Going hard VS protecting GPA (and the MCAT)?

[Mkif586]

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Hello folks. I am a current pre-med junior with a decent GPA (3.8+) and I have 2-3 semesters left after I will finish this academic year. I have taken all general ed classes, intro science classes, prerequisites, and couple upper level classes. I still have to take 2 more UL science courses, some biology electives and a foreign language to graduate. My main dilemma is whether I should take interesting but difficult classes or go easy and save the GPA?

I pay decent money for my college and I am fascinated to take some interesting UL science classes (parasitology, advanced biochem, development biology and so on) my school even offers some graduate level BMS classes for UG students. I would really like to take these classes and I hope it will help me to become a better physician down the road. The problem is obviously difficulty of the classes and the fact that I also need to prepare for the MCAT (taking next spring). I cannot decide should I just take some easy classes, protect GPA, save more time for the MCAT or try to actually learn something interesting but at the expense of my GPA.

A bit more about my background: I started at CC due to financial situation (I am a 1st gen immigrant and a 1st gen college student), worked part-time and some of my non-science classes (mostly marketing since I started as marketing major) were online (I know...). I transferred to a 4 year completed more advanced science classes with decent grades. I still have one year but I am really afraid that if I go easy to save GPA (my school offers fair amount of classes where the majority get A if they just put some work in, such as botany, ecology, etc) med schools will not believe that I am capable to handle med school (I know there is a stigma against former CC students) even with good MCAT. On the other hand I really want to learn all these BMS stuff and I think this might be the way to prove that I am smart enough to become a med student (because it will give me 2 solid years at a 4 year school). However, my GPA and probably MCAT will suffer and I know if I end up with bad grades everything will be over. What would you suggest?

P.S. Personally, I lean towards protecting my grades because I will learn everything in med school anyways, but still...
Thank you! 🙂

 

[JSD2]

Take what you find interesting. If there is an interesting UL course that isn't super hard you should probably heavily consider taking that. A graduate level BMS class seems excessive when there are other interesting UL options. You say you want to prove that you are smart enough to be a med student, risking severely damaging your GPA and MCAT is not, in my opinion, a smart decision.
Please note this isn't to say don't take a hard UL course you find interesting (parasitology sounds fascinating!) but just make sure you aren't going overboard in rigor in an attempt to prove yourself

 

[Rachapkis]

As long as you have taken the necessary prerequisites, post a good MCAT score, and have good ECs, you will be a fine applicant not be judged by the difficulty of your classes. However, I would still recommend taking the harder but more interesting classes because they appeal to you and you will be more knowledgeable down the road. In addition, even if you do slightly worse in the harder classes (which may not happen), one or two grades will not have material affect on your career GPA.

 

[Mkif586]

As long as you have taken the necessary prerequisites, post a good MCAT score, and have good ECs, you will be a fine applicant not be judged by the difficulty of your classes. However, I would still recommend taking the harder but more interesting classes because they appeal to you and you will be more knowledgeable down the road. In addition, even if you do slightly worse in the harder classes (which may not happen), one or two grades will not have material affect on your career GPA.

Thank you!

 

[deleted688779]

I’m actually gonna strongly recommend to play the game and get the highest GPA + MCAT. There is no honor in doing the more challenging thing (despite schools being like “we want inquisitive students willing to challenge themselves” or whatever PR bovine excrement they say to sound selective). If you are really interested in something, you will find a way to learn it when you’re not prepping for MCAT and not harmful to your GPA (reading, opencourseware, Khan Academy, etc)

If you go to a public university, you might be able to find grade data on a professor or course. If it is interesting and grade inflated, go for it. You’ll also find yourself actually enjoying the class more knowing you don’t have to fight 300 students because the professor’s ego/rank only allows 5% of students to get A’s.

Source: went to a university where many premeds had “honor syndrome”

 

[Mkif586]

I’m actually gonna strongly recommend to play the game and get the highest GPA + MCAT. There is no honor in doing the more challenging thing (despite schools being like “we want inquisitive students willing to challenge themselves” or whatever PR bovine excrement they say to sound selective). If you are really interested in something, you will find a way to learn it when you’re not prepping for MCAT and not harmful to your GPA (reading, opencourseware, Khan Academy, etc)

If you go to a public university, you might be able to find grade data on a professor or course. If it is interesting and grade inflated, go for it. You’ll also find yourself actually enjoying the class more knowing you don’t have to fight 300 students because the professor’s ego/rank only allows 5% of students to get A’s.

Source: went to a university where many premeds had “honor syndrome”

Hi! Thank you for the input, apparently “honor syndrome” is exactly what I have but I think I will for for GPA protection.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

GPA! GPA! GPA!

 

[Mkif586]

@Goro @Moko @LizzyM
Will be thankful for your inputs!

 

[Moko]

You've gotten great advice from others. To emphasize: the difficulty of your courses will not matter if you end up with a subpar GPA. However, you also want to show that you can handle a med school course load. Students who consistently do the bare minimum to stay as a full-time student (without other activities, such as part-time work, etc), those with a suspiciously high number of introductory level classes, and those with W's scattered throughout each semester (possibly suggesting GPA protection), may draw unwanted attention. So take classes that interest and will challenge you, but not at the expense of your GPA.

 

[Mkif586]

You've gotten great advice from others. To emphasize: the difficulty of your courses will not matter if you end up with a subpar GPA. However, you also want to show that you can handle a med school course load. Students who consistently do the bare minimum to stay as a full-time student (without other activities, such as part-time work, etc), those with a suspiciously high number of introductory level classes, and those with W's scattered throughout each semester (possibly suggesting GPA protection), may draw unwanted attention. So take classes that interest and will challenge you, but not at the expense of your GPA.

Thank you! Do you think it is ok to drop to part time student next spring semester to improve ECs and better prepare for the MCAT?

 

[Moko]

Thank you! Do you think it is ok to drop to part time student next spring semester to improve ECs and better prepare for the MCAT?

No. I would recommend staying as a full time student, even if you need to take a lighter course load while studying for the MCAT. If you need to improve your ECs and need additional time to study for the MCAT, plan to take a gap year. Just my thoughts

 

[Angus Avagadro]

Agree with @Moko . I believe the MCAT should rank #1 on your list of priorities. A 518 MCAT with your immigrant and working status as a student will wash away the sins of the CC course work. It will illustrate your ability to adapt and handle complex course material. A 501 MCAT , not so much, especially if your ECs and leadership involvement are light. Better to take a gap year to get your ECs in order and have ample time to prepare for the MCAT. Just my opinion. Good luck and best wishes.

 

[Goro]

I agree 100% with my wise colleagues!

 

[esob]

Protect your GPA like it was a newborn. Load only matters when comparing two candidates where all of the other variables are exactly the same, which is to say, almost never.