12 hours every semester

[deleted823905]

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I took 12 hours for 5/6 semesters so far. I’ve also taken a total of 9 hours pass/fail. Will this look bad? I’m graduating on time and usually take between 6-12 hours of science every semester. I definitely could have handled more hours, but I didn’t know I needed to take more than 12.

Also, I know there are people who take a light courseload and get into medical school, but they usually work part or full time. I don’t have a job. I spent probably 20-30 hours a week on extracurriculars (a lot of leadership positions) but that’s about it.

GPA 3.85
sGPA 3.85

Also, will it help if I take a lot of hours in my last semester? For example, will it seem like I can handle a tough course schedule if I take 17 hours?

 

[AllBleedingStops]

You don't need to take more than 12 each semester as long as your school considers that full time. I did similar and got in. What sucks is that you took 3ish classes P/F. Why? If you were only taking 12 hours each semester, you should have taken all the credits for grades.

 

[Goro]

I took 12 hours for 5/6 semesters so far. I’ve also taken a total of 9 hours pass/fail. Will this look bad? I’m graduating on time and usually take between 6-12 hours of science every semester. I definitely could have handled more hours, but I didn’t know I needed to take more than 12.

Also, I know there are people who take a light courseload and get into medical school, but they usually work part or full time. I don’t have a job. I spent probably 20-30 hours a week on extracurriculars (a lot of leadership positions) but that’s about it.

GPA 3.85
sGPA 3.85

Also, will it help if I take a lot of hours in my last semester? For example, will it seem like I can handle a tough course schedule if I take 17 hours?

Sometimes you have to apply with the app you have warts and all, and see how the app cycle shakes out.

 

[deleted823905]

You don't need to take more than 12 each semester as long as your school considers that full time. I did similar and got in. What sucks is that you took 3ish classes P/F. Why? If you were only taking 12 hours each semester, you should have taken all the credits for grades.

They were really difficult classes that I was taking for fun (upper division math, an advanced statistics course, and a challenging science lab). They weren’t required for me, but I really wanted to take them without hurting my GPA.

Sometimes you have to apply with the app you have warts and all, and see how the app cycle shakes out.

Thanks Goro! Do you (or anyone) have any suggestions for how I can prove that I can handle a more rigorous courseload? I only have one semester left because I’m graduating a little early. Would you be convinced if I took a heavier courseload during my last semester?

Also, is there any chance my MCAT score can compensate for this? Based on my practice exams (which I know might not be completely accurate) I think I have a shot at 520+

 

[chaim123]

They were really difficult classes that I was taking for fun (upper division math, an advanced statistics course, and a challenging science lab). They weren’t required for me, but I really wanted to take them without hurting my GPA.



Thanks Goro! Do you (or anyone) have any suggestions for how I can prove that I can handle a more rigorous courseload? I only have one semester left because I’m graduating a little early. Would you be convinced if I took a heavier courseload during my last semester?

Also, is there any chance my MCAT score can compensate for this? Based on my practice exams (which I know might not be completely accurate) I think I have a shot at 520+

I think as Goro said you can show what you can show. It's a little late to try to show you can handle additional coursework, especially if you only one have one semester left.

 

[deleted823905]

I think as Goro said you can show what you can show. It's a little late to try to show you can handle additional coursework, especially if you only one have one semester left.

Would it be worth staying an extra semester and doing a full year with more hours?

 

[ellia]

Would it be worth staying an extra semester and doing a full year with more hours?

No, definitely not.

 

[Z-123]

I took 12 hours for 5/6 semesters so far. I’ve also taken a total of 9 hours pass/fail. Will this look bad? I’m graduating on time and usually take between 6-12 hours of science every semester. I definitely could have handled more hours, but I didn’t know I needed to take more than 12.

This is hard to say-- I had a guy visit my undergrad during my freshman year and said that if you take any less than 15 credits, medical schools didn't want you. Scared the hell out of me, but my advisor admitted he was using scare tactics during the speech.

It may raise a question or two, but if it's considered full time, you should be fine. As someone said earlier, the big issue will be the large chunk of pass/fail. I know I am already prepared for questions about my own pass/fail classes, but the ones that I did take pass/fail were only offered in such a format. They may not like that you took hard classes as pass/fail, as they may think it was taking an easier route.

Obviously, this all depends based on medical school. It's very subjective.

 

[deleted823905]

This is hard to say-- I had a guy visit my undergrad during my freshman year and said that if you take any less than 15 credits, medical schools didn't want you. Scared the hell out of me, but my advisor admitted he was using scare tactics during the speech.

It may raise a question or two, but if it's considered full time, you should be fine. As someone said earlier, the big issue will be the large chunk of pass/fail. I know I am already prepared for questions about my own pass/fail classes, but the ones that I did take pass/fail were only offered in such a format. They may not like that you took hard classes as pass/fail, as they may think it was taking an easier route.

Obviously, this all depends based on medical school. It's very subjective.

This honestly worries me so much. Is there really nothing I can do to fix (or at least help) this situation? I’m taking a gap year so is there anything I can do during that time? Or should I just focus on other parts of my application at this point? Basically, if anyone can give me advice on what I can do moving forward, I would really appreciate it. I know I can’t change the past but I would like to maximize my chances going forward.

 

[Z-123]

This honestly worries me so much. Is there really nothing I can do to fix (or at least help) this situation? I’m taking a gap year so is there anything I can do during that time? Or should I just focus on other parts of my application at this point? Basically, if anyone can give me advice on what I can do moving forward, I would really appreciate it. I know I can’t change the past but I would like to maximize my chances going forward.

You're too far in now to change academically. Focus on the parts you have of your application. Honestly, it may make you unique to admissions counselors.

During your gap year-- as I am sure you have been told before-- make sure you shadow, volunteer, work, etc. in a hospital setting. Be exposed. If you feel you're weak in one area, beef the other area up. If someone shows up with 18 hours a semester but only 50 shadowing hours, kick them out of the water with 500.

You do not have to reach 500, please do not ruin your life trying to get there, just do your best to really educate yourself about the healthcare setting.

 

[deleted823905]

You're too far in now to change academically. Focus on the parts you have of your application. Honestly, it may make you unique to admissions counselors.

During your gap year-- as I am sure you have been told before-- make sure you shadow, volunteer, work, etc. in a hospital setting. Be exposed. If you feel you're weak in one area, beef the other area up. If someone shows up with 18 hours a semester but only 50 shadowing hours, kick them out of the water with 500.

You do not have to reach 500, please do not ruin your life trying to get there, just do your best to really educate yourself about the healthcare setting.

Thank you! Honestly, I'm a pretty average/slightly above average applicant in every area, besides plenty of leadership positions. But I still have a year plus a gap year, so I'll try to "kick them out of the water" so to speak - thank you for your input!

Sometimes you have to apply with the app you have warts and all, and see how the app cycle shakes out.

Is this something I should address in my application and/or interview? Or if I'm asked about it, I'm not really sure what's considered an appropriate response. Is it fine to be apologetic, explaining that I didn't realize 12 hours was considered too light and admitting that I could have pushed myself harder with more hours? And that, although this might have been too late, I tried to prove my ability to handle more hours during my last semester?

 

[Goro]

Thank you! Honestly, I'm a pretty average/slightly above average applicant in every area, besides plenty of leadership positions. But I still have a year plus a gap year, so I'll try to "kick them out of the water" so to speak - thank you for your input!



Is this something I should address in my application and/or interview? Or if I'm asked about it, I'm not really sure what's considered an appropriate response. Is it fine to be apologetic, explaining that I didn't realize 12 hours was considered too light and admitting that I could have pushed myself harder with more hours? And that, although this might have been too late, I tried to prove my ability to handle more hours during my last semester?

There's usually a prompt int he secondaries where you can explain things. ALWAYS be prepared to explain at interviews.

 

[The Unburnt]

I took 12-13 hours every semester for the entire time I was in college so I wouldn't worry about it if you did well in the classes!

 

[deleted823905]

I took 12-13 hours every semester for the entire time I was in college so I wouldn't worry about it if you did well in the classes!

That's really encouraging to hear, thank you! Was this brought up in your interviews/ was it an issue at all? Also did you have a lot of commitments going on outside of school? My problem is that I took 12 hours, but also didn't have much going on besides the normal EC/volunteering stuff.

 

[The Unburnt]

That's really encouraging to hear, thank you! Was this brought up in your interviews/ was it an issue at all? Also did you have a lot of commitments going on outside of school? My problem is that I took 12 hours, but also didn't have much going on besides the normal EC/volunteering stuff.

It was never brought up or questioned in any of my interviews. 12 credit hours is considered full time at my school so nobody even cared lol. I did have a lot of other stuff going on with work and extracurriculars but it sounds like you had a fair amount of extracurriculars with 20-30 hours a week!

 

[deleted823905]

It was never brought up or questioned in any of my interviews. 12 credit hours is considered full time at my school so nobody even cared lol. I did have a lot of other stuff going on with work and extracurriculars but it sounds like you had a fair amount of extracurriculars with 20-30 hours a week!

Awesome, thanks for sharing your experience! Hopefully it goes well for me too.

 

[lm1106]

Sorry to revive an old thread, but I’m kinda in a similar situation and took around 12-13 hours for four semesters and did 16 hours for three semesters. Is it really a huge deal breaker?? Like as big of a deal as low GPA/MCAT?

I’m also wondering if good GPA and MCAT can make up for it? I did pretty well on the MCAT (518) and my GPA is ok but not great considering the 12-hour semesters (3.88 on the AMCAS and 3.96 on the TMDSAS). My ECs are ok, a little bit of everything but nothing to knock em out of the ballpark; some leadership, volunteering, clinical volunteering, shadowing, research (+ publication as like 10th author or something lol).

 

[MyOdyssey]

Sorry to revive an old thread, but I’m kinda in a similar situation and took around 12-13 hours for four semesters and did 16 hours for three semesters. Is it really a huge deal breaker?? Like as big of a deal as low GPA/MCAT?

I’m also wondering if good GPA and MCAT can make up for it? I did pretty well on the MCAT (518) and my GPA is ok but not great considering the 12-hour semesters (3.88 on the AMCAS and 3.96 on the TMDSAS). My ECs are ok, a little bit of everything but nothing to knock em out of the ballpark; some leadership, volunteering, clinical volunteering, shadowing, research (+ publication as like 10th author or something lol).

Why are your AMCAS and TMDSAS GPAs different?

 

[lm1106]

Why are your AMCAS and TMDSAS GPAs different?

I’m pretty sure TMDSAS doesn’t factor in +/- grades right? A and A- are both 4.0 and I have quite a few A-

 

[MyOdyssey]

I’m pretty sure TMDSAS doesn’t factor in +/- grades right? A and A- are both 4.0 and I have quite a few A-

I was not aware of that. It's too bad Baylor doesn't use TMDSAS GPA computations...

 

[freedoctor17]

I took 12 hours for 5/6 semesters so far. I’ve also taken a total of 9 hours pass/fail. Will this look bad? I’m graduating on time and usually take between 6-12 hours of science every semester. I definitely could have handled more hours, but I didn’t know I needed to take more than 12.

Also, I know there are people who take a light courseload and get into medical school, but they usually work part or full time. I don’t have a job. I spent probably 20-30 hours a week on extracurriculars (a lot of leadership positions) but that’s about it.

GPA 3.85
sGPA 3.85

Also, will it help if I take a lot of hours in my last semester? For example, will it seem like I can handle a tough course schedule if I take 17 hours?

I can say the pass/fail thing doesn't matter. I've taken 4 classes now as pass/fail (for the same reasons as you) and have had no questions about it and I've had plenty of MD interviews so far.

With your gpa and a 520+ on the mcat i doubt anyone will look closely enough to care as long as your EC's are all good as well. It's not like you spent that time doing nothing in your room, it looks like you'll have plenty to show for it.

Edit: it's late and i just realized this post was from May lol so my bad...