As BU students settle in for the fall semester, people are building their schedules, applying for jobs, and writing down due dates. For the majority of students on campus, this is their first year at university without COVID regulations. This time last year, O-Week required masks for entry into any of the events in the Quad, classes were hybrid, and some students found themselves under strict quarantine rules that limited where they could go and how many people they could see. 

While COVID is far from a thing of the past, the easing of restrictions and influx of new students suggests a return to some form of normalcy on campus. Campus life — clubs and on-campus jobs, as well as leadership opportunities like working as an RA or an SRC member — is returning in full force to the in-person structure. The increased scheduling demands of fully in-person classes, clubs, and work take up time that many students have forgotten how to account for. As a result of this, and to revitalize the university experience that was lost during COVID, students should consider taking four classes a semester instead of the typical five.

While five courses per semester has long been thought of as the standard for college students, the unconventional nature of this return to campus should encourage students to reconsider the structure of college. 

Students who want to work while in school may consider this as an option to remove pressure from their schedules and avoid a GPA drop as a result of the lack of free time that work can entail. While work on-campus may accommodate exam schedules and busy periods, off-campus jobs in Lennoxville or Sherbrooke may not accommodate class schedules or intense times in the semester. A lighter course load will allow for more time to work, promising more financial freedom and less stress around paying tuition and rent; since someone taking four classes a semester will still qualify as a full-time student, they will not have to worry about losing scholarships or financial aid. Overworking and burnout can be risky for students on scholarship who need to maintain a certain average — a reduced course load can help to prevent overwork.

Counterintuitively, students who want to get more involved on campus may also consider reducing their course loads. More free time away from class means more time to get involved in clubs, in leadership and educational roles, and in campus culture. Students looking to engage in their departments through internships or TA positions, as well as students looking to bolster their resumes, can do so without worrying about scheduling issues. Students looking to make social connections through clubs can participate in more activities and meet more people without the worry of a late-night lecture or a looming essay. 

Students who feel they may have become disconnected from university life during COVID, who are working, or who are overwhelmed with the demands of academics on top of the expectations of engagement in the campus community should consider reducing their course load to prevent burnout and isolation. The add/drop date for fall semester courses is Tuesday, Sept. 20, at midnight.