I can tell you how I made it and right now I’m in my final year with no courses left and only a project to be done.
First Semester:
You can’t help it that will be assigned to you, preferrably between 21 to 24 credits.
Second Semester:
You should take the starting courses for all the different trees that are there. Somewhere around 22–23 credits should work. Also tru cover the university core ground in this section.
Third Semester:
This is where your reall core engineering will begin and I suggest you take credits north of 24. Also try and finish all the math courses as soon as possible. You may also take an elective.
Fourth Semester:
This semester, concentrate on the different program electives and university electives so that you can have some mind off. Though do take all the math courses you can and wrap them up. Take upto 24 credits or more.
Fifth Semester:
Start of the third year will need you to concentrate on the major chunk of your core subjects. This semester is crucial for making a good base for your 6th semester so take all the cores you can and keep the course focused on your program cores and electives. Take the maximum number of credits that are possible.
Sixth Semester:
By now, most of your math and program electives should be covered. Take your cores, then choose the remaining electives and concentrate on the cores more since this semester’s subjects matter.
Seventh Semester:
This semester will be crucial for your placement or MS application and you should keep this semester light. I took 17 credits and concentrated on my placements, so cover up all your UE, PE and Program cores by this semester, or take 1–2 of them but keep yourself free.
Final Semester:
Relax, you’ll have a project to complete in 5 months with spaced out reviews, get an internship or if you prefer to stay here, do some productive work during your 5 months, learn relevant skills and pass your college with a relaxed state of mind.
This is the pattern I used in my B.Tech Computer Science, Non-CAL courses.