Is this semester too light?

[ditritium monoxide]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Here is my schedule for this semester. I'm concerned whether it will look bad for lightness:

- Bio 1 + lab (4 credits)
- Biochem (3 credit)
- An upper-level history course (3 credit)
- research lab (3 credit)

Research and other ECs of mine will take up a good chunk of time. I've actually planned out the rest of my semesters, and they look pretty similar to this one (i have every prereq taken care of except bio/biochem), fulfill the requirements of my major and minor (biochem and history), and let me graduate in a total of four years. But do I need to add something more to make my academics more rigourous? I have an undisclosed gpa above 3.9 (don't need gpa inflation), and I'd like to keep it where it's at.

I've been thinking of not taking letter-grade credits for research next fall.

Edit: fwiw, I did very well freshman year with 15 and 17 hr semesters

 

[Runner500]

Now, I'm not an adcom, but if I were, I'd instantly reject you due to your easy schedule.

I'd recommend applying Caribbean, but even that seems far fetched now.

 

[Runner500]

.

 

[ditritium monoxide]

Funny, but srs responses please

 

[Runner500]

Funny, but srs responses please

A serious response would be the opposite of my sarcastic response. I doubt anybody will care.

 

[Doudline]

13 credits, 3 of which are research (free A anywhere I know of), is slightly on the unimpressive side.

It might raise some eyebrows if it happens too often, but in general I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[Glandzburg]

How many semesters do you have left?

 

[ditritium monoxide]

How many semesters do you have left?

This one and four more

 

[ditritium monoxide]

13 credits, 3 of which are research (free A anywhere I know of), is slightly on the unimpressive side.

It might raise some eyebrows if it happens too often, but in general I wouldn't worry too much.

My PI wants 15 ish hours a week though, as this is what will get stuff done (and I agree), and there is a limit to which days I can come in the lab. Should I add another class?

 

[Meeehai]

Not light enough, how are you gonna mange going out every night with 13 credits?

 

[ditritium monoxide]

Also two things,

I had a similar course load last fall semester, but as I said previously, I successfully handled a 15 hr (without research credits) and 17 hr (with research credits from a different lab) courseload my two freshman semesters.

I could add on another random elective, but I've completed all my elective requirements with a study abroad and AP credits, and my scholarship has a cap on the hours it will fund my education for. Not that money is a huge issue, but buffing up my schedule, when I'm already on track to complete, in 4 years, a major and a minor that I enjoy, would just waste money I feel like. Also, my major requires 5 upper-level science electives, but Bio 1 is a prereq for a lot of these electives, so I can't take any of them yet.

If there's something you think I'm overlooking, do tell. If I stop doing research for credit (but still continue it) next fall and take a class instead, would that nullify the "lightness" of this semester?

 

[Mad Jack]

You're more likely to win the Powerball tonight than to find an adcom that actually cares about this enough to pass over your app. Don't be neurotic, it's fine.

 

[ditritium monoxide]

You're more likely to win the Powerball tonight than to find an adcom that actually cares about this enough to pass over your app. Don't be neurotic, it's fine.

I've seen @Goro say he ignores research credits, and if this is the case it looks as if this semester and last semester were 10 credit hours, which is 2 credit hours below the cutoff for full-time at my school. Are you positive this won't be a red flag? This is indeed coming off as neurotic, but I'm just trying to get expert opinions here before my class registration ends.

@LizzyM, you've also commented about not favoring lighter courseloads. Your insight here would be invaluable.

 

[Lucca]

You're more likely to win the Powerball tonight than to find an adcom that actually cares about this enough to pass over your app. Don't be neurotic, it's fine.

So you're saying....


There's a chance it might matter

 

[Mad Jack]

I've seen @Goro say he ignores research credits, and if this is the case it looks as if this semester and last semester were 10 credit hours, which is 2 credit hours below the cutoff for full-time at my school. Are you positive this won't be a red flag? This is indeed coming off as neurotic, but I'm just trying to get expert opinions here before my class registration ends.

@LizzyM, you've also commented about not favoring lighter courseloads. Your insight here would be invaluable.

I dunno, ask the adcoms- I doubt they'll look at your one semester out of an entire school career and be like, "whoa, he only took TEN non-research credits two years ago? REJECT!"

 

[Goro]

Neurotic SDNers, trust Mad Jack, please!!!

I dunno, ask the adcoms- I doubt they'll look at your one semester out of an entire school career and be like, "whoa, he only took TEN non-research credits two years ago? REJECT!"

 

[aegistitan]

Brah there is no such thing as a semester that is too light