Unique question regarding course load, seeking adcom advice.

[jarednogeek]

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Hello and thank you for your time,

I'm in a unique position. I began full time University at the age of 16 through an early entrance college program. The program was 2 years and I graduated with 64 credits (took 14-19 hours a semester along with volunteering.) Then I transferred to a better pre-medical school because I determined I wanted to become a physician.
During my time at the new school (3 years) I've taken 1 14 hour, 2 13 hour, and 3 12 hour semesters. I've been in college a total of 5 years (am graduating this summer) but am "technically" a year ahead. I already got so much credit in "highschool" and didn't want to rush things.
Here's my question. Will taking such light loads at the second school hurt my application substantially? I was volunteering and doing hobbies during my free time, I wasn't being lazy. I'm taking 12 hours this semester and my advisor doesn't like it. Also, my GPA is 3.98 and I'm a Texas resident. I took my MCAT last week and am awaiting the score. I plan on applying next year (2 gap years). Will these 2 gap years effect me too? I want to travel, learn a language, and work with my dad because he recently lost his job and started a new company.

 

[jarednogeek]

1) No
2) No

I thank you for your advice and welcome any other opinions.

 

[Catalystik]

Hello and thank you for your time,

I'm in a unique position. I began full time University at the age of 16 through an early entrance college program. The program was 2 years and I graduated with 64 credits (took 14-19 hours a semester along with volunteering.) Then I transferred to a better pre-medical school because I determined I wanted to become a physician.
During my time at the new school (3 years) I've taken 1 14 hour, 2 13 hour, and 3 12 hour semesters. I've been in college a total of 5 years (am graduating this summer) but am "technically" a year ahead. I already got so much credit in "highschool" and didn't want to rush things.
Here's my question. Will taking such light loads at the second school hurt my application substantially? I was volunteering and doing hobbies during my free time, I wasn't being lazy. I'm taking 12 hours this semester and my advisor doesn't like it. Also, my GPA is 3.98 and I'm a Texas resident. I took my MCAT last week and am awaiting the score. I plan on applying next year (2 gap years). Will these 2 gap years effect me too? I want to travel, learn a language, and work with my dad because he recently lost his job and started a new company.

Adcomms will look at your entire load, not just the academic part of it. You'll be fine.

 

[jarednogeek]

Adcomms will look at your entire load, not just the academic part of it. You'll be fine.

thank you for your clarification, pre-health advisors like to freak you out about a lot. Better safe than sorry I guess 😛

 

[prehealthadvisor55]

thank you for your clarification, pre-health advisors like to freak you out about a lot. Better safe than sorry I guess 😛

**sigh**

 

[jarednogeek]

**sigh**

??

 

[prehealthadvisor55]

I believe @prehealthadvisor55 is just commenting to the experiences that far too many premeds have with their advisors who often have limited comprehension, narrow guidelines, and little nuance of understanding of how medical school admissions actually works.

Exactly. Part of why I come here is to get a better understanding of how I can help my students. I know there are bad advisors out there. I just get frustrated when there's a generalization that all of them (us) are bad. I'm genuinely interested in knowing how I can help and provide better advice.

 

[jarednogeek]

Exactly. Part of why I come here is to get a better understanding of how I can help my students. I know there are bad advisors out there. I just get frustrated when there's a generalization that all of them (us) are bad. I'm genuinely interested in knowing how I can help and provide better advice.

I understand your job is hard. Part of your job is to give exact advice to a not-so-exact process.

 

[prehealthadvisor55]

I understand your job is hard. Part of your job is to give exact advice to a not-so-exact process.

That's very true lol I never make judgements or assessments on a student's chances for that reason. I'm not an adcom. It's not my position to do that. I present all the information, including GPA & MCAT averages, give guidance along the way, but I, unlike MANY pre-med advisors, would never tell a student "you're never getting in." I've heard from too many students who maybe had 1 C who have had a pre-med advisor tell them that because of that C they'll never get in. And those people are now in their residency. It gives us all a bad name, and it's frustrating.