Course Load Question

[knightman13]

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I am currently a 2nd semester sophomore and am registered for 14 credits this semester. 16 is a normal course load at my school. I came in to college ahead credits because of AP scores as well. To add to that, last semester i took 18 credits and got a 3.93, which included taking Ochem I, genetics, a stand alone biology lab course and calculus. This semester i am taking a ochem II a bio class and a computer science class, along with a 2 credit pass fail physics class. To add to that, i am an NCAA athlete and will be working as a TA in a biology lab.

Up to now (through 3 semesters) i have a cumulative gpa of 3.80.

Will taking 14 credits instead of 16 blemish my med school application in any way?

I have also already done much shadowing and volunteer work as well.

Thanks!

 

[randombetch]

Hahah, I think you'll be okay with one semester of 14 credits.

 

[just one]

No, anyone else that tells you otherwise is clueless

 

[Poliscidoc]

No superman or women, you will be just fine...

 

[knightman13]

Thanks for the replies.

 

[knightman13]

anybody else have an opinion?

 

[akuarys]

It should be fine as long as you are taking two hard science classes every semester (or so I've been told).

 

[jvesco22]

anybody else have an opinion?

If you think logically, you won't need anymore opinions, including mine.

You really think 2 credits less will have a big effect on your application? Cmon man...

 

[FloatOn]

Yeah, you'll be absolutely fine with 14.

 

[metallica81788]

You're good with 14. Don't rush to get out of college early (unless you want to) if you have AP credit - that's a legit reason.

 

[riverjib]

Ummm...no, you're fine. Just the fact that you recognize that you need a lighter course load (and not by much) while volunteering and shadowing demonstrates that you know your limits. Of course, that also means that your GPA should be pretty high. Nothing officially says that you should get X GPA with X credits, or Y GPA with Y credits, but if you take on 14 credits, you should do better than students who take 21.

 

[knightman13]

i am not shadowing this semester. i am going to try and do some volunteer work when i can, but i generally do this when i am on a break from school. I figured that baseball, working as a TA and 14 credits was enough.

 

[ChiDO]

I went into first year of college with 20-30 AP credits. If I could do it all over again, I'd give up those credits and take the "easy A's." Nothing like boosting that GPA another .1-.2 !

 

[knightman13]

thanks for the input, if anyone else has an opinion please let me know

 

[FloatOn]

I went into first year of college with 20-30 AP credits. If I could do it all over again, I'd give up those credits and take the "easy A's." Nothing like boosting that GPA another .1-.2 !

Retaking calculus in college was definitely a good idea.

 

[metallica81788]

Retaking calculus in college was definitely a good idea.

Agreed.

For me it was 9 hours of easy A and only going to class on test days.

Guess who got the last laugh, AP test!!! (I got a 1 🙁)

 

[knightman13]

yeah i have credit for for calc from the ap and ive already taken it and gotten an a in college

 

[knightman13]

to the top one last time

 

[Morsetlis]

to the top one last time

I agree.