Can I take 6 courses 1st term?

1st term I have:
Psychology 1X03
Chemistry 1A03
Math 1A03
Social Work 1A06
Bio 1M03
Physics 1B03

2nd term:
Chem 1AA3
Math 1AA3
Social Work 1A06
Bio 1A03

I considered taking 2 bio courses at the same time (2nd term) but students are strongly encouraged not to take BIOLOGY 1A03 and 1M03 in the same term. I already took grade 12 physics so I cannot change that course to 1L03. Also Physics 1B03 requires Math 1A03 so either I have to take them at the same time or I have to take math first then Physics. I'm constantly checking SOLAR but Physics 1B03 is still FULL. I have been advised to try again on SOLAR until some seats open up in the couse but this is the 5th consecutive day that I have been doing so, without any success......

Does anyone know what I can do?

Nothing really you can do other than keep on trying to get physic 1b03 second semester. Usually during the week before and first week of school a lot of people drop courses. If you are not set on taking math 1a03, i would recommend taking 1ls3 to lighten your load because it is much easier.

As a first year student, I would definitely not recommend taking 6 courses first semester. It's probably going to be a big change already, and 6 courses would make that a lot worse.

I don't think there is an anti requisite for physics 1L03 so you can take it even if you have already takes grade 12 physics. 6 courses might be a bit too much.

Keep checking. Spaces in 1B03 will open up, even as late as November or December.

Thanks for all your help guys. i'm considering to take physics 1b03 during summer, do you think I'll be okay next year 'cause many 2nd year courses require physics 1b03....

You can consider taking it in summer. But like the other posters already mentioned, honestly just keep trying to check SOLAR to see if a slot opens for Physics 1B03 term2. It is HIGHLY likely between now and 2nd term that you'll be able to get in if you actually just keep checking whenever you can, so just keep at it. Not really in your best interest to just decide so early that you'll leave it for summer without even continuing to try to get in while you still have the opportunity to try. Pretty sure you'll get into it for term 2 if you're actually persistent with checking SOLAR.

Edit: And 5 days of checking isn't that much, so honestly be more persistent with it and keep trying (no need to lose hope so early, it's not even September yet when everyone tends to drop and add more courses)!

you dont need math 1a03 for physics 1b03

Originally Posted by BobSmith99

you dont need math 1a03 for physics 1b03

You need credit or registration in one of: ARTS&SCI 1D06, MATH 1A03, 1LS3, 1X03, 1Z04

PHYSICS 1B03 MECHANICS AND WAVES
Mechanics of a point particle, emphasising work and energy. Fluids. Simple harmonic motion and waves, including properties of sound and light waves, interference and diffraction.

Three lectures, one lab (two hours) every week; one term

Prerequisite(s):
One of Grade 12 Physics U, PHYSICS 1L03, 1P03; and one of Grade 12 Calculus and Vectors U, MATH 1F03; and credit or registration in one of Art&sci 1D06, MATH 1A03 1LS3, 1X03, 1Z04

You can take both bios in the same term if nothing else. They are very different branches of biology. 1A03 is more like grade 12 bio, 1M03 is a lot of new stuff and a lot of detail on stuff you learned before regarding evolution and genetics. If you treat them as two separate courses and study for them the same way you'd study for them if they were in separate terms, you will do fine.

And even if it is harder (and really, it isn't; people have done both at once and did fine), it still would be better than overloading your first term of university.

Originally Posted by Quiver

You can take both bios in the same term if nothing else. They are very different branches of biology. 1A03 is more like grade 12 bio, 1M03 is a lot of new stuff and a lot of detail on stuff you learned before regarding evolution and genetics. If you treat them as two separate courses and study for them the same way you'd study for them if they were in separate terms, you will do fine.

And even if it is harder (and really, it isn't; people have done both at once and did fine), it still would be better than overloading your first term of university.

While I agree that taking both bios would be better than overloading, both bios are pretty heavy to take in one term, with labs, write-ups, the PBL project for 1M03, the lab exam, and midterms which may be close together. So that's also not an ideal situation. Hold out and try your best to get into physics or move it to summer to make your life much easier

You can try dropping Sociology and taking easier electives. Micro Econ you can study like 3 hours and get a 12.

Psych is relatively simple, but Chem,Phys,Math,and Bio in your first uni term is gonna be brutal. You can always drop physics and take it in the summer. Don't ruin your gpa early on.

Taking 6 courses in one term is definitely doable. Typically all first year engineering students have 6 courses each term (and it usually stays at 6 courses per term every year). So if you won't be able to change anything then know that you will survive, it'll just take a lot effort and time management skills.

But if you don't have to take 6 courses in one term, then don't do it. It's not fun. Try emailing your academic counselor about getting a spot in second term physics or biology. But if it doesn't work out and you find yourself overwhelmed, then you can drop one of your courses during first term (before the drop deadline) and take it in the summer or in the following year.

I would only take 5 at once due to workload and exam time stress. Chem+Math+Bio alone in one semester make up a boatload of work (but it is doable). 2 electives on top are still doable since they are less time consuming. I can't imagine adding Physics to the mix.

Also, I ended up taking Physics 1B03 in the summer and had a good experience. Note that I wouldn't take Physics 1L03 if you took grade 12 physics though, it seems like a waste of money to repeat what is essentially the same course. Plus the boredom is grueling in 1L03. It did not matter one bit that I took Physics 1B03 in the summer, I got admission into all of my chosen second year programs including Hons. Chem which requires the course... they said that the acceptance that was conditional on the fact that I completed Physics1B03 over the summer. Very smooth process, designed to compensate for the fact that many 1st years don't have high school physics and have to take 1L03 first making their schedules crammed.

All in all it seems best for you to reduce first semester to 5 courses and wait on Physics 1B03 until the summer if no second term spots open. If you have wait on it until the summer, maybe pop an Econ or Psych1XX3 or another certified bird course into second semester.

Just my opinion.