Should I Drop?

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Would you drop from 12 hrs to 9 if you were me?

  • Yes

    Votes: 10 76.9%
  • No

    Votes: 3 23.1%

  • Total voters
    13

TexasSurgeon

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Hey guys thanks in advance

So here's what's up: I've been getting sick a lot this semester and I don't know why. But for whatever reason, I've basically been sick for a month. School's been going on for a little over a month now.

I'm currently taking 12 hours of credits, and I've got a major leadership role this semester/year. On top of that, I'm studying for a retake of the MCAT on January 23 and I'm in a Princeton online class. My question is, should I drop a class and go to 9 hrs to do this? How will medical schools view this? Is it weak sauce? I've got a W from 3 semesters ago on my transcript but it's not a trend or anything. The princeton class can be considered an additional 10 hours of class.

I really wouldn't be considered this as much if I hadn't been sick as bad as I've been this past month.

Pros:
9 hrs = more time to study for MCAT
A W will not affect my GPA

Cons:
No longer considered a full time student
Lose scholarship eligibility (but I'm a senior anyway and have 1 semester eligible anyway after this one)
 
Just based off of my experiences interviewing this cycle, no schools asked me about a semester during which I went half time, but I was working and it was a one time occurrence. Even though I didn't have to explain it at interviews, be prepared to explain it and only do it if you don't have a history of doing this already.


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Just based off of my experiences interviewing this cycle, no schools asked me about a semester during which I went half time, but I was working and it was a one time occurrence. Even though I didn't have to explain it at interviews, be prepared to explain it and only do it if you don't have a history of doing this already.


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So next year I will still be admitted but it's not going to be full time semesters because I will have already applied and I'm going to be volunteering, etc. Will this have an impact by creating a trend for next year?

No as in don't drop?
 
Just based off of my experiences interviewing this cycle, no schools asked me about a semester during which I went half time, but I was working and it was a one time occurrence. Even though I didn't have to explain it at interviews, be prepared to explain it and only do it if you don't have a history of doing this already.


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This
 
I would drop but keep in mind that your health comes first. I hope something isn't seriously wrong with you medically. Being sick for over a month can really be a bad sign with respect to that. I don't want to scare you but I am just trying to tell you that you need to figure out what is going on with you medically. Hopefully it will just "go away".

I recently was diagnosed with another rare autoimmune neuropathy and my pursuit to become a physician is over with.

Anyways, I wish you the best of luck. You should focus some of the extra time from dropping the class on trying to figure out what is wrong with you medically.

I also went to your school for awhile (it wasn't for me though--they weren't nice to me, particularly engineering). Anyways, the scholarship office lets you appeal your scholarship once (such as for going below full-time), and always approves it on the *first* appeal, never on the second. You likely won't lose your scholarship if this is going to be your first appeal.
 
You should do what's best for your health. Last year during the fall semester, I got sick very often, but continued attending school full-time and working three part-time jobs. Due in large part to my nonstop working and my weakened immune system, I developed pneumonia in late November/early December (during finals week!). I was really ill for quite some time and was out of commission for longer than I would have been if I had stopped some of my activities in order to take care of myself. If you have the option to cut back, I would definitely recommend it so as to avoid this type of situation.

Good luck, and feel better!!
 
1. Even though a "W" does not count towards your GPA, it sticks out like a sore thumb on your transcript. You will have to explain it on secondaries if they ask "Explain any low grades".
2. Health matters so if this is serious then consider withdrawing.
3. However, no medical school will care if you tell them that you did this to study for MCAT. Princeton review course is your own doing. You cannot refer to that as course work even though it takes up 10 hours. 12 credits seem to be on the low end already. You should have time to study atleast 2 hours for MCAT everyday with that schedule. I had 15-18 during my time in college every semester except my last semester (13). Therefore, refer to point 2 and only drop if you have a serious health issue.
 
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