A college student takes the same number of credits each semester. She had 12 credits when she started, and after 8 semesters, she had 124 credits. Which of these expresses the rate at which she is earning credits? Select the correct answer below: 112 credits per semester 7 credits per semester 3 credits per semester 7 semesters per credit 14 semesters per credit

To find out how many credits the student earned each semester, we first calculate the total credits earned over the 8 semesters. She started with 12 credits and ended with 124 credits, meaning she earned 124 - 12 = 112 credits over 8 semesters. Now, to find the rate per semester, we divide 112 by 8 semesters, which gives us 14 credits per semester. A fun fact is that the concept of credit hours in colleges originated in the early 20th century. The Carnegie Foundation introduced the system to standardize educational workloads and measure the time a student spends on schoolwork. This way, everyone knows how much work equals a "unit" of education! Additionally, earning credits is not just about attending classes; it also involves homework, projects, and exams. To avoid common pitfalls, students should stay organized with their study schedules, and not leave assignments to the last minute, which can lead to a decrease in productivity and overall performance. Balancing study and social activities can also play a significant role in successfully accumulating credits.