A couple questions on courseload and MCAT studying

[Undes1]

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Hey Fellow Non-Trads, long time lurker, first time poster. Im a psychology major that graduated 2014. After some time working in the Psychology Field, I was inspired to pursue Psychiatry to make more of a difference in the mental health field. Im taking Post Bacc Courses right now with the intention of applying June of 2018. My questions revolve around my fall and spring coursework.

This Fall I am slated to take Molecular Cell biology and Genetics. I just recently discovered that the genetics course at my school is regarded as a "time suck and GPA crusher". That is a direct quote from the professor for that class. He was very candid that not many students get A's his class. I researched the course on Rate my professor as well and the reviews seem to confirm this notion.

My GPA is sitting pretty well, I think, at a cGPA:3.85 and sGPA: 3.71. If this class is really as difficult as it appears, then I feel like im risking my hard earned GPA for what amounts to transcript padding and a minute sGPA boost. on the other hand, there is a Childhood psychopathology (4000 level) course in the fall that I really want to take, the professor is incredible and child and adolescent mental health has always been a passion of mine. I can only choose one or the other due to course scheduling reasons..

I already have the course/credit reqs for the schools I wish to apply, so would you all consider it an un/acceptable risk to take genetics? Im so torn between the Pre-Med mentality of what looks better to the adcoms, and my own instinct telling me.

My Last question is about the spring course load. I plan to only take Biochem and the associated Lab and study for the MCAT for an early May test date. As a Non-Trad does this reflect poorly on me to only take one course for a semester while I study for the MCAT or do adcoms want to see me "multitask"?

Sorry if this post is a little long winded.

TLDR; Should I do the Pre-med thing, or the Interesting thing and will that look bad to adcoms?

 

[etp123]

Disclaimer: this is all my personal opinion, but having had classes where my peers and those before us claimed the class was a time sink, gpa crusher, unreasonable prof etc... it's a bit nonsensical. At the beginning, everyone has the same chance to get an A or not. Everyone is subjected to the same grading. If your answers were graded critically, well so were your classmates' answers. So long as the class is curved you're still just as likely to get an A if you truly put in the work and do better than the rest of the people who want to blame the workload. Many of my classmates in my metabolism class complained about the workload being crazy and the grading too critical, but metabolism is by nature very complicated so it's expected that the class would be challenging. Have good study habits, give the class the respect it deserves, and don't be afraid to ask for help when need be.

My rambling aside, genetics isn't required and I don't think adcoms will purposefully notice that you've never taken a genetics class or something. It's probably good to take it just for the foundations if you've never had exposure to genetics, since you'll need to have a grasp of it for the MCAT/med school. But it probably won't be a big deal if you don't take it.

Your GPA is very good and assuming you earned most if not all of that under a full-time courseload, then you've already demonstrated your ability to "multitask" academically speaking. It'll be OK to take a lighter schedule and focus on the MCAT.

 

[Undes1]

Disclaimer: this is all my personal opinion, but having had classes where my peers and those before us claimed the class was a time sink, gpa crusher, unreasonable prof etc... it's a bit nonsensical. At the beginning, everyone has the same chance to get an A or not. Everyone is subjected to the same grading. If your answers were graded critically, well so were your classmates' answers. So long as the class is curved you're still just as likely to get an A if you truly put in the work and do better than the rest of the people who want to blame the workload. Many of my classmates in my metabolism class complained about the workload being crazy and the grading too critical, but metabolism is by nature very complicated so it's expected that the class would be challenging. Have good study habits, give the class the respect it deserves, and don't be afraid to ask for help when need be.

My rambling aside, genetics isn't required and I don't think adcoms will purposefully notice that you've never taken a genetics class or something. It's probably good to take it just for the foundations if you've never had exposure to genetics, since you'll need to have a grasp of it for the MCAT/med school. But it probably won't be a big deal if you don't take it.

Your GPA is very good and assuming you earned most if not all of that under a full-time courseload, then you've already demonstrated your ability to "multitask" academically speaking. It'll be OK to take a lighter schedule and focus on the MCAT.

Yeah I hear you and thanks for you response. All of my Post Bacc courseload hasn't been a "Fulltime" Schedule. Ive only ever done two classes and their associated labs since I started January of 2017. So basically 8 credit hours per semester. that's entirely due to the course requirements (pre-reqs) and the availability of classes, which as a "non-degree seeking student" was extremely limited. I understand that Adcoms want to see us non-trads demonstrate our ability to handle the classes, but I also hope they understand than in some ways my hands were tied.
Do you think the two classes only per semester as a Post Bacc is a an issue that might come up in the application review or even Interview process?

 

[etp123]

Well, if it comes up during an interview you can explain why your schedule was the way it is. Do your best and be confident in what you do. Nailing the MCAT will also help ease doubts about your ability to handle academic rigor.