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I had to rephrase my question...I think that I might have screwed myself over in terms of how I scheduled my classes for the past 2 years…
Basically since I was a freshman I would only take 12-13 credits a semester but would just take 1 pre-med req. I didn’t know how much this would hurt my chances until I visited sdn.
I am now currently a junior for the incoming winter semester (for fall I was in my third year but still in sophomore standing) my cGPA is 3.78 and my bcpm is 3.59. I’m scared that I might have screwed myself over with the way that I have scheduled my pre-reqs each semester ): basically when I started college in 2011 I became very sick with gastrointestinal problems, had to be hospitalized multiple times (and also realized that I had a very bad anxiety disorder and had to start therapy and medication) and really only did 12-13 credits per semester, and the course load was not rigorous at all. I took bio 1 and bio 2 respectively in fall and winter and took basic comp, intermediate comp and other gen eds like art history, anthropology, and nutrition (I had first wanted to be a nutrition major). my second year I declared myself a psychology major, and took 14 credits fall 2012. my course load was, once again, not very rigorous…basic chemistry (not gen chem), speech, italian culture, and intro to psych. I juggled two tutoring jobs and hospital volunteering. My one tutoring job did not allow me to have a flexible schedule. I had to hold office hours, a discussion, sit in lecture with students three times a week and have additional tutoring sessions. The following semester I decided to lighten the course load to 12 credits because I was taking general chemistry with lab, behavioral stats (both classes required a lot of work) and history, while working around 16 hrs per week, and got a 4.0.
This fall semester again I took 12 credits with Orgo and lab, developmental psych and sociology (again, only 1 premed class and two ‘easier’ classes, again working two tutoring jobs but now holding a rigorous research position. my gpa for the semester was a 3.78 with a B+ in Orgo.
my parents also pay for my tuition, I work to help pay for it. I don't qualify for financial aid or loans and I have two scholarships; taking a heavier course load will also put more strain on my family financially.
fall 2013 will be my last light course load since I no longer have the one tutoring job...the job did not really allow me to be that flexible with scheduling as I had to be available during various specific time slots during the week, but now since I no longer have that job I am taking 15 credits during winter- physics with lab with three psychology classes to play catch-up with my major. From here on out I will be taking 15 credit-18 credit semesters and doubling up on pre-reqs. I am concerned about what adcoms think, since it took me this long to start 'challenging myself' and if my major psych classes like behavioral stats and developmental psychology will be considered fluff/easy classes (to me they weren't)
I am just wondering now since I took three 12 credit semesters and one 13 credit semester with only one hard science class, how much that will hurt me? If I take heavier course loads in the future will I be okay? thanks again.
Also...for those of you who are wondering about my illnesses and discussing it during the application process, I have IBS and gastroparesis, and had gallstones in the past.
**edit: I only have two semesters of 12 credits. I took 13 credits for my first two semesters freshman year.
Basically since I was a freshman I would only take 12-13 credits a semester but would just take 1 pre-med req. I didn’t know how much this would hurt my chances until I visited sdn.
I am now currently a junior for the incoming winter semester (for fall I was in my third year but still in sophomore standing) my cGPA is 3.78 and my bcpm is 3.59. I’m scared that I might have screwed myself over with the way that I have scheduled my pre-reqs each semester ): basically when I started college in 2011 I became very sick with gastrointestinal problems, had to be hospitalized multiple times (and also realized that I had a very bad anxiety disorder and had to start therapy and medication) and really only did 12-13 credits per semester, and the course load was not rigorous at all. I took bio 1 and bio 2 respectively in fall and winter and took basic comp, intermediate comp and other gen eds like art history, anthropology, and nutrition (I had first wanted to be a nutrition major). my second year I declared myself a psychology major, and took 14 credits fall 2012. my course load was, once again, not very rigorous…basic chemistry (not gen chem), speech, italian culture, and intro to psych. I juggled two tutoring jobs and hospital volunteering. My one tutoring job did not allow me to have a flexible schedule. I had to hold office hours, a discussion, sit in lecture with students three times a week and have additional tutoring sessions. The following semester I decided to lighten the course load to 12 credits because I was taking general chemistry with lab, behavioral stats (both classes required a lot of work) and history, while working around 16 hrs per week, and got a 4.0.
This fall semester again I took 12 credits with Orgo and lab, developmental psych and sociology (again, only 1 premed class and two ‘easier’ classes, again working two tutoring jobs but now holding a rigorous research position. my gpa for the semester was a 3.78 with a B+ in Orgo.
my parents also pay for my tuition, I work to help pay for it. I don't qualify for financial aid or loans and I have two scholarships; taking a heavier course load will also put more strain on my family financially.
fall 2013 will be my last light course load since I no longer have the one tutoring job...the job did not really allow me to be that flexible with scheduling as I had to be available during various specific time slots during the week, but now since I no longer have that job I am taking 15 credits during winter- physics with lab with three psychology classes to play catch-up with my major. From here on out I will be taking 15 credit-18 credit semesters and doubling up on pre-reqs. I am concerned about what adcoms think, since it took me this long to start 'challenging myself' and if my major psych classes like behavioral stats and developmental psychology will be considered fluff/easy classes (to me they weren't)
I am just wondering now since I took three 12 credit semesters and one 13 credit semester with only one hard science class, how much that will hurt me? If I take heavier course loads in the future will I be okay? thanks again.
Also...for those of you who are wondering about my illnesses and discussing it during the application process, I have IBS and gastroparesis, and had gallstones in the past.
**edit: I only have two semesters of 12 credits. I took 13 credits for my first two semesters freshman year.
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