Course Load

[AntiviralsRule]

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I'm interested in hearing what other people think about an adequate course load.

I am a midcareer pre-pharm student, age 36, who is working full-time (40 hours a week). I am volunteering at a local hospital for three hours per week. My two other ECs take only 3 additional hours per week. This fall, I will be taking two science courses (Bio and Chem) and I plan on continuing that two-science-per-quarter trend for the next two years to fulfill all my prereqs.

Do you think I am taking too light a course load? Will AdComs frown on the fact that I am only taking 10 units (even though they're both lab classes)? And how much will my working full-time allay the AdComs' concerns about course load?

Any suggestions, comments or criticisms would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks! 😀

 

[Farmercyst]

I'm interested in hearing what other people think about an adequate course load.

I am a midcareer pre-pharm student, age 36, who is working full-time (40 hours a week). I am volunteering at a local hospital for three hours per week. My two other ECs take only 3 additional hours per week. This fall, I will be taking two science courses (Bio and Chem) and I plan on continuing that two-science-per-quarter trend for the next two years to fulfill all my prereqs.

Do you think I am taking too light a course load? Will AdComs frown on the fact that I am only taking 10 units (even though they're both lab classes)? And how much will my working full-time allay the AdComs' concerns about course load?

Any suggestions, comments or criticisms would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks! 😀

I've been doing 40hrs/wk, no ECs (to speak of, certainly nothing close to yours) since '03 My average courseload is probably ~12 units per quarter over those 4 years. I'd say 10 units + 40 hours/wk plus 3-4 hours/wk EC would be looked upon rather well. The only mention in my interviews had to do with my lack of ECs, not courseload, or workload. I'd say you should be fine.

You might pose this question to the Pre-pharm Mentors. One has been on 2 adcoms. They should be well equipped to answer this question.

 

[omnione]

When you say units, are you talking about semester or quarter credits? If you work 40 hours a week and pharmacy schools understand that you are a non-traditional applicant, then they are forgiving if they see that you work 40 hours a week.

 

[AntiviralsRule]

I'm on the quarter system. What I'm thinking about doing is toughing it out for 2 quarters next year, taking General Bio, General Chem and Calculus in winter and spring. I'm hoping that my performance in those two quarters will allay AdComs' concerns about my ability to handle a big course load in pharm school.

 

[mixdown]

I have the opposite scenario...I took Mam. Phys., Anatomy, Microbio all with lab, did 15+ hours of research & worked 12 hrs a week & volunteered at a pharmacy, and established a new organization on campus and served as the president...brought my GPA from 3.5 to 3.44....
everyone else on here has 3.9s and 4.0s makes me cry!!!

 

[binghamkid]

I have the opposite scenario...I took Mam. Phys., Anatomy, Microbio all with lab, did 15+ hours of research & worked 12 hrs a week & volunteered at a pharmacy, and established a new organization on campus and served as the president...brought my GPA from 3.5 to 3.44....
everyone else on here has 3.9s and 4.0s makes me cry!!!

Lol i think that last sentence is an overstatement. I know many people who got accepted with far below a 3.9...I know quite a few who were accepted with less than 3.4 too. It's all about the entire admissions package, not just the GPA.

 

[Brandie28]

Since this topic came up I could use any advice given on my situation...

In the fall I will be work around 20 hours a week and I want to take a&p 2, calc., micro., and physics. Do you think that is too much or no? I am not good at pulling all nighters lol. I need to do fairly well in all classes because I need to bring up my GPA it is only a 3.2!

 

[All4MyDaughter]

I am a non-trad with a munchkin. When I was doing pre-pharmacy I went part time (2-3 classes per semester) while working 40+ hours per week for the first year.

In the summer between year 1 and year 2 took Organic I and II plus labs over 8 weeks and did not work at all.

My second prepharm year I took a lighter load: 2 classes/semester and 20-30 hours working per week. I was taking care of a sick family member at that time too.

I don't think you need to worry about it. Just concentrate on doing well in your classes.

 

[acetyl]

Do you have any prior college credits? And if so, how did you take those classes?

If you did the traditional 4 year degree after high school and took full-time classes, and did well, I wouldn't think you'd need to worry about impressing the adcom's with these science courses. Take the classes in such a way that you are comfortable, and enjoy learning the information. If you didn't carry a full-time load of classes prior, you may want to push yourself a little more.