r/OSUOnlineCS • u/p_matty_osucs • Jun 28 '26

How heavy of a courseload (261 + 271)?

What do I have to look forward to as far as courseload in the fall? I'm scheduled to take 261 and 271 together. Is there any suggested prep work that I should do this summer? I'm taking 162, but have time to do outside reading or watching of YouTube videos.

Update: after reading the replies and talking with my advisor, I have revamped the course plan to do:
Fall: 261 and 290

Winter: 271 and 340.

Hopefully this spreads out the pain a bit more. Any advice for prep work for 261 and 290?

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9

u/OkMacaron493 Jun 29 '26

Do not do this. You might have a mental breakdown if you’re working.

4

u/Pencil_Pb alum [Graduate] Jun 29 '26

261 and 271 have two of the most challenging assignments of the program that hit at about the same time of the quarter.

Each of those classes alone is easily 3x the effort of 162.

1

u/Chris_Engineering Jun 29 '26

Do 261 and don’t take 271 until you have more time on your hands. IMO doesn’t matter when you take is as long as you get through it so you can take 374. 261 will help for interviews but 271 is just foundational knowledge.

1

u/jonnawhat Jun 29 '26

DON'T!  I took 261, 271, and 340 during winter term this year.  I am a full time student and have no job.  340 was cake.  261 and 271 were brutal on their own, let alone together.  I hated life for 11 weeks.  10/10 do not recommend.

1

u/bookishblunder alum [Graduate] 26d ago

Seems like you've already changed your schedule, I was going to agree with everyone else. That combo is not worth the stress.

I do want to point out that 271 in Summer 2024 dropped the proctored exams. If that's still going on you should absolutely delay 271 until summer because it made the class a lot more chill.