What do you guys think??

[ymcMD]

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So here is my dilemma,

This semester I am taking Immunology, Genetics, Trigonometry and an online Criminal Justice req (my major). After my first day I realized all these classes are a LOT of work. I expected the CJ class to be pretty easy but as it turns out it requires a lot of weekly postings and research, plus a pretty long research paper. I must also admit that I am by far not the best in math 🙁 but I REALLY need to do good in Trig. It goes without saying that Immuno & Genetics will also require a lot of my time. Adding to this I am a full time employee and I cannot stop working at the moment. So after all the ranting here is my question....

Do you guys think I should drop that one CJ online class and take it another semester? Right now it is more important for me to do the other 3 than the CJ one. However, here is where the problem is...I took Trig on the Spring but ended up with an incomplete because I couldn't finish the class for personal reasons so obviously I am not technically enrolled in these credits, I am just sitting in at a Trig class to get the grade. Now if I drop that CJ course it would look as if I only took 6 credits this semester. Do you guys think med schools will look down upon what looks like an "easy" load? My advisor keeps telling me that I need a couple of semesters of 15 credits but that is REALLY hard when you work full time! So will 6 credits in one semester look terrible??? I am torn between having my app look good and actually having the time to dedicate to these courses and make a good grade = A!

Helppp!!!😱

 

[Zxvwt]

n/a

 

[Crelal]

You need a new advisor. 6 credits while working full-time shows ad coms you are able to multi-task. Get rid of the CJ course- can always do that one later. The ad com will see Genetics and Immunology, two science courses at the same time as working full-time.

That is more than enough, since you are probably doing volunteering/shadowing as well anyway.

 

[ymcMD]

Thank you for the input guys!!! I think I definitely need a new advisor. Do you guys know any other way of getting advised that is not through the school one is enrolled in???

I already dropped the CJ class, it never occurred to me the ad coms would be able to see that I was working full time. I reality I am taking 9 credits although it will look like 6.

Yes, Crelal I am also volunteering at the time so it should show my commitment.

 

[glamqueen]

Thank you for the input guys!!! I think I definitely need a new advisor. Do you guys know any other way of getting advised that is not through the school one is enrolled in???

I already dropped the CJ class, it never occurred to me the ad coms would be able to see that I was working full time. I reality I am taking 9 credits although it will look like 6.

Yes, Crelal I am also volunteering at the time so it should show my commitment.

Don't worry about advising at all. Get a major requirements sheet from your university. Take the classes on it. Take the medical school requirements listed from AMCAS or aamc.org. Look up the schools you want to go in particular to make sure they don't require anything funky like Calc 2 or Biochem. Then once you are done with the pre-reqs, take some upper division to widen your science breadth. Voila - you are done.

Advisors are overrated. I went to one of the best schools in my state that is known for being a powerhouse of pre-meds that actually matriculate to medical school and one of my friend's advisors STILL delayed her graduation by doing a craptastic job advising her. She SHOULD have just followed the sheet for major requirements put out by the university and done what I just told you to do.

Best of luck and please, for the love of all things holy - do not rely on another person to tell you what to take or what works for "medical school." Advisors really have no idea. Seriously, they don't.

 

[ymcMD]

Don't worry about advising at all. Get a major requirements sheet from your university. Take the classes on it. Take the medical school requirements listed from AMCAS or aamc.org. Look up the schools you want to go in particular to make sure they don't require anything funky like Calc 2 or Biochem. Then once you are done with the pre-reqs, take some upper division to widen your science breadth. Voila - you are done.

Advisors are overrated. I went to one of the best schools in my state that is known for being a powerhouse of pre-meds that actually matriculate to medical school and one of my friend's advisors STILL delayed her graduation by doing a craptastic job advising her. She SHOULD have just followed the sheet for major requirements put out by the university and done what I just told you to do.

Best of luck and please, for the love of all things holy - do not rely on another person to tell you what to take or what works for "medical school." Advisors really have no idea. Seriously, they don't.

Glam, perhaps I was being naive but I thought all pre-meds relied heavily on their pre-med advisors but as it turns out I hear more and more about how useless they are (for the most part); I gotta say it truly shocked me. It's sort of pathetic to not be able to rely on the resources given to us by our schools since as you say they do a "craptastic" job =(

Anyhow, thanks for your advise, that is precisely what I am now doing. I am my own advisor lol This site truly has helped me lots.

 

[glamqueen]

Glam, perhaps I was being naive but I thought all pre-meds relied heavily on their pre-med advisors but as it turns out I hear more and more about how useless they are (for the most part); I gotta say it truly shocked me. It's sort of pathetic to not be able to rely on the resources given to us by our schools since as you say they do a "craptastic" job =(

Anyhow, thanks for your advise, that is precisely what I am now doing. I am my own advisor lol This site truly has helped me lots.

You are welcome. Best of luck! I actually relied heavily on SDN rather than an advisor for things such as extras to take, extracurricular ideas, amount of extracurriculars I needed even down to how to I explain such-and-such activity on my application. Also got great advice on a personal statement. And you don't even have to create your posts for these things here. Others have probably asked your same question, so just do a search.