Medical What should Post Bacc course load be?

[Mr.Smile12]

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I was wondering what an appropriate course load would be for me for a post-bacc. The program I am entering requires 24 credits, and has two tracks to start either in summer or fall of 2020. It is a 1 year post-bacc program. I have a 3.4 science gpa and a 3.55 cumulative gpa. I have completed all my prereqs so would be taking mostly upper division bio courses/ chem/neuro courses.

Was wondering if taking 13 hrs fall 2020 with 10 hrs of science and one elective, and then 12 hours spring 2020 (all science) would be enough? Or should i start in summer 2020 and take more science classes?

I am a TX resident.

I want to apply in summer of 2021. I have yet to take the mcat. was planning on studying this summer. I plan to work part time as a medical assistant and build my volunteering as well.

Thanks for any advice.

Full-time status requires at least 10 credit hours (depending on the institution) and that dictates your eligibility for student loans if you need them. Do you have a formal program advisor/director who can help you? 13 isn't going to kill you (that's 3-4 classes) but you better be really organized if you're still going to work and volunteer.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

yes I do have a formal advisor! She just sent a mass email since we can’t do appointments with everything going on. She said to sign up for 12-16 credits per semester. I want to make sure my GPA is in decent standing by the time I apply so I didn’t want to overdo it with 16 hours. Also I don’t know if I’ll need to retake the mcat so I wanted to make sure I was only doing 12-13 just in case. I don’t necessarily have to keep working but I do want to build my ECs as much as possible before I apply. I have to take at least 12 since the program requires 24. Was hesitant to start classes over the summer since I wanted to dedicate that time to the mcat. Do you think I should start earlier in the summer or is 12 credits fine for fall and spring ? Thanks so much!

COVID-19-specific advice:

If you have to retake your MCAT, you could put your eggs in that basket in the summer so you can take it when you know you're ready AND the testing window reopens. Know that given the current situation, people who had their March/April dates cancelled will be pushing to register for later dates in July/August, so if you don't pin yourself down on a test date now, you're going to wind up taking it in January, and that might be booked up quickly. Under normal circumstances, I would say your plan to study for the MCAT in the summer is fine, but given the uncertainty, you may want to think about whether it is feasible to get your course credits done early so you can devote time in fall or next spring to the MCAT.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Yes that makes sense but I also heard that courses may go online this summer. So I didn’t want to take a rigorous course load online because that might defeat the purpose for ad coms? I have started studying for the mcat and will try to schedule a date for September but am ok with taking it in January if need be since I will hopefully get my content review done this summer and focus on practice and refreshing things next fall? Or does that sound like too much of a gap before my test?

COVID-19-specific advice:
Given the circumstances with stay-at-home mandates and higher-ed's response by offering courses online as the only alternative, you can either get used to taking online courses now or likely in the fall semester. I anticipate your university registrar will have an explanatory note about online coursework and pass/fail or letter grading when it comes time to apply.

I'm just saying, I don't think either of your choices will put you in trouble, but this is what I anticipate based on what we know today. There is no guarantee this is going to end in the summer, and an extended sequestration needs to be planned for to ensure no secondary outbreaks occur. Until there is a validated vaccine, you can't be sure when this is going to end.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I am just wondering if taking 12 and 13 credits would be considered rigorous enough for a post bacc given my GPA. I think if I got my content review done this summer since things will probably still be on lockdown that might be the best use of my time?

12-13 credits per semester is fine. It's up to you on what you will do during this time of sequestration.