6 credits in the fall

[Rhoadhoused]

I have 6 required credits left in the fall before I graduate and I have to take a couple classes to get up to 12 credits and be a full time student so the clock doesn't start ticking on my student loans. (I am graduating a semester early and this lab I have to take is only offered in fall, or I would be graduating this semester)

My question for you guys is what are some classes that you would recommend taking? My current plan is
1. Take only 12 credits
2. Take my 6 non required credits pass/fail
3. Take something that will take minimal time away from my schedule committed to the 6 core credits/Iowa State football and basketball

My plan right now is just two intro classes online. Should be easy to pass and not require a lot of time. Is that a bad idea or not? Any input is welcome.

 

[CyFan61]

If you are already doing them pass/fail you might as well do something you're interested in. That way you can put in a small amount of effort that will be enjoyable, but you don't have to put in so much to take away time. All you need is a D- grade to get a "Pass", right?

So IMO I would shy away from the boring intro courses but instead find something that looks interesting to you that you wouldn't otherwise take, and just do the amount of work in the course that interests you because the grade won't matter anyway.

Also some intro courses have night exams which could conflict with your goal #3 if an ISU basketball game is the same night

 

[Rhoadhoused]

If you are already doing them pass/fail you might as well do something you're interested in. That way you can put in a small amount of effort that will be enjoyable, but you don't have to put in so much to take away time. All you need is a D- grade to get a "Pass", right?

So IMO I would shy away from the boring intro courses but instead find something that looks interesting to you that you wouldn't otherwise take, and just do the amount of work in the course that interests you because the grade won't matter anyway.

Also some intro courses have night exams which could conflict with your goal #3 if an ISU basketball game is the same night

Yeah that's a good point. I'm on the fence between ease of class and interest in the class. Especially since there have been classes where I went into them thinking it would be very fun and interesting, but it turned out pretty terrible.

 

[DoOrDie]

Go the pass-fail route and take something interesting. I did that with Intro to Beverages: Beer, Wine, and Spirits (which is not online) and had a great time.

 

[DoOrDie]

Or, take a sports class. I also took volleyball. It was frustrating, though, because I had been playing for many years with people in the class that sucked. Thus, I recommend taking a class in a sport that you don't regularly play. There was no outside work, either.

 

[tim_redd]

Bowling

 

[Rhoadhoused]

Sports classes are 1 credit right?

 

[cyclonefreak5]

Yeah that's a good point. I'm on the fence between ease of class and interest in the class. Especially since there have been classes where I went into them thinking it would be very fun and interesting, but it turned out pretty terrible.

I might start with 15 credits and drop whichever one sucks the most. that way you don't get stuck with something you thought would be interesting but then was awful.

 

[CtownCyclone]

I took intro to world religions with Northway for an easy Gen ed. Good class, interesting to me, and much easier than the engineering classes I was used to!

 

[VikesFan22]

Sports classes are 1 credit right?

Yep. They won't help you much getting up to 12 credits unless you plan on taking 3 of them.

 

[CyArob]

I will face this same scenario next spring and can't decide whether to take 2 easy courses to get to 12 credits, or to apply for a concurrent master's and have graduate classes be the other 6 credits.

 

[Let's Go State]

You can take grad classes can't you?

 

[Rhoadhoused]

I will face this same scenario next spring and can't decide whether to take 2 easy courses to get to 12 credits, or to apply for a concurrent master's and have graduate classes be the other 6 credits.

You can take grad classes can't you?

This was one of the options, especially since I am graduating a semester early, but I'm not sure I want to go to grad school anymore, as I'm burning out a bit on the advanced science courses. My GPA is also probably a little low, I'm not sure I would get in. (my undergrad is Biochem, grad school would be for genetics most likely)

 

[CycloneErik]

This was one of the options, especially since I am graduating a semester early, but I'm not sure I want to go to grad school anymore, as I'm burning out a bit on the advanced science courses. My GPA is also probably a little low, I'm not sure I would get in. (my undergrad is Biochem, grad school would be for genetics most likely)

Well, then you're answering one of my ideas, the grad course option.

If you go full time, I'd take something you're interested in, pass/fail or not.

Question: Do you need to be full-time?

 

[Goothrey]

I'm incredibly jealous.

 

[Rhoadhoused]

Well, then you're answering one of my ideas, the grad course option.

If you go full time, I'd take something you're interested in, pass/fail or not.

Question: Do you need to be full-time?

From what I understand I need to get to 12 credits so my clock for student loans doesn't start ticking. I guess thinking about it it makes sense that there would be a provision for that. Other than that I can't see any big reason I need to be fulltime.

 

[goldmember]

Any way to get a double major by adding the extra classes?

 

[ISUAgronomist]

From what I understand I need to get to 12 credits so my clock for student loans doesn't start ticking. I guess thinking about it it makes sense that there would be a provision for that. Other than that I can't see any big reason I need to be fulltime.

For federal loans you have to be above part-time status not all the way up full-time.

As a grad student that's 4/5 hours (PT) vs. 9 hours (FT).

Enrolling in 6 hours as an undergrad is considered PT at Iowa State.

EDIT: If you have other forms of financial aid (grants) they will be reduced for PT status.

 

[isulive2train]

sports classes

 

[ISUCyclones2015]

I agree with schedule 15 and drop 1. I was told this by a cousin from a different school to always schedule the max amount you're allowed and drop the least interesting one in the first week. So my first two semesters I was schedule for 18 each but only took 15.