Minimum Number of Credits until Graduation?

[vanillabear55]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I'm a second semester sophomore, and come the beginning of junior year I will have 88 credits, and I need 124 to complete my degree.
(I got about 23 credits from a High School Extension Program/AP credits)

If I go through my last four semesters, taking the minimum, I'll still overshoot with 136, so I was planning on taking it light for my junior year and possibly graduating a semester early senior year.

Will medical schools notice this course load and will it reflect negatively? Should I add an extra class and stay at 15 each semester? thanks

 

[kutlessrock]

By doing that are you taking into account completing all of the actual requirements? At the end of this year (my freshman yr) I will have 70 credits, but have a TON of GenEds and major requirements (i am double majoring, so that is a part of it) to finish (I am at a LAC, though, so I have a lot more GenEds than others might). If your going to graduate early, what would you plan to do? I think med schools would want to see you doing something meaningful with that time. If money is an issue, graduate early and find something to do, but if not, taking the minimum load (as long as you are getting pretty much all As with a low course load) and staying the whole time and graduating with your class might be worth doing.

Edit: And having a light load while studying for your MCAT and while applying would probably be nice/recommended as well.

 

[vanillabear55]

By doing that are you taking into account completing all of the actual requirements? At the end of this year (my freshman yr) I will have 70 credits, but have a TON of GenEds and major requirements (i am double majoring, so that is a part of it) to finish (I am at a LAC, though, so I have a lot more GenEds than others might). If your going to graduate early, what would you plan to do? I think med schools would want to see you doing something meaningful with that time. If money is an issue, graduate early and find something to do, but if not, taking the minimum load (as long as you are getting pretty much all As with a low course load) and staying the whole time and graduating with your class might be worth doing.

Edit: And having a light load while studying for your MCAT and while applying would probably be nice/recommended as well.

Yes, I have all but one gen-ed completed and the rest of my major requirements/med school prereqs could definitely fit within the 36-48 credits.

Hm, if I graduated early I'm not entirely sure, I haven't given much thought to this yet, but I definitely would find something to occupy myself that is helpful for medical school.

and the MCAT thing was exactly what I was thinking, for junior year this is my tentative schedule:


Fall 2011:
Organic Chem 1/Lab (4cr)
Psych Research Methods/Design (4cr)
Abnormal Psych Honors (3cr)
Science Seminar (1cr)

Spring 2012:
Organic Chem 2/Lab (4cr)
Physics 2/Lab (4cr)
Positive Psychology (3cr)
Science Seminar (1cr)


*the science seminars are basically MCAT prep classes that are p/f*

 

[raltima07]

Yes, I have all but one gen-ed completed and the rest of my major requirements/med school prereqs could definitely fit within the 36-48 credits.

Hm, if I graduated early I'm not entirely sure, I haven't given much thought to this yet, but I definitely would find something to occupy myself that is helpful for medical school.

and the MCAT thing was exactly what I was thinking, for junior year this is my tentative schedule:


Fall 2011:
Organic Chem 1/Lab (4cr)
Psych Research Methods/Design (4cr)
Abnormal Psych Honors (3cr)
Science Seminar (1cr)

Spring 2012:
Organic Chem 2/Lab (4cr)
Physics 2/Lab (4cr)
Positive Psychology (3cr)
Science Seminar (1cr)


*the science seminars are basically MCAT prep classes that are p/f*

Organic and physics....fun!

 

[vanillabear55]

Organic and physics....fun!

positive psychology will keep me alive. hopefully. 😀