of English Lit this fall, Chem this winter, and take two classes during the Maymester, intern over the summer, and then take 17 or 18 units each semester in my senior year?
Or do I take the more relaxed route, where if I fail the English Lit CLEP test (or just don't take it) I make it up in the next two years some time? Where I go home for the summer and work at BR, maybe go to Japan in the fall? Where I have wiggle room to take the classes I don't really need but that look kind of cool?
A big pro to the rigorous route, aside from getting me out into the job market earlier, is that it cuts out an entire semester of tuition. At this college, a semester costs around $14k. That is a lot of money! My parents are paying my way, but that is still a LOT of money, even if it's not coming from my pocket.
A big con to it is all the extra stress; I probably wouldn't be able to work much these next few weeks, trying to cram in a CLEP test, and I wouldn't be able to really have any major breaks from school. Over winter, I'd be studying for Chem. Over the summer, I'd be taking classes and interning somewhere. And then I'd go right back into it in the fall with 18 more credits.
Also, I'd have fewer opportunities to intern. I was planning on going back home this summer, having a relaxing break and doing work for BR, commissions, hanging with friends. Then I'd have a giant 7, 8 month long internship the following spring and summer.
But, if I can get out in the work place and maybe get /paid/ for being a piddly peon, why should I bother interning more, unless having multiple internships is vital toward acquiring a job? That could be true, especially in this economy.
As you can see, a simple recalculation of a few numbers has completely turned my world on its head. Craziness! I'll have to talk to some advisers about it all. What do you think?
And somehow the numbers came out to 17... 18.... and 18.
17's a full load at this college - if you take any more than 17 in a semester, you have to pay $609 per credit.
Now, I had calculated this all out a year ago I guess, and came up with a total of 20 credits per semester if I wanted to graduate on time. That was promptly vetoed, so I've been planning on 5 semesters here, and one semester off for an internship so I can graduate with a class.
But... if I could get out of here in 17, 18, and 18...
I'm not quite certain what I should aim for. Do I take the rigorous route, where I need to CLEP out of English Lit this fall, Chem this winter, and take two classes during the Maymester, intern over the summer, and then take 17 or 18 units each semester in my senior year?
Or do I take the more relaxed route, where if I fail the English Lit CLEP test (or just don't take it) I make it up in the next two years some time? Where I go home for the summer and work at BR, maybe go to Japan in the fall? Where I have wiggle room to take the classes I don't really need but that look kind of cool?
A big pro to the rigorous route, aside from getting me out into the job market earlier, is that it cuts out an entire semester of tuition. At this college, a semester costs around $14k. That is a lot of money! My parents are paying my way, but that is still a LOT of money, even if it's not coming from my pocket.
A big con to it is all the extra stress; I probably wouldn't be able to work much these next few weeks, trying to cram in a CLEP test, and I wouldn't be able to really have any major breaks from school. Over winter, I'd be studying for Chem. Over the summer, I'd be taking classes and interning somewhere. And then I'd go right back into it in the fall with 18 more credits.
Also, I'd have fewer opportunities to intern. I was planning on going back home this summer, having a relaxing break and doing work for BR, commissions, hanging with friends. Then I'd have a giant 7, 8 month long internship the following spring and summer.
But, if I can get out in the work place and maybe get /paid/ for being a piddly peon, why should I bother interning more, unless having multiple internships is vital toward acquiring a job? That could be true, especially in this economy.
As you can see, a simple recalculation of a few numbers has completely turned my world on its head. Craziness! I'll have to talk to some advisers about it all. What do you think?