Too many classes & not the right type?

[LMac]

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Greetings non-trads, I haven't really posted before, but I am considering adding a class to my pre-reqs and science courses this semester and am uncertain if doing so is a really bad idea. I've been trying to think of who to ask and this forum seemed like a great start.

A little back story: I am just completing my first semester back at college working on 1. upping my GPA from the 2.8 I had when graduating in 2001 & 2. working on pre-reqs for med school or a science graduate program (still undecided here). If I can do well on finals next week, It's looking like I may have pulled off a 4.0 with Gen Chem 1, Microbiology, Human Physiology (not A&P) and pre-calculus. I also have an internship. (Total 16 credit hours) Anyway, I'm loving being back in school and am ready for another semester.

I am not working currently, only focusing on classes and it looks like I will be able to do that next semester as well.This will not last forever so I really feel like I should take full advantage of this situation and get the most out of it that I can. Next semester I am enrolled in Gen Chem 2 with lab, Bio 1 for science majors (took the normal bio years ago) with lab, Principles of Neuroscience and Psychology of Animal Behavior. These add up to 16 credit hours. I also have an interview on Wednesday for a internship in a research lab.

So here is the question: Once I am enrolled in 16 credit hours, any additional hours don't add additional tuition. So I could take one more class for free. I would love to get back into spanish. I also wonder if showing that I am able to take a language course would help round out my new college experience in the eyes for schools I'll apply to down the road. I have 2 years of previous Spanish classes although they were 10 years ago. I took a placement test and tested into Spanish 2, though my score was right at the top. Basically I am considering taking Spanish 1. It should be easy for me and would help even more with my GPA, but would also be 19 credit hours + (hopefully) a research assistantship. Is this ridiculous? Is an extra good grade and one in Spanish even worth it? If not, is there another class you would recommend that would be good benefit with a lessened risk of sinking me?

Thanks for any help!

ps- I realize Psych of Animal Behavior and Neuroscience are not pre-reqs but I'm taking them to help me decide what direction I want to go. I think no matter what program I apply to they should be at least somewhat helpful.

 

[ShoTyme]

Nah, this is a good section to post this. Sounds like you have a good idea of what you need to do in order to 1. make yourself competitive, and 2. help decide which direction you wish to pursue. Your course-load is completely doable. You showed last semester that you can handle a normal load. After adding more, you will obviously have more on your plate, but you did not mention other responsibilities. Therefore I am making a big assumption that you do not have a significant other, nor children who need your time. If this is indeed the case, go for it. If you have such encumbrances, I would rethink the plan as they will miss you. Best of luck to you in your journey.

Sho-

 

[notdeadyet]

Congrats on both your grades and making the big leap back. A 2.8 is no joke to bounce back from, but you seem well on your way.

So here is the question: Once I am enrolled in 16 credit hours, any additional hours don't add additional tuition. So I could take one more class for free. I would love to get back into spanish. I also wonder if showing that I am able to take a language course would help round out my new college experience in the eyes for schools

You have 10 years of real life between graduation from college and now. You're probably swimming in experiences that will make you well-rounded. Re-taking college Spanish isn't going to impress anyone.

Personally, you have a long haul in front of you. If you have downtime, I'd use it to get into shape, enjoy a hobby, or rest. Or if you really want another 3-4 units since it's free, choose a class that legitimately interests you.

When I applied to med school, I had hundreds of hours volunteering at my local ED and figured this would be a hot topic when I interviewed. I also had an EC of my hobby doing underwater photography. On the interview trail, no one asked me a single question about the ED volunteering (it's much more common than I thought) and 5/6 interviewers were quite curious about the underwater photography.

If you have free time, do what you love, and it'll show. Polishing the apple doesn't go as far as you'd think when you apply to med school. They see lots of apples.

 

[LMac]

Thank you both for your responses. I truly appreciate the input.

You are correct, I don't have kids but I do have an incredibly supportive husband who is as busy as I am. I feel confident that I can handle more next semester but you bring up an interesting point in that it doesn't necessarily need to be what stereotypically might benefit my transcript or my GPA.

I don't really have any interesting hobbies to speak of. Underwater photography sounds like an incredible experience. I can understand why interviewers would ask about that. I've volunteered at an animal rescue for the last year and I'm working on a whale shark behavioral study which I can continue next semester. My passion has always been travel, but being a college student (again) does not allow for much financially.

In our constant drive for better GPAs and LOAs and volunteer hours, etc, it's interesting to consider the things that keep you going in the long run. Not only that, but the benefit of things that actually come up in interviews and make you stand out from the crowd...and that probably keep you grounded.

 

[TriagePreMed]

I wouldn't waste my time with non-science courses if I were you, especially a language course. The only thing a language course can do is burden your busy schedule. You will not learn how to speak the language, and you will not impress any ADCOM. Going to a language institute is a lot better if you want to actually learn a language.

Take my experience into account. I took a non-science class (medical terminology), and although I did get an A in the end, I didn't learn anything that I feel was "long term" enough to matter at this point, AND by the time the final drop date had passed, I had time taken away from other courses and kept thinking "what if I get a B in this dumb class?"

TL;DR - Don't.

 

[ShoTyme]

TL;DR - Don't.

I've been seeing this quite a bit. What does it mean? Thanks.