Open credit systems in the country have been around since the establishment of private universities. Under the open credit system, university students can exercise the freedom to take any course they wish to but it comes with its own set of challenges.

While the closed credit system might sound like it involves an unfruitful prohibition, many students actually benefit from the pre-constructed structure. Not having to spend time evaluating all the options they have for a single semester during their course advising phase is certainly a benefit. In fact, any private university student can attest to how stressful the advising phase can be. Without actually being advised by counsellors, many of the younger graduates often struggle. 

The preconstructed structure or course map is, therefore, only ever applicable in a closed credit system. In the open credit system, the course map may provide some assistance but the "no-barriers" aspect means many of the third or fourth-year students will have the opportunity to take up seats for 200-level or beginner-level courses that were recommended to be completed in the first year. Hence, the freedom and flexibility of the system simultaneously make it difficult to always get the pre-advised or preferred courses – further jumbling up the course combination for students.

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It is important to acknowledge that students possess varying thresholds for being able to withstand academic pressure. So, being able to adjust course selection is a major advantage in later stages when they are able to better understand their needs and strengths. For those struggling, it is always advised to speak to a faculty member or senior in the department who may be able to share insights and guidance on how to proceed.

The added perks of being able to take one's desired set of courses under the open credit system mean a student is able to register for a course that does not fall under their major's requirement. While this option is usually overlooked due to financial constraints, it does provide them with the unique opportunity to learn about matters that are of personal interest to the student. Additionally, not having to conform to a set number of courses is a major gain and the stress of the advising season becomes a worthwhile trade-off.

If tallied, the non-constraining nature of the open credit system definitely takes the win against the closed credit system. But the challenges of making the most out of it can negatively affect one's academic performance. Educational institutions choosing to operate under this system should take the initiative to offer extensive help during the advising process to make it less overbearing. On the other hand, students need to invest a considerable amount of time to make sure they are allocating courses efficiently throughout their academic journey.

Irina Jahan is a student at North South University.