As a freshmen going into college, how many credit hours should I have the first quarter?

Typically 12 if considered "full time." However, most take 15 hours. I wouldn't take more than 15 hours during your first semester (or quarter) as a freshman.

MEG, I don't agree with you. 12 credit hours is the norm. I mean, you wanna get acclimated and leave time for some kind of social life, too, right?

I knew this girl at college that took like between 15 and 18 credits and plus she had to work a part time job. She ended up flunking out.

You need time for homework, reading,research, use the bathroom, eat, ect.

Depending on how challenging the courses are, 15 or 16 should be fine. I wouldn't recommend going as low as 13 unless you're planning on taking summer courses too. You will have enough time to get your work done with just a couple more credits, and you won't have to do any catching up later.

I guess it depends how your school works. At my college each class counted for 4 credits and normally people took 4 classes so that was 16 credit hours per semester.