Course Load Question

[Canadian Mayo]

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Do med schools care if you don't have a full course load every year?

This year I have some courses where I am doing so well so I want to drop them. If I don't drop them, my GPA will be around 3.7(maybe even lower but I don't think so). If I do drop some courses my GPA will be around 3.9. Organic chem is hurting my GPA!!!

If I drop some courses I will have 4 courses as opposed to a full course load which is 5 courses. And I also have 2 transfer credits from IB. I think that mid tier and top tier schools would at this differntly. Would it be frowned upon at top tier schools?

Thank you so much🙂

 

[Catalystik]

If you are asking about US schools, they like to see you carry a heavy load and succeed academically, but the load need not all be academic. If your application makes it clear that you worked 20-30 hours per week, have a family, volunteer heavily, or have other substantial time invested in activities, sports, MCAT study, etc, then a lighter course load is acceptable. Top US schools, as a generalization, are probably not going to like seeing Ws on your transcript though, if you withdraw after the 'official' withdrawal date without a VERY good excuse.

I've read there are some Canadian schools that definitely don't like to see you taking other than a standard courseload.

 

[Canadian Mayo]

Thanks I am working 15 hrs a week and I am volunteering 6 hrs a week I just didn't want it to be frowned upon. I will drop a course

 

[metallica81788]

You'll be fine with 4 classes, especially if it's only 1 semester.

I took 13 hours for 4 years and it worked out fine.

 

[FloatOn]

Thanks I am working 15 hrs a week and I am volunteering 6 hrs a week I just didn't want it to be frowned upon. I will drop a course

Since you're working and volunteering, I think it's fine. Find a good balance between academics and everything else, and just keep that GPA as high as possible. It's better to get things right the first time than to think at the end of the semester, "Oh crap, maybe I shouldn't have taken on so much." Challenge but don't overwhelm yourself.

 

[Canadian Mayo]

can anyone else give some feedback? please, i just want to be absolutely sure

 

[Disinence2]

What classes will you be dropping?

The semester is still young, you sure its not too late to pull of some good grades? If your dropping from a pre-med rec I would recommend just sticking with it and working a bit harder. You should be able to handle 16 units no problem.