I need help (too heavy classes?)

[zeppelinpage4]

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Hi, my registration period is about to end in another day or so and I need to have my schedule finalized soon. However I am in a bit of a dilemma.

Just as background, last semester I had to deal with an unexpected medical issue and missed the week of classes just before my finals. I was already taking three heavy sciences including Organic and Physics.

Along with that I had to put several hours into two clubs (6-8 hours a week) and I was doing research. The illness was just the final blow and I had a pretty rough semester. I was able to frantically catch up in a few days and barely got through my finals. My GPA is still okay and did not take a big hit because I managed on the finals (3.90 cum). But that semester with everything combined took a lot out of me.

Currently I am taking:
Physics II + lab (big time commitment) (4 credits)
Organic II (big time commitment) (3 credits)
Cell Biology (huge time commitment) (3 credits)
Continuing my research (1 credit)
String Band (2 hour weekly practice, my "fun" class) (1 credit)
12 credits total

All of these I want to take and will keep in my schedule, but my adviser told me that 12 credits is far too light of semester and it would look really bad on my transcript if I applied to medical school (he seemed to make a big deal).

So I just added a 3 credit art history class, putting me at 15 credit hours, which my adviser liked but I don't know if it will be too much (15 credits is standard at my school, but I am taking much harder sciences and ECs).

I am willing to put all the work needed and do not mind a challenge. But my family is still worried about my health and I know I pushed it a little far last semester with 16 credits. I don't want to go through that again, hence I thought taking one light semester might be alright.

So I don't know if it's okay to throw caution to the wind this semester and just take 12 credits and drop the art history course. Or if I should just take the art history class too and stick it out. My adviser seemed to get pretty irked by it so I really want to know if this would look bad or not. I've never taken a light semester/course load before this.

Sorry for the long post I really could use some advice, thanks.

 

[tommy pickles]

If I were you I wouldn't worry about doing that 3 credit art history class. Take some time to rest and get your health better. Give yourself a better chance to get A's in the classes you've scheduled. It's perfectly alright. You'll have plenty of time later in your career to push your health, you don't need to do it now.

 

[Potatoman1800]

Don't pay attention to advisors.

 

[Blown Away]

Hi, my registration period is about to end in another day or so and I need to have my schedule finalized soon. However I am in a bit of a dilemma.

Just as background, last semester I had to deal with an unexpected medical issue and missed the week of classes just before my finals. I was already taking three heavy sciences including Organic and Physics.

Along with that I had to put several hours into two clubs (6-8 hours a week) and I was doing research. The illness was just the final blow and I had a pretty rough semester. I was able to frantically catch up in a few days and barely got through my finals. My GPA is still okay and did not take a big hit because I managed on the finals (3.90 cum). But that semester with everything combined took a lot out of me.

Currently I am taking:
Physics II + lab (big time commitment) (4 credits)
Organic II (big time commitment) (3 credits)
Cell Biology (huge time commitment) (3 credits)
Continuing my research (1 credit)
String Band (2 hour weekly practice, my "fun" class) (1 credit)
12 credits total

All of these I want to take and will keep in my schedule, but my adviser told me that 12 credits is far too light of semester and it would look really bad on my transcript if I applied to medical school (he seemed to make a big deal).

So I just added a 3 credit art history class, putting me at 15 credit hours, which my adviser liked but I don't know if it will be too much (15 credits is standard at my school, but I am taking much harder sciences and ECs).

I am willing to put all the work needed and do not mind a challenge. But my family is still worried about my health and I know I pushed it a little far last semester with 16 credits. I don't want to go through that again, hence I thought taking one light semester might be alright.

So I don't know if it's okay to throw caution to the wind this semester and just take 12 credits and drop the art history course. Or if I should just take the art history class too and stick it out. My adviser seemed to get pretty irked by it so I really want to know if this would look bad or not. I've never taken a light semester/course load before this.

Sorry for the long post I really could use some advice, thanks.

You need to think Why would med school think your semester is too light? you only took 12 credits with cell bio physics and orgo? oh please were you taking a nap? This is totally NOT what is going to happen. 12 credits is still full time and you have a strong schedule. leave it as it is -- drop the history.

 

[MeowMeowCAT]

Too light? Most of your schedule is made up of "higher level" science course. Seems like your adviser is focusing too much on the credit amount rather than the difficulty of that actual classes. Worry more about your grades than your course load.

 

[Geneticist]

I wouldn't worry about that schedule becoming too much. I'll be taking pretty much the exact same thing as you and doing research/EC's/varsity athletics on top. No biggie, you can handle it.

 

[Scottydsntkno15]

I agree with most of the posts. Medical Schools will not make a big deal that you scheduled your time wisely rather than piling on a bunch of random classes and letting your GPA and sanity slip.

Ive been doing about 13-15 credits a semester.

 

[Ranna]

A 12 credit semester is not going to be an issue. I only took 12 credits one semester due to some scheduling issues, and was never asked about it.

 

[bucks2010]

Schedule wisely, and consider the implications for your future semesters. Don't be like me and not take enough classes early and have to take 36 hrs. your senior year (incl. 30 hrs. of upper level science!) to graduate on time.

 

[krispy]

Drop the art class. 3 hardcore sciences are enough work as it is.

 

[mtbtx]

Nut up or shut up IMO

 

[omgyou8myrice]

Sorry dude, but Physics, Ochem and Cell bio aren't "huge time commitments". If you can't muster those three together in one semester, I promise you will never make it through medical school.

 

[StudyShy]

Just make sure that you are totally physically recovered. Last year, I had some medical issues and was in the hospital with a feeding tube for a month. At my sickest, I was too weak to stand or walk on my own. I'm still not exactly the same physicially as I was before. Don't rush too fast in the game. Give yourself a little time to adjust back into life if was something very severe. Good luck!