FRESHMAN CREDIT LIMIT

By Faculty rule, first-year undergraduates may register for no more than 54 units in the Fall Term and 57 units in the Spring. This credit limit, along with special freshman grading, is designed to ease the transition to MIT. Students enroll in a reasonable number of subjects while exploring the rigors of the MIT curriculum and the challenges of living more autonomously in a new community.

There are only two general exceptions to the Freshman Credit Limit, both in the Fall Term. First-year students may exceed the limit

• by 3 or 6 units for one or two groups in SEM.XL1 (Seminar XL)
  
  or
  
  
• by 3 units for 12.000 Solving Complex Problems (part of the Mission/Terrascope learning community).

There are no general exceptions to the Freshman Credit Limit in the Spring.

FRESHMAN CREDIT LIMIT PETITIONS

The CAP rarely approves petitions to exceed the Freshman Credit Limit. However, there are occasional circumstances in which petitions may be approved. The CAP's Staff Associate in 7-104 can detail these circumstances; consult him before preparing a petition.

Do not register for more units than the credit limit allows. CAP will review a petition before Add Date so that you can add a subject if your petition is approved.

When to submit a petition to exceed the Freshman Credit Limit
Fall Term Limit	For review at the first meeting of the Fall Term (mid-September)
Spring Term Limit	At the end of the Fall Term or during IAP

Petitions to exceed the Freshman Credit Limit include three statements.

• Student Statement:
  
  Explain in specific terms why you want to exceed the limit, how much time you expect to spend on each subject, and how that will fit in with other commitments. Provide evidence that indicates your ability to complete a heavier load successfully.
  
  
• Freshman Advisor Statement:
  
  Your advisor should indicate the degree to which s/he supports your request, and also provide evidence that indicates your ability to complete a heavier load successfully. Advisors can also add any clarifying or corroborating information that may help the Committee's decision.
  
  
• Statement from Dean Julie Norman of the Office of Undergraduate Advising and Academic Programming (UAAP):
  
  The Dean will indicate the degree to which she supports your request, based on your previous record and circumstances. Note that the Dean very rarely supports requests to exceed the Freshman Credit Limit, and that the Committee will not approve a petition without support from the Dean.

See the Petition Process section of this site for general information on preparing a petition, submission deadlines, and petition review.

Download Petition to Exceed Freshman Credit Limit (PDF)

If you have any questions on the Freshman Credit Limit, please contact CAP.