Taking only 12 credits?

[Hopeful20]

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For those accepted, have you ever had a question on why you took only x number of credits?
Thus far, I've always taken 17-19 credits per semester (currently a junior). But with about 40 hours of extracurriculars on a weekly basis (I'm including work/research), I'm not sure how I'll pan out the rest of the semester.
I may drop a course and that'll leave me at 12 credits for the semester. My worry is that this will leave a very negative mark on my application.
Any thoughts?

 

[Magoo9]

I personally have taken 12 credit hours every semester for the last 2 years, and I got accepted to my top choice school, along with a few others. I have another friend who got into 2 schools and he has only taken 6 credits/semester for as long as I've known him. I'm sure that course load does come into play somewhat, but I think good grades and DAT scores are much more important to most schools.

 

[Vicviper]

Hahaha... people get so worked up about this - really, don't worry. 12 Units is the definition of a "Full Time Load," so you'll be just fine. My entire senior year I was taking 11 units because there was simply nothing else for me to take, and it was never even an issue.

 

[molarbear]

I agree with everyone else on here. I have had 12 credit hours/semester for as long as I can remember and I got in also.

 

[subdoc]

Schools like high course load because it is an easy way to gauge time-management. As long as you can justify a lighter course load with other activities which necessitate optimal effort on your part, you will be fine. If you are worried about how 12 credits will look on your application after taking a more rigorous courseload, address this fact in your personal statement. Write a sentence or two stating you are doing so to focus on time-consuming research, or other ECAs. Don't shy away from a perceived negative, address it with fact and reason and move on. You'll be fine.

 

[dentalWorks]

My opinion about this is... Take the the most amount of credits that will allow u to do well (3.5 or above)

I'd rather have 12 credits with all 4.0s than 18 with 3.5s

 

[orangutan777]

I took 12 units a couple of times. Interestingly, those were my worst quarters GPA-wise. I was never asked why I took less units at my interviews.

 

[Predoctalk]

I heard that if you don't take 97 credit hours per semester you will not be eligible for acceptance.. Lol, 12 hours is considered full time!!!! They want people to be well rounded. Get your grades, do your shadowing/volunteering, study for the DAT. Don't forget to have a life and experience college!!!!