How many credits per semester should a pre-med take?

[yellowbird12]

Hi, I was told by someone that a premed should take at least 15 credits per semester.

However what if you don't need the extra classes.
In addition. I didn't do well last semester GPA wise and this semester has been tough, I even had to withdraw from one class.

So I wanted to change my major from chem to bio..and I want to take Microbio and Genetics next semester along with two easier classes.

But even despite this, I feel like is taking Genetic and Microbio going to be too much for me..?

But if I take these two classes I can finish completing my degree requirements at a campus near where I live instead of having to go to the main campus.

The nearby campus doesn't offer microbio. and genetics. So I wanted to get those done and over with..

Still anyway back to the main question
is it okay to take 12 -14 credits for the rest of the semesters ( either 3 or 4 semester lefts for me)? ....how much does it matter to adcoms how many credits per semester you take? I just want some more clarification on this matter.

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[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Take as many credits to remain full time and manage to obtain a 4.0. If that number is the minimal 12, then so be it.

 

[jokerman55]

Hi, I was told by someone that a premed should take at least 15 credits per semester.

However what if you don't need the extra classes.
In addition. I didn't do well last semester GPA wise and this semester has been tough, I even had to withdraw from one class.

So I wanted to change my major from chem to bio..and I want to take Microbio and Genetics next semester along with two easier classes.

But even despite this, I feel like is taking Genetic and Microbio going to be too much for me..?

But if I take these two classes I can finish completing my degree requirements at a campus near where I live instead of having to go to the main campus.

The nearby campus doesn't offer microbio. and genetics. So I wanted to get those done and over with..

Still anyway back to the main question
is it okay to take 12 -14 credits for the rest of the semesters ( either 3 or 4 semester lefts for me)? ....how much does it matter to adcoms how many credits per semester you take? I just want some more clarification on this matter.

I don't think Adcoms are going to be nitpicky over 12creds/sem vs. 16 creds/sem. Take what you're comfortable with (but remain full time)

 

[Jermsss]

I am currently taking 14.5 credits a semester (4 classes in total) along with summer and winter courses. To me, it is easier to maintain a high and steady GPA that way. Also, i am graduating early, so if you think you'll be behind, don't.

 

[Jermsss]

Also, just as jokerman55 said, adcoms aren't too picky on courseload. IMO, it is better to have a manageable courseload and a higher GPA vs. a loaded amount of courses with a slightly lower GPA.

 

[NickNaylor]

I second others' advice to take only as much as you can handle (and by "handle" I mean doing well). The fact is that microbio and genetics together likely isn't going to be overly demanding, and if it is, then you should get used to having a demanding amount of work to complete as that'll be a joke compared to med school.

 

[zherussianbear]

Your choice. I took 19-20 credits every semester and still managed a pretty good GPA (def. not 4.0), but these were classes I really enjoyed to explore - math, engineering, small science classes, art, research, English, business, and other stuff of which I otherwise wouldn't have seen a lot.

Don't burden yourself to impress anyone, though, because you probably won't that way.

For some reason, and this is my major grievance with med admissions, I've felt as though premeds are discouraged from really exploring during UG, which I think is the point of going through it in the first place. Still, most people won't risk a B for a class they might enjoy, and from my experience (opinion, anecdote, non-evidence), adcoms seem to prefer 12 credits of A+ over 20 credits of A-.

 

[Cinclus]

I found success with taking 12-15 credits/semester (12 credits was full-time at my school, I never took over 15 credits/semester). The difficulty of each semester depends on which classes you're taking. Some of my most difficult semesters were 12-credit ones, so if you know a certain class is going to be a major time drain, use discretion when deciding whether to burden yourself with additional credits.

 

[calisurfer19]

Along those lines, I'm a nontrad and will have org 1 and 2 left for prereqs come this fall. What about just knocking those classes out one per semester + prepping for MCAT? I know it's not recommended to take a class while prepping for the MCAT, and taking only one class is somewhat laughable, but it's as much as my new duty position will allow.

 

[TheVillain]

In my opinion if you have to take twelve credits to barely achieve 4.0, and you do get accepted into med school, the study load might be a shock factor...but I really have no idea.

 

[Aerus]

Take the minimum, if you want. That won't really matter.

People only load up on more courses to:

1) Get more prereqs out of the way.
2) Have a "buffer" class to protect GPA.
3) They have a real interest for the class and want to take it for fun.
4) A combination of the above.

 

[Stumpyman]

Take the minimum, if you want. That won't really matter.

People only load up on more courses to:

1) Get more prereqs out of the way.
2) Have a "buffer" class to protect GPA.
3) They have a real interest for the class and want to take it for fun.
4) A combination of the above.

Yeah, this. Just take whatever you're comfortable with.

 

[kasho11]

In my opinion if you have to take twelve credits to barely achieve 4.0, and you do get accepted into med school, the study load might be a shock factor...but I really have no idea.

The first half of that was going to get you in trouble... saved yourself with the rest.

 

[yellowbird12]

The first half of that was going to get you in trouble... saved yourself with the rest.

What do you mean?

 

[pfaction]

The first half of that was going to get you in trouble... saved yourself with the rest.

No, he's dead on. If you can't handle pre-med courses and maintain above a 3.5, then I wonder how you'd do in the medical field.