12 credits every semester ok?

[Doctormo24]

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Is it ok to be taking 12 credits every semester? So far the most I have taken in 6 semesters is 12 credits. After the summer, during the Fall semester I will be starting to take more, I plan on taking 16 in the Fall semester and more one from then. But, do you think adcoms will look back at my past semesters taking 12 and sometimes less and think of me as not challenging myself enough?

 

[Ypo.]

Is it ok to be taking 12 credits every semester? So far the most I have taken in 6 semesters is 12 credits. After the summer, during the Fall semester I will be starting to take more, I plan on taking 16 in the Fall semester and more one from then. But, do you think adcoms will look back at my past semesters taking 12 and sometimes less and think of me as not challenging myself enough?

No. Just make sure you get some clinical experiences in there. 12 credits is competely fine. I interview students for my med school occasionally and I wouldn't blink twice at that as long as your grades were OK and you were doing some good ECs-which applicants should be doing no matter how many classes they are taking.

 

[GujjuNo1]

Is it ok to be taking 12 credits every semester? So far the most I have taken in 6 semesters is 12 credits. After the summer, during the Fall semester I will be starting to take more, I plan on taking 16 in the Fall semester and more one from then. But, do you think adcoms will look back at my past semesters taking 12 and sometimes less and think of me as not challenging myself enough?

To be honest...none of this sh** matters. This only gives them another question to ask. (just have an answer ready). You only need good MCAT and some clinicals to get an interview and then its how you present yourself.

You are fine. no matter what your course load is, make sure GPA still stays strong.

 

[Golddanboy]

From what I know, they want to see a student that is interested in things out side of science. If 12 credits is enough, its still rather hard to show other intrests.

No idea what other people think, but my approach to school was to never have less then 16 credits with lots of extra high level classes. Chances are everything matters, although you'll be fine if have a meaningful response for what you did in all your free time.

 

[MEG@COOL]

It probably doesnt look good unless you were working or something.

 

[big_smiles]

I'm guessing that an ADCOM probably wouldn't ask you. If you are keeping a high GPA and are challenging yourself with the selections of courses you choose, you'll be fine. After all, the 12 credits would probably be high-powered credits, right? What I mean is, compare a student taking 3 sciences with labs to one taking one or two challenging courses with others to fill in and act as GPA boosters.
Perhaps you are working or volunteering in free time?
I don't know your situation, but if you are building your application in other ways, it could help you.
I take less credits to TA and research. I used to take like 7 classes and do nothing else, but feel it's better to have more than just school.
Good luck

 

[txguy]

I usually took 12 hrs/semester in undergrad and I was never asked about this (out of 9 interviews). I had a good GPA and a few ECs (no work). The only time I was asked about some of my coursework was when my grades dropped a lttle bit my senior year (senioritis, what can I say? 😳 )

I think you should take the maximum hours that allows you to maintain good grades and be involved in a few ECs. For some people thats 12, others 15, 18, etc. Once again, just make sure you have good grades--thats all that honestly matters in that regard.

Good luck

-tx

 

[SoCuteMD]

I actually think that if you only take 12 hours every semester it really might not look good (unless you are working full time). AdComs want to see that you can handle what they are going to throw at you first year. This is what I was told in a meeting with an admissions committee member at a medical school in the Northeast.

 

[jackets5]

ive only taken between 12 and 15 credits a semester. 12 in the fall due to football and 14-15 in the spring. I have had 3 interviews but no acceptances yet. I think as long as your GPA is good there is nothing to worry about. Also, 12 credits allows you to relax and get some other things going on in your life. Ive seen people take 18+ credits and i dont know why they do it to themselves because they either wind up doing poorly in a class or two or have no social life

 

[gary5]

I took 15 per semester. I really don't think that they'll look at your hours. They'll look at your GPA, MCAT score, and read your secondary essays.