Nice GPA, but easy science courseload

[AllDay24]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hey everyone,

So I'm a sophomore at a top 5 undergrad, and while that might imply I'm really smart, I'm actually not. I have a 3.9 GPA, but pretty much every semester I've been doing the same thing: 2 intro sciences class w/ lab and 2 really easy classes. I don't know people at my school that take more than 5 courses. I'm posting this because I'm a biology major, yet all I've taken is intro bio. My junior year, if I stick to my two sciences per semester plan, is to do Orgo I and II and 2 mid-level bio courses.

Am I taking it too easy on myself? I feel like 2 sciences per semester is a really good balance for me. Yet most of my friends at state colleges are taking many more science classes. They're bio majors as well, and they've taken stuff like genetics, biochem, etc, while I've only taken intro bio. A year later, I'll only have taken physio and biochem. Will med schools not view as a legit bio major because I'm literally only taking the basic requirements (5 intermediate/upper level courses) and I'm only taking 2 sciences per semester?

Thanks in advance.

 

[UpQuark]

Hey everyone,

Will med schools not view as a legit bio major because I'm literally only taking the basic requirements (5 intermediate/upper level courses) and I'm only taking 2 sciences per semester?

Thanks in advance.

To be honest, I don't think it matters that much because in the end, that GPA is a big deciding factor. Despite this, med schools do look at your performance in tougher, upper division courses as opposed to general, introductory courses. If you maintained a solid sGPA and cGPA, I don't think you should really worry, but if you did poorly in your courses, you do have a point to prove by taking tougher and more science courses.

Then again, you see business majors and even fashion designers get into medical school... so just keep that GPA up and kill the MCAT.

Getting into medical school is a twisted, stressful, mysterious game. You never know if you're doing this right or wrong...at least I feel that way.

 

[Redoxify]

I was worried about the same thing when I applied last year. Good GPA, but very very easy course load.

I felt like everyone around me was taking 5, 6 classes and here I was taking the bare minimum hours and taking it easy on myself. Sure I was getting the grades, but compared to Mr. I-take-18-hours-a-semester, I was a mere plebeian.

But in the end, it didn't matter. It wasn't even brought up in my interviews. I ended up getting into several med schools and in my very last semester of college, where grades really don't matter, I'm taking 3 of the hardest sciences. And my gpa's gonna bomb after I'm done with em. But guess what? It doesn't matter.

Moral: high GPA trumps the course load. It's worse to have a heavy course load and get a mediocre or bad gpa.

Secondary moral: save the hardest classes till the end so the grades in them won't matter as much.

Good luck.

 

[AllDay24]

I was worried about the same thing when I applied last year. Good GPA, but very very easy course load.

I felt like everyone around me was taking 5, 6 classes and here I was taking the bare minimum hours and taking it easy on myself. Sure I was getting the grades, but compared to Mr. I-take-18-hours-a-semester, I was a mere plebeian.

But in the end, it didn't matter. It wasn't even brought up in my interviews. I ended up getting into several med schools and in my very last semester of college, where grades really don't matter, I'm taking 3 of the hardest sciences. And my gpa's gonna bomb after I'm done with em. But guess what? It doesn't matter.

Moral: high GPA trumps the course load. It's worse to have a heavy course load and get a mediocre or bad gpa.

Secondary moral: save the hardest classes till the end so the grades in them won't matter as much.

Good luck.

Very reassuring! Thanks!

 

[Ignatius M.D.]

Hey everyone,

So I'm a sophomore at a top 5 undergrad, and while that might imply I'm really smart, I'm actually not. I have a 3.9 GPA, but pretty much every semester I've been doing the same thing: 2 intro sciences class w/ lab and 2 really easy classes. I don't know people at my school that take more than 5 courses. I'm posting this because I'm a biology major, yet all I've taken is intro bio. My junior year, if I stick to my two sciences per semester plan, is to do Orgo I and II and 2 mid-level bio courses.

Am I taking it too easy on myself? I feel like 2 sciences per semester is a really good balance for me. Yet most of my friends at state colleges are taking many more science classes. They're bio majors as well, and they've taken stuff like genetics, biochem, etc, while I've only taken intro bio. A year later, I'll only have taken physio and biochem. Will med schools not view as a legit bio major because I'm literally only taking the basic requirements (5 intermediate/upper level courses) and I'm only taking 2 sciences per semester?

Thanks in advance.

I'd always expect them to consider course load, but I see no reason why they would look at a 3.9 from a top 5 undergrad as unsatisfactory solely because you didn't kill yourself with heavy semesters. Make sure you're using that extra time to do something you're passionate about. Research, volunteering, or whatever. Honestly, I wish I'd taken nicer course loads here, but time didn't permit.

 

[Redwood]

If I were you, I'd do research, in particular, cardiovascular health research, and also spend some time watching sports.

 

[jcho91]

I'd always expect them to consider course load, but I see no reason why they would look at a 3.9 from a top 5 undergrad as unsatisfactory solely because you didn't kill yourself with heavy semesters. Make sure you're using that extra time to do something you're passionate about. Research, volunteering, or whatever. Honestly, I wish I'd taken nicer course loads here, but time didn't permit.

im doin the same. Im gonna drop my 4th science class and only take 3 (quarter system).

 

[rhcarolina]

It really doesn't matter in which courses one succeeds, it just matters that one has succeeded. I really wish I had known that earlier in my undergraduate experience. In fact, the "easy" classes are sometimes far more interesting, definitely more so than say biochemistry, and these classes were often topics of discussion during my interviews.

An example of an "easy" biology course that I took is Spider Biology. To an interviewer, it certainly stands out.

 

[vvgp1216]

Hi you guys, I am wondering if anyone has anyone follow up 5 years later? Do you guys still feel the same way about taking 2 science classes at a time? I am a Poli Sci major and took two two science classes per quarter and am really worried that Admissions will think my science course load was too easy. Any insight is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[MareNostrummm]

Two science classes per quarter isn't that bad... That's like Physics + lab and gen chem + lab.. not really a big deal. Labs are time consuming.

 

[vvgp1216]

I have many non trads who take 1 science course a term and just do the prereqs of intro bio, intro chem, organic/biochem, physics, and little else.

Hi @gonnif! Do you feel the same way about non-science majors taking 1-2 science classes at a time? I graduated with a Poli Sci major and took about 1-2 science classes per quarter and am worried that Admissions might see my science load as too easy. I've read on SDN that taking 1-2 is not that bad, but every time I go to an Admissions workshop, they're always hounding in on heavy course load heavy course load! Any thoughts?