Does the amount of credits per semester matter?

[deleted862527]

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Hey everyone.

I currently have a cumulative 3.94 GPA. However, I feel extremely self-conscious about my transcript. I am currently a Junior in College. Since my Freshman year, I have only taken 12 credits/semester which is the minimum amount of credits I can take to be full-time (but my first semester of freshman year I took only 8 credits because of very difficult medical issues I suffered with the previous summer, and it made me very depressed and anxious about my medical diagnosis that have now been since resolved, but at the time could have seriously killed me) and I also did not know what I wanted to major in. Therefore, I was too anxious and depressed I wasn't adequately able to focus on my studies I should have. However, this past year due to a combination of medical issues and a change of major, I had to withdraw from my first semester which resulted in a semester full of W's and this semester I was only able to register for two courses, making me a part-time student.

I honestly feel very embarrassed, and somewhat ashamed. I realize how competitive medical school is, and the chances of being admitted are very low. Being a Physician is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and that's something I really would love to pursue. I see a lot more competitive applications on SDN, many of which receive rejection letters despite competitive MCAT, extracurricular, and cumulative GPA. I would love to be a Physician, but I feel as though my past sort of makes it difficult for me to convince the admissions committee that I will be a good applicant for them. I have received great grades so far; however, its the amount of credit hours I have taken since I have only taken 12 credits, and not 16.

Thoughts? Words of encouragement? Is there still a chance for me?
Thank you for everyone who contributes to this post. It means a lot!

 

[Goro]

It does raise the issue as to whether you can handle a med school curriculum.

You did the right thing in taking all the Ws instead of trying to bulldoze your way through, but you need to up your game because med school will be LOT harder than anything you're taking now.

If needed, take some time off until you're at your best.

 

[deleted862527]

It does raise the issue as to whether you can handle a med school curriculum.

You did the right thing in taking all the Ws instead of trying to bulldoze your way through, but you need to up your game because med school will be LOT harder than anything you're taking now.

If needed, take some time off until you're at your best.

Thanks Goro!

All of my health issues are currently under control. I am enrolling in 16 credits in the fall.

To make up the past year, do you recommend I should take full 8-course load summer sessions?? There are two summer sessions at my school, and if I do this I will have 16 credits out of the way, hopefully with A's.

 

[Forever Geebs]

Hey everyone.

I currently have a cumulative 3.94 GPA. However, I feel extremely self-conscious about my transcript. I am currently a Junior in College. Since my Freshman year, I have only taken 12 credits/semester which is the minimum amount of credits I can take to be full-time (but my first semester of freshman year I took only 8 credits because of very difficult medical issues I suffered with the previous summer, and it made me very depressed and anxious about my medical diagnosis that have now been since resolved, but at the time could have seriously killed me) and I also did not know what I wanted to major in. Therefore, I was too anxious and depressed I wasn't adequately able to focus on my studies I should have. However, this past year due to a combination of medical issues and a change of major, I had to withdraw from my first semester which resulted in a semester full of W's and this semester I was only able to register for two courses, making me a part-time student.

I honestly feel very embarrassed, and somewhat ashamed. I realize how competitive medical school is, and the chances of being admitted are very low. Being a Physician is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and that's something I really would love to pursue. I see a lot more competitive applications on SDN, many of which receive rejection letters despite competitive MCAT, extracurricular, and cumulative GPA. I would love to be a Physician, but I feel as though my past sort of makes it difficult for me to convince the admissions committee that I will be a good applicant for them. I have received great grades so far; however, its the amount of credit hours I have taken since I have only taken 12 credits, and not 16.

Thoughts? Words of encouragement? Is there still a chance for me?
Thank you for everyone who contributes to this post. It means a lot!

Did you at least work or accumulate 1000+ hours combined in ECs?


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[21Rush12]

If your GPA is good and you have the opportunity to do more classes and ECs, why not just do that from now on? Am I missing something?

 

[deleted862527]

If your GPA is good and you have the opportunity to do more classes and ECs, why not just do that from now on? Am I missing something?

I am going to begin taking more courses, ECs, etc.

I just feel insecure with my transcript thus far. I worked very hard for my GPA, despite the 12 credit hours. In fact, I know I overworked myself and the majority of my time used to prepare for examinations were insufficient. You're probably wondering "How? 12 credits isn't difficult." Well, I over prepare for my exams---it's a very bad habit. For example, my Professor will distinctly claim not to study [x], or perhaps advise us to not even read the textbook material. What will I do? I will read the textbook material, and make it a lot more time consuming. In other words, in some of my classes, we will only cover around 10-20% in a certain chapter that covers forty pages of nitty-gritty science material. I will deliberately learn and rehash, study, etc. the whole 100% of those forty pages we are not responsible for. Part of the reason(s) why I do this are because I just love biomedical science. I want to learn in. Although it will take 10-20x as much more time, I am paying for these courses that are not cheap, and I just want to learn it because I love learning. One other reason is because I fear that I will miss something, and want to prepare for all potential questions---but this is certainly a habit I must break. I need to be able to convince these Adcoms I can do this (I know I can, and I won't accept no as an answer). In all honesty, it sounds ridiculous what I am saying. I seriously have a bad habit of overworking myself and doing unnecessary, extra studying. Any other pre-meds like this??

Sort of paging @Goro if he knows any pre-meds similar to me, who do more work which although results in very good grades, it does lead to a higher risk factor of burn-out. Instead of overstudying myself, I could have used that time to do more ECs, studying for MCAT, or perhaps even relax or volunteer.