courseload for post-bacc

[impervious0ne]

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Hey all,

I'm trying to schedule my courses for upcoming semester.

I'm a post-bacc student with lots of bad grades (A -> F) with gpa of 2.4. I've been getting mostly A's and some B's in my first year and 1 C+ as post-bacc student. Last semester I got mix of mostly A's and a B.

I will be at taking:

Neuroanatomy (4)
Chemistry (4)
Microscopy (4)
Neuroscience elective (4)
Public health online (3)

Do you think this is rigorous enough course load for demonstrating aptitude? Or do you think I will have enough leeway to substitute neuroscience elective for a nutrition class?

 

[pseud0]

Do all of the first 4 have labs? That's going to be pretty tiring if they do.

 

[impervious0ne]

Hey pseud0,

These are all strictly lecture-only classes.

I'm currently doing 23 credit work-load with similar classes and it's already tiring.

This race of me getting my gpa to 3.0 against rising credentials every year is incredibly draining.

 

[NecrotizingFasciitis]

Good god.. 23 credits? You are superman.

I think if you are full time (for my school that was 12cr+) and taking some good science classes, it is enough. So I think your course schedule is fine.

 

[Shotapp]

@impervious0ne

Do you work nights or weekends? I currently work day shift M-F and I can only take two science classes a semester. I would like to take more courses to boost my GPA faster.

 

[impervious0ne]

No work. That may change in the summer or the upcoming fall.


@NecrotizingFascitis


I feel like a super-******* for putting myself in a situation where all A's in 23 credit worth of classes for multiple semesters is a necessity for even a consideration.

We'll see how the new policy will play out.

 

[MareNostrummm]

No work. That may change in the summer or the upcoming fall.


@NecrotizingFascitis


I feel like a super-******* for putting myself in a situation where all A's in 23 credit worth of classes for multiple semesters is a necessity for even a consideration.

We'll see how the new policy will play out.

Why are you taking so many units at once? Most premeds I knew during undergrad were only taking 12-16 units TOPS of all science classes. Its better to delay applying for a cycle than to risk getting B's or even C's in classes taking 23 units. You aren't doing yourself any favors here.

Right now I'm taking:

Neuroanatomy with Lab
Evolution
Microbiology

and 2 units of research credit + scribing 2 night shifts a week (16 hours total) and volunteering.

I'm absolutely swamped and this is only 14 units total. I have all A's though and I wouldn't be able to say that if I was even taking 1 more class. I don't have any weekends off. Neuroanatomy is very time consuming.

I recommend taking a couple less classes and pick up some ECs. I'm doing a post bacc too btw.

 

[Peach Newport]

You're making a very common mistake.

You should not be taking so many classes. YOU SHOULD NEVER TAKE MORE CLASSES THAN YOU CAN GET As IN.

The point of a post-bacc or masters is NOT to show medical schools that you can juggle a large courseload. No one cares if you took 7 classes if you got Bs in them.

And, many people don't realize this, but the point of a post bacc is NOT to raise your GPA. Yes, I know some schools screen. But your GPA is 2.4 - realistically that's not a repairable GPA. Not all schools screen, and mos the ones that do screen will use different metrics. they might use last X credits, and pretty much all the schools that do screen will look at your file if you have good recent grades.

If you can do these things while accomplishing your main goal, great! But you should NEVER compromise your primary goal.

Your primary goal in a post-bacc is to make straight As in your most recent credits. The point is to have a solid 2-3 semesters of straight As. THIS is what adcoms are looking for. They want to see the letter "A" show up many, many times in the most recent part of your transcript. Even if you have to take 3 classes a semester.

I'm not gonna lie, getting a C in a post-bacc, even just one, is a really, really bad sign. Even getting more than one B is a bad sign. If you want to get into medical school, stop dicking around with these stupidly huge courseloads and do whatever you can do get As on your transcript.

 

[foreverblue28]

.

 

[Peach Newport]

Would you say two classes during summer term (8 weeks) is a reasonable courseload. I'll be at 8 credits.

Yes.

 

[soccerlover156]

Very similar situation as OP ... 2.4 gpa if i use ACCOMAS calculator or 2.518 transcript gpa (my school replaces a class or 2). Taking 17 credits this semester, another 6 in summer, and 20 in the fall. Hopefully ill have a chance at some post-bacc program with med school linkage come January.

 

[impervious0ne]

Why are you taking so many units at once? Most premeds I knew during undergrad were only taking 12-16 units TOPS of all science classes. Its better to delay applying for a cycle than to risk getting B's or even C's in classes taking 23 units. You aren't doing yourself any favors here.

Right now I'm taking:

Neuroanatomy with Lab
Evolution
Microbiology

and 2 units of research credit + scribing 2 night shifts a week (16 hours total) and volunteering.

I'm absolutely swamped and this is only 14 units total. I have all A's though and I wouldn't be able to say that if I was even taking 1 more class. I don't have any weekends off. Neuroanatomy is very time consuming.

I recommend taking a couple less classes and pick up some ECs. I'm doing a post bacc too btw.

Getting all A's right now, but boy its taxing.