Lighter course load mistake - please help, I'm starting to panic!

[123abc321]

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hi! i know its long but please help out!

so im currently an undergrad student pursuing a double major in human biology and something else that i havent decided yet.

i'm in my first year. i was terrified about going to university, although i was a 90's student in high school. i took a few friends' advice and took a lighter course load during the fall/winter semesters to help me make the transition from high school to uni, and am planning to do a summer session to complete my ten half courses for my first year.

my first semester has just finished.

normally, at my university, 5 half courses as taken during fall semester and another 5 during the winter semester. i have done 4 courses for each, and am going to do 2 in the summer.

im leaning towards either dentistry or medical school.

i have just found out that some professional schools dont accept you unless youve had a full course load throughout all of your undergrad.

fyi - i am not planning on taking a lighter course load during any other year - i might do summer school for some other harder courses - but i will still be taking on a full course load during the sept - april school year most probably from now on.

i have also found out that many grad schools look down on a lighter course load, although you are allowed to have done so, so you can still apply.

my question is, will this by any chance ruin my chances at all? i am planning on working really hard this coming semester, as well as during the summer, and hopefully doing really well on my courses.

this past semester hasnt been too great, but everythings 70's (B's) and above - no C's yet, so im happy lol.

also, should i take 6 courses this semester - thereby giving me a full course load for this year? but im too worried that will have a really bad impact on my gpa.

oh, and please mainly dental schools in ontario - so basically only UofT and Western, although I'd like some info on one's outside of ontario and even canada cause I want to apply there too just in case!

what is everyones opinion on all this? any help is greatly appreciated, as i only have a few days to make my decision.

thank you so much, good luck for the rest of the year 🙂

 

[crax]

not sure about canada specifically, but i would not worry about it. i skimmed and it seems youre in your first year of college. very understandable to get your feet wet. As far as what you do in the future, i would suggest full course loads. (probably 3 out of my first four semesters not being a full load, but still a full time student of course). my last 4 semesters were both over a full load. and to be honest, it's not as big a difference in your schedule when you do or dont have that extra class. for me anyway, if i have free time, its free time. so having that class helps use that excess free time more constructively. definitely start working a little harder/ more efficiently and shoot for A's tho.

by no means are you nearly out of the game, and you have plenty of time (start now) to improve!

 

[123abc321]

not sure about canada specifically, but i would not worry about it. i skimmed and it seems youre in your first year of college. very understandable to get your feet wet. As far as what you do in the future, i would suggest full course loads. (probably 3 out of my first four semesters not being a full load, but still a full time student of course). my last 4 semesters were both over a full load. and to be honest, it's not as big a difference in your schedule when you do or dont have that extra class. for me anyway, if i have free time, its free time. so having that class helps use that excess free time more constructively. definitely start working a little harder/ more efficiently and shoot for A's tho.

by no means are you nearly out of the game, and you have plenty of time (start now) to improve!

hi, thanks for replying 🙂

yup, im a freshman, and this problem wasnt such a great way to start the new year 😡

yeah, ive realized that this last semester, even though i had a course less than typical, i did nothing constructive with that time, and thats when i started regretting my decision of ruining my summer, and now it seems the consequences to that are even worse 🙁

if i end up applying for UofT's med school, ill have the option of dropping 8 of my lowest marks if i maintain a full course load through undergrad. their med school also doesnt count courses taken as a part time student (ie. summer school) into the final calculation of the gpa. although UofT's dental school said that applicants can have a smaller course load and do summer courses that will get incorporated into the gpa, but Western prefers applicants to have a full course load.

but would you suggest taking six courses this semester? or continuing with four courses and doing two in the summer?

on the other hand, im scared my gpa will suffer by taking on more than i can handle 😕

sorry for the rambling, i do that when im nervous 😛

thanks again though!

 

[crax]

I think you should look at how badly you want to achieve your goal, and realistically. Look at how much free time you have. If you focus on work, studying, projects, homework, labs, and being well rounded, can you still find yourself to be social at night from 8pm on? Can you see yourself putting in 4-5 hours of studying a day before 8pm, and then having after 8pm as free time?

I would suggest taking a full course load only if you think you can handle it. You can even try it out and then drop the class a few weeks in if you want and see how youre doing. Im not sure if im just being nieve in talking in retrospect, but i think you need to bite the bullet and learn to organize your time and study efficiently and alot more now. Youll be doing it in two years and wondering why it was even a question in your past. if youre comfortable and confident, you can do it!