Padding undergraduate GPA?

[ichor]

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Hi guys, new poster here. This fall, I'll be entering my freshman year of college.

I haven't selected my classes yet and I'm uncertain of what to take. I know that GPA and MCAT score are the 2 most important factors in getting into medical schools, so I'm worried about what classes I should take--whether or not to take easy classes in UG.

Take math for example. In high school, I passed multi-variable calculus with differential equations with straight A's (calculus 2). But other students of my year entering the same college, for example, are racked with choosing between pre-calculus and calculus.

So I figure, why would I jump straight into classes beyond calculus 2 and hurt my GPA?

I am not sure of which route to take, so input from you guys would be very appreciated!

 

[Hillo]

Or... you could take upper-division biology courses and cap at 12 credits a semester.

I mean, retaking classes sounds like a waste of time.

 

[ichor]

Or... you could take upper-division biology courses and cap at 12 credits a semester.

I mean, retaking classes sounds like a waste of time.

So basically you think I should take hard biology classes? But I thought as long as you fill out the basic pre-med prerequisites, it's good?

Isn't a great GPA and decent classes taken better than an okay GPA and very hard classes?

(Also, is this the most fitting subforum for me to post in? I am pre-college technically, but I feel like this is more of a HS pre-med subforum)

 

[Johansef]

Take classes that will preserve your GPA. Undergrad is not a sprint it's a test of endurance (of your GPA).

 

[Hillo]

Yes, you could just stick with the prereqs...
OR
you could still make sure you'll have a great GPA (by taking 12 credits a semester) AND get used to memorizing lots of medically-related information (some of which may help you in medical school).

I've retaken classes and hated every minute of it.

Yea, you probably should have asked it in the Pre-medical section because more people use it.

 

[sector9]

Closing thread as it has been cross posted. Please see the version in preallo to comment http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=14201556#post14201556