Courseload + 5th year question

[Orka]

I'm Canadian applicant in my 4th year and will be applying to American medical schools for the first time next year. I have 2 quick questions:

1. I was wondering if American medical schools look down upon applicants who do a 5th year and will it hurt my chances of getting into an American Medical school?
2. Also, the following is my GPA and course loads for my undergrad:

1st year- 4.0 GPA (24 credits)
2nd year- 3.93 GPA (30 credits)
3rd year- 3.71 GPA (28 credits)
4th year- 3.88 GPA (? credits)

Right now (in my 4th year) i'm taking 27 credits (15 credits in Fall term + 12 credits Winter term) but i am considering dropping a course in my winter term since I know I will be doing poorly in it and will likely get a B or B+. More importantly I don't want to risk not having an upward trend in my 4th year...do you think it's in my best interest to drop the course (it's not a course I need, just a random upper year course I took)? How will American medical schools look upon taking 24 credits (8 courses in the academic year)? Thank-you for your time.

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[Orka]

bump....

 

[FluffyPolishUnicorn]

my question is why would you take a course you know you wont do good in, especially when you dont need it?

as long as you have 12 cr (full time) you will be fine!

 

[knv2u]

I'm Canadian applicant in my 4th year and will be applying to American medical schools for the first time next year. I have 2 quick questions:

1. I was wondering if American medical schools look down upon applicants who do a 5th year and will it hurt my chances of getting into an American Medical school?
2. Also, the following is my GPA and course loads for my undergrad:

1st year- 4.0 GPA (24 credits)
2nd year- 3.93 GPA (30 credits)
3rd year- 3.71 GPA (28 credits)
4th year- 3.88 GPA (? credits)

Right now (in my 4th year) i'm taking 27 credits (15 credits in Fall term + 12 credits Winter term) but i am considering dropping a course in my winter term since I know I will be doing poorly in it and will likely get a B or B+. More importantly I don't want to risk not having an upward trend in my 4th year...do you think it's in my best interest to drop the course (it's not a course I need, just a random upper year course I took)? How will American medical schools look upon taking 24 credits (8 courses in the academic year)? Thank-you for your time.

Yes you should withdraw because you might end up with a solid B. I don't think any adcom will be able to hand that.

 

[Orka]

my question is why would you take a course you know you wont do good in, especially when you dont need it?

as long as you have 12 cr (full time) you will be fine!

Yea I didn't think the course would be this challenging but it became apparent that it is.
The only thing that worries me is the fact i'll have 3 courses (Human physiology, Sports Pshychology and Economics) in my last term in my 4th year.
But last term I had (exercise phys, human phys, molecular biology, statistics, research organization)....and I was able to get straight As and 1 B....But now I only have 3 courses which looks terrible

 

[FluffyPolishUnicorn]

Are you graduating? At the second term of 4th year?

If you are I wouldn't worry about it at all. You did all your hard classes in the beginning and left the easy one so you can relax and maybe study for MCAT?

 

[Orka]

Are you graduating? At the second term of 4th year?

If you are I wouldn't worry about it at all. You did all your hard classes in the beginning and left the easy one so you can relax and maybe study for MCAT?

No I won't be graduating this year since I'm short a few courses from graduating.

 

[Lucca]

No I won't be graduating this year since I'm short a few courses from graduating.

Well that's kind of what happens when you drop courses because you got a B.

To answer your question: that is not a downward trend, your gpa is very high.

No medical school cares how long it took you to apply. All they care about is what is on the app.