I had a few low credit semesters....does this hurt me?

[antispatula]

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I want to apply to medical school. However, when I first started college, I was not told the importance of taking heavy course loads each semester. I took a 12 credit semester, and even a 9 credit semester, and during spring and summer for the first year I had 6 and 6 credits, and my second S/S I took 4 and 4 credits....Now however, I have been taking between 14 credits a semester Fall and Winter and am going to take the MCAT soon. I've maintained a 3.9 science GPA and a 3.99 overall GPA, and have shadowed doctors, done volunteer work consistently for 2 years and have some leadership experience. Do I sound like a good applicant for medical school? The few light course loads worry me. Thanks!

 

[circulus vitios]

I've maintained a 3.9 science GPA and a 3.99 overall GPA, and have shadowed doctors, done volunteer work consistently for 2 years and have some leadership experience. Do I sound like a good applicant for medical school?

 

[418865]

I want to apply to medical school. However, when I first started college, I was not told the importance of taking heavy course loads each semester. I took a 12 credit semester, and even a 9 credit semester, and during spring and summer for the first year I had 6 and 6 credits, and my second S/S I took 4 and 4 credits....Now however, I have been taking between 14 credits a semester Fall and Winter and am going to take the MCAT soon. I've maintained a 3.9 science GPA and a 3.99 overall GPA, and have shadowed doctors, done volunteer work consistently for 2 years and have some leadership experience. Do I sound like a good applicant for medical school? The few light course loads worry me. Thanks!

to be frank..I'm afraid your near perfect GPA and hopefully a stellar MCAT will not outweigh those couple light course loads no matter what you do. 🙁 Have you considered Caribbean med schools but if worst comes worst I also heard great things about DNP and Naturopathic medicine

 

[Silvari]

I'm not sure if this applies to most medical schools, but I asked the same question. I'm going to be taking only 3 classes per semester in order to gain some volunteer/shadowing expeirence. They told me they don't really look at the course load, just GPA and MCAT scores (along with all the other deciding factors..) Your GPA will stand out regardless, it just might take you a little while longer to get to that point.

 

[Elpenor]

Consider DO

 

[gettheleadout]

I've started reviewing apps and already went 👎 on someone who took a very light load freshman year thanks to AP credits. A 4.0 isn't impressive when the load is super-light. (By light I mean 5 credits.)

You're fine.

 

[Stumpyman]

A cold, frosty chill shot down my spine as I read the LizzyM post for the first time. Then looked at it again and saw 5 credits (thank God......).