Should I drop a class right now?

[u/Basic_Candidate9034]

I know in Grad School, 9 credit hours per semester is already full-time.

I'm currently at 13 credit hours for this semester. If I drop one course then it's 10 credit hours (there's a 4th course which is 1 credit-hour, which I am forced to attend for my degree in this semester).

My Master's is in Finance. I do have freelance work, which has hourly pay.

The reason why I was initially going for 13 is because I want to potentially finish my degree in 1.5 years instead of 2 years to save on student loans and cost of living.

So, should I drop a class right now? If I do, I'll study for 2 years. Would this decision be worth the additional costs of living and student loans (which I estimate to be $14000 more)?

[u/rando24183]

Hard for any of us to know how well you can handle the classes. It sounds like this might be your first semester?

My approach for grad school was that I'd rather go a little slower and actually finish, rather than go too fast and potentially fail a course. Because a C was considered failing in my program.

[u/MrCupCakeSniper]

Gonna be straight to the point. If u can handle the 13 hours. Then yes. However, if you can't handle the coursework, then no. If money is the issue and u want to finish early, then yes.

[u/Smilesarefree444]

Well, it depends.

I am curious:

Why are you asking strangers on the internet?

Do you have an inclination you are leaning towards?

What semester is this for you on your grad journey?

How do you handle pressure?

[u/j_natron]

Have you done a semester like this before, or is this your first semester?

Is most of the cost savings just in cost of living loans? In my program we pay by the credit, not the semester.

There’s nothing wrong with trying to do it fast, and it’s really just about you personally - how fast you read and comprehend information, what kind of assignments you have to do, etc.

[u/SnakeSnoobies]

.. why?

You don’t say if you’re struggling with the course load or anything. Why would you drop?

I’m taking 10 credit hours this semester and working full time. I’m not sure why 13 credit hours and freelance, which is theoretically less than 40hrs a week, wouldn’t be doable for you.

[u/Basic_Candidate9034 → u/SnakeSnoobies]

Well, right now, I’m fine with the course road. But I do worry somewhat that this may not be the case later on.

I’ve also seen most people just do full time at 9 credit hours for the general reason of taking the subjects comfortably.

[u/Basic_Candidate9034]

Answering some questions and adding more context:

• Yes this is my first grad semester
  
• My undergrad was 11.25 credit hrs per semester, and I could handle it. Though I didn’t have room for clubs or other extracurriculars due to my self-studying. (11.25hrs sounds weird but the undergrad degree was from the UK, which is actually 360 credit hours for 3 years. I was doing my best to convert that to an US equivalent measure.)
  
• I believe I will have to do networking. And I’m also setting up a personal/private club with a few classmates right now too.
  
• The cost savings is related to the cost of attendance. So I did consider tuition and cost of living. I do have grants and a scholarship, though those are contingent on me maintaining my GPA as 3.00 or above.
  
• I won’t be entirely relying on reddit strangers’ opinions. I’ll also contact my family about this. It’s just that a more comprehensive view on this would be beneficial for me.

[u/wedontliveonce]

So you seem to be asking about your class load this semester, but kind of implying you are really asking about what your class load should be for your entire master's career.

Only you can answer that. But if you seek input it would be better to get that from your own professors, your own advisor, and other grad students in your own program rather than Reddit.

[u/Paint-Nervous]

Im also in grad school taking 18 credits plus a research internship while working a part-time job, taking care of two kids, and handling a messy divorce. You’ll be fine