Semester Credit Load & Burnout Risk Estimator
Combine your credit load, course difficulty, and weekly commitments to see how intense your semester might feel. This is a planning tool only—not a diagnosis or medical advice.
Estimate Your Semester Workload
Add your courses, weekly commitments, and sleep to estimate your semester workload and burnout risk level.
You can start with rough guesses and refine later.
Understanding Workload & Academic Balance
Typical Study Time Guidelines
- •2–3 hours per credit: A common rule of thumb is to spend 2–3 hours studying outside of class for each credit hour. This is an average—some courses need more, some less.
- •Full-time load: 12–15 credits is typically considered full-time, which can mean 30–45+ hours/week of academic work including class time.
- •Difficulty matters: A hard STEM course may require much more time than an introductory elective, even with the same credit hours.
- •Peak weeks: Midterms, finals, and project deadlines can easily double your workload for short periods.
Why Non-Academic Time Matters
- •Work and income: Many students work part-time to cover expenses. But each hour of work is an hour not available for study or rest.
- •Commute adds up: If you commute to campus, that time can't be used for other things. Consider it when planning your schedule.
- •Family responsibilities: Caregiving, household duties, and family obligations are real time commitments that compete with study time.
- •Extracurriculars: Clubs, sports, and volunteering are valuable but add to your load. Balance is key.
Sleep, Rest, and Learning
Tips for Managing Your Load
Frequently Asked Questions
Remember: This tool is for educational planning only. It does not diagnose burnout or any medical condition. If you're struggling with stress, anxiety, or overwhelming workload, please reach out to campus counseling, a healthcare provider, or a trusted person in your life.
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