Less credits and better grades vs. more credits?

[DendWrite]

Just wondering if it's cool to take only 15 credits this semester if I'm doing stuff extensively outside of class (40 hours + of various extracurriculars). It's either drop a class (I'm at 18 right now) and be able to get A's or take the additional class and probably pick up an A- or two. What do you all think is best?

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[schrizto]

I don't think medical schools care how many credits you took at one time, they just want to see the grades. And getting an A- somewhere instead of an A isn't so bad.

 

[LizzyM]

All other things being equal (and they never are) a higher load is considered better but it is very far down the list of things we try to look at. Of greater concern would be a very light load (12 or 13 units/semester) year after year. Someone like that will raise a red flag in terms of ability to carry a heavy academic load.

 

[Stratego]

Drop the class and protect your GPA. Carrying a heavy load can be due to other things than academic, like ECs, work, studying for the MCAT, etc.

 

[Law2Doc]

I don't think medical schools care how many credits you took at one time, they just want to see the grades. And getting an A- somewhere instead of an A isn't so bad.

Agreed. If you are a full time student, and get A's and have taken all the prereqs, you are golden. Neurotic premeds on here think that if they take a crazy double major courseload and lots of hard courses like p-chem, they somehow get a leg up. But they basically are taking the path of most resistance for no good reason. The dude who takes the prereqs and majors in something easy and takes the minimum full time courseload and gets A's will have a much better time in college and a much easier time getting into med school with his higher GPA. Don't try to out-think admissions. They want to see that you got A's in the prereqs, a high GPA, and aced the MCAT and then turn their focus to the non-academic parts of your application. The dude with the 3.0 is going to get passed over despite the fact that he was carrying 30 credits of the hardest courses. Why? Because he was trying too hard to play his own game, not the one on the table, and you don't get respected for that.

 

[Tin Man]

Just wondering if it's cool to take only 15 credits this semester if I'm doing stuff extensively outside of class (40 hours + of various extracurriculars). It's either drop a class (I'm at 18 right now) and be able to get A's or take the additional class and probably pick up an A- or two. What do you all think is best?

Uh... Does the AMCAS take into account A- vs A vs A+?

As far as I know, at least when I filled it out, it was A, and only an A. It doesn't matter what your school decided to view it as.

Under that context, I would say that if you still think you can get A's in everything (regardless of what your school decides to nitpick about), then go for it. Getting all A's with an 18 hour load and including an obviously tough class will certainly not be frowned upon...

 

[shiftingmirage]

Uh... Does the AMCAS take into account A- vs A vs A+?

Yes, and no, in that order. AMCAS recognizes A and A- but not an A+. An A+ is an A.

 

[metallica81788]

My credit hours by semester: 15, 14, 13, 13, 13, 13, 12, (13 for last one?).
No one's asked about it at any of my interviews. I came into college with a lot of credit, so why take more so I can waste one of my college years and graduate early?

 

[Struggles]

How would Medical Schools view a couple semesters of being a part-time student? I had one semester that I dropped a class putting me 2 credits under full-time as well as one semester of 9 credits because I was studying for the MCAT and working on a project in my lab that demanded extra hours.

 

[MilkmanAl]

Again, GPA is really all that matters except in extreme cases. They *might* ask you why you were a part time student for a couple semesters out of curiosity, but an honest answer will put that to rest.

 

[Tin Man]

How would Medical Schools view a couple semesters of being a part-time student? I had one semester that I dropped a class putting me 2 credits under full-time as well as one semester of 9 credits because I was studying for the MCAT and working on a project in my lab that demanded extra hours.

I would hope that whatever you did in your lab was worth it, though. Like, in terms of a publication or a great letter of recommendation. Without any solid proof that you were even in the lab, it might get questioned.

 

[vickpick]

Just wondering if it's cool to take only 15 credits this semester if I'm doing stuff extensively outside of class (40 hours + of various extracurriculars). It's either drop a class (I'm at 18 right now) and be able to get A's or take the additional class and probably pick up an A- or two. What do you all think is best?

15 credits is average per semester.. who told u that's low?

 

[CoolWhipp]

15 credits a semester x 8 semesters is 120 units, which is what is required to get a bachelors at most schools.

 

[drareg]

I took 9 to 12 units each semester. I did work two 24 hour shifts as an EMT each week plus I was running my own organization on campus so that's all I could commit to. It hasn't been brought up in any of my interviews so far and judging from how many interviews I have received so far it doesn't seem like its been a problem.

I think the problem is if you take 9 units without doing anything else but then its really easy for an applicant to say that they were working alot when they really weren't. I dont know how adcoms check that but I made sure I got a letter of rec from the medical director with the company I worked for (who i also shadowed) to add somewhere in the letter my workload as an EMT.

I STRONGLY feel that your undergrad years are the only time to accomplish some things that you want to do as a unique and dynamic individual - not just in academics. Get yourself involved in the community and think outside the box. Find things you have passion for and put time into it just like you do for your classes. Not just for application purposes but because once you start medical school and your career - you will probably not have the time to do any of that again. Just my 2 cents.

 

[bellakk]

In addition to preparing you for medical school, college is supposed to be fun. Don't forget to schedule that in there somewhere.

 

[drareg]

in addition to preparing you for medical school, college is supposed to be fun. Don't forget to schedule that in there somewhere.

definitely!

 

[tennisball80]

I am also thinking to spend 5 instead of 4 years to graduate so I can only take 12 or 13 credits per semester. I can participate in more ECs then.

 

[metallica81788]

I am also thinking to spend 5 instead of 4 years to graduate so I can only take 12 or 13 credits per semester. I can participate in more ECs then.

I'm not so sure about that, but maybe it's just overanalyzing.

 

[zoner]

All other things being equal (and they never are) a higher load is considered better but it is very far down the list of things we try to look at. Of greater concern would be a very light load (12 or 13 units/semester) year after year. Someone like that will raise a red flag in terms of ability to carry a heavy academic load.

12 or 13 units per semester is considered as light load? even thought they are all science and math classes?

 

[Spiker]

12 or 13 units per semester is considered as light load? even thought they are all science and math classes?

If you constantly take 12-13 hours of only math and science...it is bad..

First take too long to graduate
Second you need more humanity classes

 

[gr33n]

I always took a light load. For the majority of the last 3 years, I took the minimum number of credits to be considered "full time" (= 12 in my school). Of those, I even took quite a few classes that were pass/fail. It hasn't been a problem in me getting interview invites, it didn't come up in the interviews that I went to, and I have been accepted.

 

[anavistas]

I've taken only 3 science classes a semester, the required was 9 for gradschool, which with a seminar would be about 11. I was not allowed to take undergrad courses and when taking, I was not getting paid, so I'd again take 9, but had to always (except 1 semester) teach and work in lab which I'm sure nobody cares. I'd be graduating soon, I'm worried how red that flag would be?!

 

[MilkIsGood]

if you take research for 3 credit hrs, and have 15 hrs total, do you look at that as 12 hrs or 15 hrs

 

[anavistas]

I'd say that's 15, that was considering research also.