Should I take a greater course-load first sem. senior year? (19-25credit)

[Luelinks]

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My stats are very low:
~2.99 sGPA
3.04 cGPA
2.74 prerequisite GPA (assuming my physic's/lab grades are what I planned)

I will be applying for post-baccs, most at DO schools, a few MD schools, But here's the thing...my GPA has steadily been increasing since I've gotten my life back in track:

X: (semester 1, semester 2)
F: 3.12, 3.12
S: 3.04, 2.70
J: 3.28, (~3.4-3.72, >3.5 likely)
S: >3.5, >3.5 (I'm planning)

For my first semester senior year I plan to take these classes:

3k level: Kinesiology - 3
3k level: Epidemiology - 3
2k level: Cell and Molecular Bio - 3
2k level: Microbiology Lab - 1
2k level: Human Sexuality - 3
1l level: Music Appreciation [Online] - 3
2k level: The Creative Process [Online] - 3
5k level: Heath in the Elderly [Online - Graduate level class] - 3
3k level: Drug Education [Online] - 3

Total that's 25 credits. HOWEVER, I can knock out Drug Ed and Music Appreciation literally if I spend Friday through Sunday non-stop on one weekend, essentially giving me 19 credits...but no one will know. I also want to take genetics for fun, possibly pass-fail, but may not have time.

Opinions would be great. Thank you.

 

[taylormade2006]

Have you taken online courses before?

 

[argentrans37]

My stats are very low:
~2.99 sGPA
3.04 cGPA
2.74 prerequisite GPA (assuming my physic's/lab grades are what I planned)

I will be applying for post-baccs, most at DO schools, a few MD schools, But here's the thing...my GPA has steadily been increasing since I've gotten my life back in track:

X: (semester 1, semester 2)
F: 3.12, 3.12
S: 3.04, 2.70
J: 3.28, (~3.4-3.72, >3.5 likely)
S: >3.5, >3.5 (I'm planning)

For my first semester senior year I plan to take these classes:

3k level: Kinesiology - 3
3k level: Epidemiology - 3
2k level: Cell and Molecular Bio - 3
2k level: Microbiology Lab - 1
2k level: Human Sexuality - 3
1l level: Music Appreciation [Online] - 3
2k level: The Creative Process [Online] - 3
5k level: Heath in the Elderly [Online - Graduate level class] - 3
3k level: Drug Education [Online] - 3

Total that's 25 credits. HOWEVER, I can knock out Drug Ed and Music Appreciation literally if I spend Friday through Sunday non-stop on one weekend, essentially giving me 19 credits...but no one will know. I also want to take genetics for fun, possibly pass-fail, but may not have time.

Opinions would be great. Thank you.

Not sure if this is serious or not, but since the post is as long as it is, I'm assuming you are really looking for advice.

To be honest, your plan is all screwed up. Start by dropping all of your online classes. Yes, all of them. Medical schools do not want to see that you got B's in every one of your classes, even if you take 10 of them each semester.

And say what you want about an "increasing" GPA, but there is no real trend there and you have went all 5 semesters to this point without a single good semester. I am a little skeptical when you say that you are expecting a 3.5+ for each of the next 3 semesters when you haven't even come close to that in ANY semester of your entire college career.

Look, if you were a 3.8-4.0 student who already scored a 30+ on the MCAT and wanted to impress people, or even just take an insane course load for the sake of learning, I'd say go for it. But for someone in your position to even consider this is just crazy. Also keep in mind the expense of tuition for all of those classes, and the fact that post-baccs are going to cost you quite a bit, and the fact that (if accepted) med school costs hundreds of thousands of dollars.

If you somehow do get an interview, try to avoid using cliches that piss off everyone who hears them. From that one post alone you hit 3 SDN favorites:

- Upward-trending GPA since [personal crisis/depression/illness/death of friend or distant relative]
- My GPA has never even been decent, but I think it will be great every semester from here on out
- Bragging about a heavy course load

Seriously, every single med school reject-to-be that posts on here mentions some dramatic turning point in their life, the fact that "after this semester my GPA will be [0.4 points higher than current]", and a bunch of other garbage like that.

If I were you, I'd look into graduating, finding a job, and then trying to get my mind right for applying to medical school. But hey, that's just one guy's take on it.

 

[Luelinks]

And say what you want about an "increasing" GPA, but there is no real trend there and you have went all 5 semesters to this point without a single good semester. I am a little skeptical when you say that you are expecting a 3.5+ for each of the next 3 semesters when you haven't even come close to that in ANY semester of your entire college career.

Except my first semester junior year GPA was higher than my rest and the fact the LEAST GPA I could achieve if I slacked off the rest of the semester is still higher than my prior GPAs. Therefore, I would argue that my GPA is increased, and I'm proud of that accomplishment on my part.

Look, if you were a 3.8-4.0 student who already scored a 30+ on the MCAT and wanted to impress people, or even just take an insane course load for the sake of learning, I'd say go for it. But for someone in your position to even consider this is just crazy. Also keep in mind the expense of tuition for all of those classes, and the fact that post-baccs are going to cost you quite a bit, and the fact that (if accepted) med school costs hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The conclusion I've made about your entire post suggests you've assumed everything wrong.

A lot of courses are only offered in the fall, and it's important that I complete as many courses as possible for the second semester classes. Did you not read that I have an interest in Genetics and would enjoy taking that class as well? It's not about impressing anyone. My goal was see user's opinions about strictly taking higher credits, when logistically I believe I can.

If you somehow do get an interview, try to avoid using cliches that piss off everyone who hears them. From that one post alone you hit 3 SDN favorites:

- Upward-trending GPA since [personal crisis/depression/illness/death of friend or distant relative]

Or simply stated: steadily increasing. Not saying it's an upward trend...just an observation. And if you would like a reason, as you suggested examples in your statement, how about maturation?

- My GPA has never even been decent, but I think it will be great every semester from here on out

It will be. Problem?

- Bragging about a heavy course load

Wrong again. Yet another assumption. Where, once, did I brag about the course load? In case you misinterpreted the topic, I was asking opinions about taking a heavy course load...not petty assumptions. And do YOU want to be a part of the health-care field?

Seriously, every single med school reject-to-be that posts on here mentions some dramatic turning point in their life, the fact that "after this semester my GPA will be [0.4 points higher than current]", and a bunch of other garbage like that.

Actually, I had a near death experience some time ago, which taught me that life is short, and I should help people.
🙄

If I were you, I'd look into graduating, finding a job, and then trying to get my mind right for applying to medical school. But hey, that's just one guy's take on it.

I'm not going to become defensive and explain to you why I want my career to be in health-care, but for the sake of your arrogance, I hope you don't treat patients the way you treated my original post.

 

[Luelinks]

Have you taken online courses before?

Yes, plenty of times. I have Fridays free next fall, which allocating my time to be spent on online classes would work out very well.

 

[taylormade2006]

Yes, plenty of times. I have Fridays free next fall, which allocating my time to be spent on online classes would work out very well.

Alright, I just wanted to make sure you knew how much work they can end up being.

In all honesty, if you are applying this summer for 2012, then I wouldn't recommend a heavy course load first semester because you'll want to apply early and hopefully interview during first semester and won't want to have a bunch of classes to schedule interviews around.

 

[DoctorJDO]

One semester, I took 21 credits of hard sciences. Another semester, I used a W and only took 8 credits of 100 level courses. I was never asked about either semester, nor was there a single comment about my courseload in any of my interviews.

 

[argentrans37]

My goal was see user's opinions about strictly taking higher credits, when logistically I believe I can.

With all due respect, all I'm doing is providing my opinion, which is what you wanted.

If I were you, the first way to attack this thing is to raise that science GPA. That's what it really boils down to.

As you mentioned, you are just now "hitting your stride" as a student. Why create another obstacle for yourself by signing up for 20-25 credits? You know you can get A's in hard science classes (from your tone, I feel confident in saying this), so that is exactly what you should do. Work hard in Epidemiology, Cell Bio, Kinesiology, and Micro lab. Focus on getting A's in all of that, and your science GPA will be well above the 3.0 that may or may not be used by med schools to "filter out" weaker applicants.

All I mean to say is that all of those random online classes have the potential to interfere with your hard sciences. Your GPA in the aforementioned hard sciences will either get you accepted or get you rejected. From an outsider's perspective, it seems that these random online classes could hurt your chances of getting accepted, and that just isn't worth the risk.

Just my take on the subject. Not meaning to bicker or sound condescending.

 

[drlobster]

I'm with some of the others in that, from my experience, schools really don't care about the amount of credits you took or even the increasing trend in GPA - I thought I could get some points for it but it certainly never directly came up in interviews, but maybe it did help me in the end. You need to remember that even a 3.5 looks bad to some of these schools, a lot of them really, so set yourself up to do well. While reading through your list of classes you plan on taking, I couldn't help but think "no...it's quality, not quantity!" Since your GPA is low, get yourself extremely prepared to take the MCAT and you can really help yourself by taking classes that supplement your studying (i.e. genetics!). I STRONGLY recommend dumping some of those filler classes and fitting genetics in and not as pass/fail. This class will help you look good to med schools (some even require it so heads up), help you on the mcat, AND when you get in, having that background will I'm sure be helpful. And if you find yourself class-free on Fridays, I would recommend filling it with shadowing and volunteering, not cramming in the online courses just for the sake of credits. Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[guidedwaves]

FWIW, I had an interviewer comment positively about how many units I took. and my upward trend was also mentioned. I think you should take the classes if you can get As. I took a lot of units during my junior and senior year to cancel out my first two years. If you really need to take extra science courses to boost up your GPA, you'll just have to do it as a Post-Bac and that'll just cost more money, so if you can do well, just take it while you're an undergrad and save money. It's also harder to register as a post bac. I wouldn't take genetics/other courses for fun for p/f though, you only have one more year left, so I'd focus on bringing up your GPA.

 

[Sloo0]

Take the least amount of units that you can. In college I double majored in Biology with an emphasis in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior and also Psychology. I ended up graduating with 257 units. So yes, while some interviewers commented on how "based on my transcript they are sure I am more than prepared for the heavy course load of Med School", it also caused me to like previous posters said, get B's sometimes when I would have gotten A's.


Most of my friends who also went the pre-med route are going to more "prestigious" schools than me, because when I was busy taking 18 units a quarter and sometimes getting a B+ instead of an A they were taking 12 units and having tons of time to study and get easy A's in them.

 

[Luelinks]

Thanks for the messages.

Just saying, Music Appreciation online and Creative Process online are Area II courses that I must have completed.

 

[sylvanthus]

Don't do it. You have performed sub-par up to this point and suddenly think that you will not only do well, but do well with a higher course load? Seriously, take some easy science classes with a load of no more than 16 credits and ace them.