Course Load Question

Started by knightman13
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knightman13

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10+ Year Member
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!
 
It should be fine as long as you are taking two hard science classes every semester (or so I've been told).
 
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.
 
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 said:
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 !
Click to expand...

Retaking calculus in college was definitely a good idea.
 
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