Should I drop one of my college classes?

if I am overwhelmed I drop a class if I can. the point in college is to get through it and understand what you're doing. if you're trying to get through it as fast as possible and are cramming everything in, you won't get anything out of college and won't do your best.

I don't know what a normal courseload at your school is, but at many schools, it is 5 courses (or 15 credits)/semester. If you are already taking less than that, some problems may result if you drop another class. First of all, if you are receiving financial aid, make sure you won't lose it if you drop a class. A lot of aid is only available to full-time students, and that is usually defined as 12 credits/semester. If you drop below that, you lose your financial aid. Secondly, if the courseload at your school is 5 classes/semester, and you are overwhelmed by 4, I'd have to wonder why. Do you need to work with your school's learning center? Are you working too many hours at a job? Are you too involved on a social level? I would worry that you will end up taking 6 or 7 years to graduate if you drop too many classes. Thirdly, are you sure the class you would be dropping will actually be offered during the summer? Many schools have very limited schedules during the summer, and it may be more difficult than you think to retake the class.

It has only been a couple of weeks in the semester, so it seems odd to me that you are already overwhelmed. I would talk to both your instructor in the class you are thinking of dropping and your advisor about what they recommend.

Do whatever you think will help in the end, and not just in terms of GPA.

You should just keep in mind that someday you are going to have to get used to having a full college schedule (your classes only get harder, but you take the same amount of courses).

It is understandable to feel overwhelmed, most people feel this way i would argue as a freshman, and your mother's advice is understandable given that she knows you need to adjust to college.

Drop the course now, take it during summer or stick it out? It is up to you, just know that eventually you are going to have to start being able to juggle these classes all at the same time. How you get to that point is up to you. Some will want you to toughen up and stick it out (like your mother), others may suggest you proceed in steps like you seem to want to do. The fact of the matter is that no one i know ever proceeded in steps like you are proposing (i.e. try 3 classes now, then maybe next academic year you can try four again). People just tough it out, take 4 classes and eventually (or quickly) they start to be able to handle it all.

Of course, you could do 3 classes a semester for the rest of your time in college, but this would probably add 1.5 years to your time in college before you graduate (not make it 6 to 7 years as the other poster suggested). Not many people want to do that.

The other person who said 5 classes is typical, i am not sure what they are getting at (nor did i read the entire reply they left), but full time is ~ 15-16 credits, and many undergrad classes provide for 4 classes = 16 credits. Sometimes 5 are needed if say a lab course is in there. I do not doubt that you are at the typical level at the moment, but if you do drop one course then you will not be. Please do not mind so much about what she said about how bewildered it is that you are overwhelmed at 4 classes. That is nothing to be surprised about, and entirely understandable. I do not know what her background is, and i am not going to assume she is what i am about to describe, but i will relate that I have heard people say things like this before. Those people, not her, who i have met who say things like this do not seem to get that some schools are harder than others, some programs are harder than others. Four classes can be very hard (but you still need to figure out how to handle it!) at one university and not so demanding at another. Not all colleges are created equal. Do not get bogged down about feeling overwhelmed, but do be cognizant of future demands of you and that you will need to prepare yourself.

My advice: you will not be doing yourself any favors if you drop below the level other students are working at. Stay with the four classes, and remember that a college GPA is not the same thing as a high school GPA, it probably is going to be a lot lower than you are used to, but that does not mean it is a bad GPA. It depends on your school. Even if you do poorly this semester, you will gain a lot of experience in figuring out how to handle all the work college gives you. It is only going to get harder, so do what you have to do to keep up, good luck!

It depends on how many units you are taking this semester. If dropping this class puts you below full time status, you might want to try to stick it out. Use it as a learning experience to manage time more efficiently. However, if dropping it does not put you below full time, you definitely might be taking too many units. There is no rush, it is better to get the better grade than to finish college in a shorter time. No need to stress yourself out, college should be a learning experience, but also enjoyable.

Be careful. At some schools, if you withdraw and have a failing grade in the class after a certain date, it still goes down as an F. But a W looks much better than a F.

I agree with "tweedle". It depends. Sounds like if you're taking 4 classes and you drop one, it'll make you part-time rather than full-time, and that affects a LOT. If you are on your parent's insurance, you may get dropped. If you took out student loans, you may have to start paying them back. Speak to your advisor.

It seems as if you have already figured out that your are over worked. Do what is best for you and take the classes when you are ready

if it wont affect your gpa and you can drop it then i say do it and take it in the summer where you can devote your time to it... I've done the same thing.. not a big deal

If you think you can't take it anymore just take it in the summer.

OMG. You're asking random people?

Only you know your capacity. You know yourself best. Do what your brain/ gut tells you. It will be the right thing.