When many students are still in bed, Ball State University sophomore Sara Manwaring is up and beginning her day around 7 a.m.
She usually isn't in bed until around midnight, her day filled with meetings, classes, studying and working as a resident assistant.
As a nursing major, her course load is heavier than many other Ball State students. She currently has four classes, two nursing and two core, which total 13 hours. But with her clinicals, she is considered to be taking 22 hours.
This is well over the average hours taken by a college student. Some squeak by with the minimum of 12 credits needed to be considered a full-time student and others go with the maximum of 18. But for Manwaring and others, notably the nursing, architecture and art majors, taking over 18 hours is the norm.
Manwaring says it can be tough to balance sometimes.
"At times, it seems like the course load is too much to handle, but we have been taught time-management skills," she said.
One can only imagine how a 22-hour course load feels, but for Manwaring it's a daily reality.
"At the beginning of the semester, I was overwhelmed," she said. "And now I am stressed constantly with getting everything done in my classes, then SGA and my job too."
Tuesdays are her day off. Well, not exactly "off." She has no classes, but from the time she wakes up to the time she goes to bed, she uses this "free" day to study.
Her hopes for an easier time next year are already crushed thanks to a 12-credit hour schedule consisting of two difficult clincicals, "two really really hard nursing classes," one core class and a yoga class. Once again, the real total hours will be around 22.
Despite the rough course load, Manwaring understands the nursing program requirements.
"Sometimes, they are too much, but they are only made that way so you can become a good nurse," she said. "Ball State is known for being so rigorous, but you come out of the program as a really good nurse, confident with your ability."
For Manwaring, she really can't do any less. To stay on track, every semester will be like this for her.
For the past few weeks, students have been putting together course schedules for next fall and the final day to request courses is fast approaching.
If you feel like you're taking too many hours, you just might be.
The best thing to do is sit down and go over a four-year plan with your adviser. Seeing the big picture can help you realize that you really don't need to take 18 hours this semester because later down the road, you're pulling teeth to just get to 12.
Make sure to pick courses you can handle, so that you can still enjoy your time at Ball State.
Write to Sara at snnahrwold@bsu.edu.
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