low u nit load

[Sonya]

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Hi Guys,
Here's my situation.
I'm pre-med. I'm a senior. I'll start medschool two years after I graduate, so have yet to start the application process, MCATs, etc.
I got a 3.84 GPA from Washinton Univ in St. Louis. I will do three years at WashU. I trasferred from a junior college.

Overall, I will have a LOT of unit, because I transferred like, 120 semester units from the junior college (I was there a long time, not always full time, did a lot of high school work there, etc).

But my load at WashU has has always been relatively light. 11 units + Working for research (10 hrs/wk). or 12-14.5 units if research was a class. Except for one semester, 7 completed units and only 3.5 GPA... but that was because of illness, personal problems, and lot more.

How will medschools look upon the low course load? I don't have a real good reason, other than all classes take me a LOT of time to study. I have reasonable extra activities.. usually 4-10 hrs/wk (not including research). covers medical experience, community service, etc.

It's really not that I goof off and want to take it easy. I want to do good in classes, because I know GPA is everything. But, i usually AM studying or in classes 65-75 hrs/wk.
Would this also stay something about how I'll be able to handle medschool classes?
Oh yeah, i'm also a young applicant. Will probably start medschool at age 20.

Thanks,
Sonya

 

[jargon124]

Hi Sonya,

Here are my thoughts:

Whether a low credit load will hurt you will depend to some expent on the school you are applying to. For example, I have heard that my state school (U Arizona) looks closely at whether a full load of classes was taken for those applicants who sat for the April MCAT. They are presumably looking for an ability to handle the demands of studying for MCATs and school/research/volunteer stuff simultaneously. Not all schools do this, but some do. Overall though I would not be too worried about it. High GPA and strong MCATs makes lots of stuff just go away in the eyes of the adcoms.

Keep in mind, however, that during medschool you will be taking the equivalent of 30 units per semester. Getting yourself used to a heavy courseload may not be a bad idea...

I have a question for you. How is it possible that you will be 20 when you enter medschool given that you havent even taken the MCAT yet? Are you some sort of a prodigy?

 

[Sonya]

Hi,
I will be applying for some top schools (WashU, U Penn, duke, hopkins, etc). While I know getting into those schools takes having everything... and more. I do consider myself a strong candidate for top 25 school.

To put it simple, how i will start at 20: I started college early. I was homeschooled previosly. I will graduate w/ BS at age 18. that's a whole other story in itself. 😀

Thanks for you input!
Sonya

 

[dustinspeer]

Thats funny because I am 20, have a wife, baby on the way, job (actually 2)... Argh... Some come by it easily...