Taking 10 units look bad?

[k12123]

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Last semester (Fall '13) I only enrolled in 11 units because I was studying for the January MCAT. I took ochem II w/ lab, Stats, and Research and managed to pull a 3.7 semester. However, after realizing that I was nowhere near being prepared for the exam, I elected to move it to May 31st. Now (Spring '14), I am signed up for 13 credit hours compsed of Biochem, Embryology, English (online), and Photography. I am thinking of dropping biochem because I just don't understand the professor, which forces me to rely entirely on the textbook, which as you may imagine, is extremely time consuming. If I drop biochem, it would pull be back to 10 units.

My question is, does it look bad if I apply this summer without having taken biochemistry? Also, would adcoms question why I took such little units during my junior year? (11 units in the fall and 10 units in the spring)? I really want to brave it out and take biochem anyway but I feel like it's taking a lot of time away, time that I can use studying for the MCAT.

Thank you for your input.

 

[VisualEvolution]

I can only remember one semester of undergrad where I took more than 13 credits and I've gotten into both DO and MD schools without anyone questioning my course load. I'm positive one 10 credit semester wont be an issue if you're studying for the MCAT (I took a whole semester off to study for it and was never questioned.)

Not taking biochem before applying is no issue either. If the school requires it, they're only concern is that you take it prior to matriculating. MSUCOM requires a year of bio plus biochem and genetics, and I was accepted with only a year of bio under my belt. If you feel biochem will jeopardize your GPA and/or MCAT studying, its not worth taking. This is a very shallow process and you wanna have the best possible numbers coming into the cycle, and I promise adcoms will be more impressed with a point or two higher on the MCAT than a mediocre MCAT with a concurrent full time semester.

 

[tripl3s3v3n]

Most schools don't require biochem so apply accordingly. I never took it and it didn't hinder me in my applications, but I didn't apply to schools where it was required.

 

[Elevencents]

No, just do well in your courses. I had a lot of semesters with 12 credits just because that's all I needed. Never came up.

 

[Chillywilly]

Agreed. Biochem isn't required for most schools, but you limit your school selections if you don't. Take a look at some schools you're interested in and see what they require. I imagine biochem (along with behavioral science ) will be mandatory in a couple years for future applicants

 

[Dreamstoo]

It doesn't really look bad. I know of a biomed engineer whose a pre med taking only 8 units as a senior because they already finished everything else required for their degree.

 

[Goro]

if you did this every semester throughout your UG, then it would be an issue. One year, not an issue.

Last semester (Fall '13) I only enrolled in 11 units because I was studying for the January MCAT. I took ochem II w/ lab, Stats, and Research and managed to pull a 3.7 semester. However, after realizing that I was nowhere near being prepared for the exam, I elected to move it to May 31st. Now (Spring '14), I am signed up for 13 credit hours compsed of Biochem, Embryology, English (online), and Photography. I am thinking of dropping biochem because I just don't understand the professor, which forces me to rely entirely on the textbook, which as you may imagine, is extremely time consuming. If I drop biochem, it would pull be back to 10 units.

My question is, does it look bad if I apply this summer without having taken biochemistry? Also, would adcoms question why I took such little units during my junior year? (11 units in the fall and 10 units in the spring)? I really want to brave it out and take biochem anyway but I feel like it's taking a lot of time away, time that I can use studying for the MCAT.

Thank you for your input.

 

[DocWinter]

I think the idea that you need to show 15 or more credits a semester in order to "handle" the load is overblown. Maybe in some of top pretegious schools does it matter, but

1) getting good grades
2) getting a solid MCAT and
3 ) having quality ECs and LORs

has trumped all else .

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

My last two classes were o.chem 1 and 2. I took each one alone in the semester while working part-time. It was never brought up in interviews.

 

[DocWinter]

I did a 2 year postbac (unofficial) and too between 10 and 13 credits each semester. Granted, I had previously finished off a Bachelors in under 3 years, but still, never had a Q about it.

 

[k12123]

Don't get me wrong, I am planning to take biochem, I just want to push it in the fall when I have more time. Also here's my GPA breakdown:

Fall '11: 12 units (3.67 cgpa)
Spring '12: 13 units (3.66)
Summer '12: 8 units (3.63)
Fall '12: 13 units (3.46)
Spring '13: 14 units (3.30)
Summer '13: 7 units (3.87)
Fall '13: 11 units (3.70)
Spring '14: 10 units (TBD)

So far my cgpa is 3.59 and my sgpa is 3.56. As you can see I have a J curve. But does the amount of units I've taken every semester been too low?

Thanks for all your insights so far!

 

[Elevencents]

For the second time - nope 😉

 

[k12123]

Since this thread has my stats, I thought I'd just post in here.

I'm at a real pickle here. I am scheduled to take the MCAT on May 31st, but after taking AAMC 3, I'm not entirely sure I'm ready. It is the very first FL that I've ever taken (I never took a diagnostic) and I scored a 23 (7/8/8). I have been hearing that AAMC 3 is the easiest one out of all, which means that my scores might only get worse. Also I am having quite a hard time in physics. For instance, the relationships between equations that TBR throws in their explanations just don't make sense. Most of the time I can narrow down the answers b/w 1-2 but I'm not comfortable taking risks. For the end of chapter passages, I'm scoring around 11-12 for gchem but only around 7-9 on physics (and the occasional 10). I'll take my next FL within the next few days, and if it doesn't get any better, I'll seriously consider postponing it. My question is, would taking it on July 2nd be considered too late? I still plan to submit my app early June but I wouldn't be complete until my score comes (on August 5th).

PS: I just realized my ECs aren't here so I'll just put them up as well as my most recent stats:

Hoping for a 3.62cgpa (worst case scenario 3.59) and 3.57sgpa (worst case scenario 3.52)

- 100 hours of volunteering at Children's Hospital Los Angeles
- 200 hours as a care extender
- 50 hours shadowing osteopathic family practitioner
- 8 months embryonic research studying the differentiation of neural crest cells and neural tubes.
- charity organization called INC Giving for about three years where we do various charity work numerous times a year.
- three years church youth group president
- For about a year, tutoring children with history of abuse in a transitional shelter.
- church choir for about five years
- photography as well as some freelance work for about a year and half.

 

[DoctorKrieger]

Since this thread has my stats, I thought I'd just post in here.

I'm at a real pickle here. I am scheduled to take the MCAT on May 31st, but after taking AAMC 3, I'm not entirely sure I'm ready. It is the very first FL that I've ever taken (I never took a diagnostic) and I scored a 23 (7/8/8). I have been hearing that AAMC 3 is the easiest one out of all, which means that my scores might only get worse. Also I am having quite a hard time in physics. For instance, the relationships between equations that TBR throws in their explanations just don't make sense. Most of the time I can narrow down the answers b/w 1-2 but I'm not comfortable taking risks. For the end of chapter passages, I'm scoring around 11-12 for gchem but only around 7-9 on physics (and the occasional 10). I'll take my next FL within the next few days, and if it doesn't get any better, I'll seriously consider postponing it. My question is, would taking it on July 2nd be considered too late? I still plan to submit my app early June but I wouldn't be complete until my score comes (on August 5th).

PS: I just realized my ECs aren't here so I'll just put them up as well as my most recent stats:

Hoping for a 3.62cgpa (worst case scenario 3.59) and 3.57sgpa (worst case scenario 3.52)

- 100 hours of volunteering at Children's Hospital Los Angeles
- 200 hours as a care extender
- 50 hours shadowing osteopathic family practitioner
- 8 months embryonic research studying the differentiation of neural crest cells and neural tubes.
- charity organization called INC Giving for about three years where we do various charity work numerous times a year.
- three years church youth group president
- For about a year, tutoring children with history of abuse in a transitional shelter.
- church choir for about five years
- photography as well as some freelance work for about a year and half.

You have a month before the test. You can improve a lot in that time. However, if it makes you feel more comfortable (or you're really busy right now and can't study much), reschedule for July 2. That would still be plenty early enough, especially with your competitive gpa. If you're having trouble in physics, maybe try another study guide...some people don't like examkrackers, but I thought they did a good job translating to 'MCAT speak.' Plus, physics in particular is a subject that really takes a lot of practice problems to get the hang of. For extra help, check out EK 1001 physics problems. And Kahn Academy is free, if you haven't tried that.

TL;DR: August 5th is plenty early for a complete app.

 

[k12123]

You have a month before the test. You can improve a lot in that time. However, if it makes you feel more comfortable (or you're really busy right now and can't study much), reschedule for July 2. That would still be plenty early enough, especially with your competitive gpa. If you're having trouble in physics, maybe try another study guide...some people don't like examkrackers, but I thought they did a good job translating to 'MCAT speak.' Plus, physics in particular is a subject that really takes a lot of practice problems to get the hang of. For extra help, check out EK 1001 physics problems. And Kahn Academy is free, if you haven't tried that.

TL;DR: August 5th is plenty early for a complete app.

Would you say that doing as many FLs as possible would be the best strategy? Thanks!

 

[DoctorKrieger]

Would you say that doing as many FLs as possible would be the best strategy? Thanks!

Can't hurt. Honestly, I didn't take any FLs. I kind of crammed my MCAT studying. If I had to do it again, I would do as many practice problems and practice exams as I had time for. If you've only studied TBR and it's not working for you, it can't hurt to try other companies.

 

[DocWinter]

@k12123 , If I had a month to prepare and was pulling a 23, I would slow down doing content review and focus my attention on the actual MCAT ( FL) exams. Get to know the exam, get the timing of the passages down, get to know your personal common mistakes. You probably know more than you think you do, but if you understood better how the MCAT asks the questions they ask and what little mind-twists they put on simple facts, you can raise your score by applying what you already know, content-wise.

 

[MDforMee]

Probably fine

 

[WalSlave]

I'll echo what was said above and suggest you try a different book for Physics. TBR has really good practice questions that I felt helped me on the MCAT, however their content review goes off the assumption that you already have a strong background. If you are weak in physics, I would try something else for quick content review, but then keep at it with the practice questions in TBR.