I’m Underloading — Here’s Why

What is Underloading?

At Carleton, most students take three 6-credit courses a term, totaling 18 credits (although I’ve always taken 20 with my 2-credit voice lessons). This term, however, I’m taking 17 credits, but only two 6-credit courses. At Carleton, this is called underloading (for most people in my position, they would only be taking 12 credits). I’m here to explain why I made this decision and what underloading helps me do. 

My Credit Status 

I decided that I was in a good enough position with both my majors and General Education requirements to take one less class this term. Not only do my extra credits from each term help with my overall credits, but the courses I’ve taken up until this point allowed me to relax my schedule just a little bit. 

Busy Term

This term, I’m involved in Carleton’s first official musical! It’s all very exciting, but it does mean a 20-25 hour a week commitment for the first 6 weeks of the term. Although it’s my passion, spending this much time in rehearsal makes it hard to focus on three separate classes, and plus being in the musical gets me three credits, so this way I wouldn’t have to overload (take more than 22 credits). 

More Time for My Classes

The two classes I am taking are fundamental for both my majors, so having more time to spend on them will help me not only in future classes, but also in my senior Comps next year! For example, my History 300 class is premised on an individual research project, which allows me to spend more time with my Comps idea to make sure it’s something I’m truly passionate about.  

More Time for Me

Carleton has so many academic opportunities and it’s such an honor to get to take advantage of them. But with that being said, you can’t do anything if you’re burnt out. It’s really important to take care of both your physical and mental health. Thus, underloading is a great tool to use. Whether it’s decompressing with friends or having time to read a book for fun, using your extra time for self-care is an essential part of college success!

Underloading might seem anxiety-inducing. However, I hope this shows  you that even without taking every single class you possibly can, you can still take advantage of so many cool opportunities as a student at Carleton. Credits aren’t everything: jobs, clubs, and activities are just as huge a part of your student experience here.

Kate (she/her) is a junior History  and Theater double major from the Bay Area, California. She loves Carleton’s artsy community, and is involved in the Vocal Studies Program and occasionally the Experimental Theater Board when her fight choreography skills are in high demand. Kate’s favorite places on campus are the practice rooms, either in Myers or the Weitz, where she can sing or play the ukulele. She loves the campus during all the seasons but thinks nothing could compare to the beautiful colors of Northfield in the fall. When not in class, you can find Kate either petting the nearest cat or forcing her friends to watch bad movies in a study room.