Course load

[medguy24]

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Do adcoms looks at course load by year or by semester? Meaning would taking:

Semester 1: 17.5 credits
Semester 2: 12.5 credits
Total:30 credits

Look the same as:
Semester 1: 15 credits
Semester 2: 15 credits
Total:30 credits

Also, do the courses taken matter?
If I'm able to graduate in 4 years by taking just 30 credits a year without ever taking two sciences together is that fine? Or do I need to take two sciences together to show that I can handle med school?

Thanks in advance!

@Goro @gyngyn @LizzyM



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[DrHart]

Do adcoms looks at course load by year or by semester? Meaning would taking:

Semester 1: 17.5 credits
Semester 2: 12.5 credits
Total:30 credits

Look the same as:
Semester 1: 15 credits
Semester 2: 15 credits
Total:30 credits

Also, do the courses taken matter?
If I'm able to graduate in 4 years by taking just 30 credits a year without ever taking two sciences together is that fine? Or do I need to take two sciences together to show that I can handle med school?

Thanks in advance!

@Goro @gyngyn @LizzyM

So long as you aren't doing 4 or 5 years of ~12 credit hours/semester, I don't think your situation is unusual, uncommon, or looked down upon in any way. If you are a science major, you will have to take two sciences together by your senior year. If you are a non-science major, doing one science series a year is common.

What does your 4 year prereq plan look like? When are you doing biochem?

 

[Lifeblood_20]

As long as you get good grades I don't think it matters. How many credits people take one semester also depends on how much time they are dedicating to ECs. I get busier in the winter semester so I take less credits compared to the fall. Just make smart decisions and I think you'll be fine.

 

[Ismet]

It doesn't matter. Not to mention, no one has the time to figure that out in such detail when they're reviewing dozens of applications per week.

 

[floatingribs]

It doesn't matter. Not to mention, no one has the time to figure that out in such detail when they're reviewing dozens of applications per week.

Might be a little off topic, but would overall credits make a huge difference? (like say you've been taking course overloads and graduate with a decent amount of more credits then the avg BS/BA student in 4 years)

 

[Ismet]

Might be a little off topic, but would overall credits make a huge difference? (like say you've been taking course overloads and graduate with a decent amount of more credits then the avg BS/BA student in 4 years)

I don't recall that ever coming up in committee discussions in 3 years.

 

[medguy24]

It doesn't matter. Not to mention, no one has the time to figure that out in such detail when they're reviewing dozens of applications per week.

Is that for both questions or just for the credits? I've been hearing a lot on sdn that adcoms like to see "heavy course loads"


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[Turkishking]

In my opinion, it does not matter much. As long as you keep yourself full-time and do well in the pre-reqs, and rock the MCAT you should be fine. Taking lighter course-loads gives you an opportunity to do unique EC's.

 

[Staphbreak]

ya just keep doing full time, do well and murder the MCAT

 

[jm192]

I'm sure some look at it, and you can certainly point it out in interviews.

But if you have a 4.0 and an amazing MCAT, no one is looking at your course load.
Amazing numbers > the rest.

 

[Dagrimsta1]

Never took over 15 credits a semester... Got in just fine. Dw about nonsense

 

[Turkishking]

Never took over 15 credits a semester... Got in just fine. Dw about nonsense

Change your status! Or are you waiting until you actually attend?

 

[Dagrimsta1]

Change your status! Or are you waiting until you actually attend?

I'll only believe it when I'm officially 60k in debt