Will it look bad if I only take twelve hours per semester?

[BillikenBob]

I just calculated it out, and I'll have 53 hours by the end of this, my second semester in college. Therefore, I'll be able to take 12 hours of credit per semester for the remaining six semesters of college I'll have paid for by my parents. I'm trying to get into med school, and my GPA is sitting somewhere between a 3.0 and a 3.3, not nearly high enough for where it needs to be.

If I only take 12 hours from here on out, I know I'll get much higher grades, but will that look really bad on my application? I'll be taking all the same classes as everyone else, and they're just has hard, etc., it's just that I'm spacing them out more so that I can do better on them. I have a feeling the fact that my GPA will be higher (somewhere around a 3.5-3.8 if I do this) will negate anything bad about doing 12 hours, but I'm not sure.

My major is philosophy, and I'm minoring in biology.

What are people's input?

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[Perrotfish]

no, it will not look bad, it is a good strategy.

 

[iA-MD2013]

If that's what it takes to get your gpa up, then go for it! You should really get that gpa up in any way possible.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

I think it will....12 hours i pretty slack, especially every semester.

I plan on taking 12 hours next year, but thats because Ive loaded up on the hours the first three years


If i was you I would take 14-16 atleast for 2 or 3 more semesters.

 

[EkLiLiaN]

doesn't matter at. it depends on what classes u r taking. I won't take all easy courses.... 🙂

 

[ChubbyChaser]

I want to edit my previous post....If you need to take 12 hours to geta high gpa then do it, but if you can handle 14 or 15...that would probably be ideal.

 

[nonesuchgirl]

Avg per term is 15.

12 is what, 4 courses?

Good to go.

If you can add another, do it, but if not, don't worry.

 

[CrouchingTiger]

It will look bad if you take 12 credits and do bad in them. So use the extra time wisely.

 

[dArroway]

Avg per term is 15.

12 is what, 4 courses?

Good to go.

If you can add another, do it, but if not, don't worry.

Hssss. 12 crd hrs is the kiss of death.......

 

[nonesuchgirl]

Hssss. 12 crd hrs is the kiss of death.......

you jump off that tower yet, beautiful?

 

[fuzzywuz]

I'm taking 12 credit hours. I had the same concern and spoke to my advisor. Like she said, it all depends on the course load.

For me, I'm tripling up on science. So its a pretty hefty schedule.

 

[Mobius1985]

My thought is that while a high GPA is most important, adcomms also like to see you prove you can carry a heavy load and still succeed academically. In medical school you'll be taking all science classes, and you are expected to do well in all of them (the equivalent of 21 semester hours of classes).

Some people have no choice about taking 12 semester hours, because they work a lot of hours each week, have parenting responsibilities, spend a lot of time on research, or pull down major hours volunteering.

So you have to walk a fine tightrope; get great grades, but prove you have what it takes to do well in med school.

 

[HumidBeing]

One thing you've overlooked is that it isn't an all or nothing option. You could take the lower amount of credits for a semester or two while you work on improving your study skills, and then take on more if you felt confident.

More credits+high GPA > Fewer Credits+high GPA > More credits+lower GPA > Fewer credits+lower GPA

 

[ihatescience]

I just calculated it out, and I'll have 53 hours by the end of this, my second semester in college. Therefore, I'll be able to take 12 hours of credit per semester for the remaining six semesters of college I'll have paid for by my parents. I'm trying to get into med school, and my GPA is sitting somewhere between a 3.0 and a 3.3, not nearly high enough for where it needs to be.

If I only take 12 hours from here on out, I know I'll get much higher grades, but will that look really bad on my application? I'll be taking all the same classes as everyone else, and they're just has hard, etc., it's just that I'm spacing them out more so that I can do better on them. I have a feeling the fact that my GPA will be higher (somewhere around a 3.5-3.8 if I do this) will negate anything bad about doing 12 hours, but I'm not sure.

My major is philosophy, and I'm minoring in biology.

What are people's input?

I think you should be fine.

 

[JH377]

It would be worse if you took 15 credits and did bad. Maybe try 12 for one semester and then move up. ADCOMS will be looking at how many credits you took per semester maybe at the last stage in evaluating your application. You will need a high GPA to even get to that point.

 

[dArroway]

you jump off that tower yet, beautiful?

No. I think the tower should consider jumping off of me.

 

[Scean]

I've taken 12-13 hours the past two semesters and I will again for my final two next year. I did this because I have to work about 20 hours per week and I also like to have a life.

My advice would be to do a little something extra with your time. Nothing major as to the point where it could sacrifice your grades but maybe set up some once a month shadowing and volunteer a little each week with something. I think an adcom would be totally valid (and critical) in asking what you did with your time if they only saw 12 hour semesters and no other major extracurriculars during that time.

 

[SCRdoc]

I've taken 12-13 hours the past two semesters and I will again for my final two next year. I did this because I have to work about 20 hours per week and I also like to have a life.

My advice would be to do a little something extra with your time. Nothing major as to the point where it could sacrifice your grades but maybe set up some once a month shadowing and volunteer a little each week with something. I think an adcom would be totally valid (and critical) in asking what you did with your time if they only saw 12 hour semesters and no other major extracurriculars during that time.

Yep, I second this 👍. Use the extra time you have to build up your ECs.

 

[Jolie South]

i came in with a lot of AP/CLEP credits so for me to graduate on time all i needed was a 12 hour course load every semester. I don't think it negatively affected me and I was never questioned about it at interviews. I was involved in some pretty time consuming ECs though.

Do as some other posters have suggested and use the extra time to beef up the ECs on your app.

 

[BillikenBob]

I suppose I should have also mentioned the extracurricular activities in which I am involved.

1. I have an on-campus job as a security/information desk worker
2. I was just recently initiated into a social fraternity (Beta Theta Pi) in which I am very well-liked and respected, and have a legitimate shot at being elected to the executive board (possibly even as president) next semester
3. I am active in the co-ed community service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega in which we are required to complete at least twenty-five hours of service per semester
4. Once my science GPA rises a bit, I'll be able to join the Alpha Epsilon Delta and Tri Beta honors societies for Pre-Health and Biology, respectively.

So yeah, it's not exactly like I am doing nothing with my extra time.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

I suppose I should have also mentioned the extracurricular activities in which I am involved.

1. I have an on-campus job as a security/information desk worker
2. I was just recently initiated into a social fraternity (Beta Theta Pi) in which I am very well-liked and respected, and have a legitimate shot at being elected to the executive board (possibly even as president) next semester
3. I am active in the co-ed community service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega in which we are required to complete at least twenty-five hours of service per semester
4. Once my science GPA rises a bit, I'll be able to join the Alpha Epsilon Delta and Tri Beta honors societies for Pre-Health and Biology, respectively.

So yeah, it's not exactly like I am doing nothing with my extra time.

sadly you should add someothing clinical.


gosh Im not thinking clearly

 

[Jolie South]

sadly you should either add someothing clinical.

i agree.

OP, have you done any shadowing or hospital/clinic volunteering?

 

[alwaysaangel]

I suppose I should have also mentioned the extracurricular activities in which I am involved.

1. I have an on-campus job as a security/information desk worker
2. I was just recently initiated into a social fraternity (Beta Theta Pi) in which I am very well-liked and respected, and have a legitimate shot at being elected to the executive board (possibly even as president) next semester
3. I am active in the co-ed community service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega in which we are required to complete at least twenty-five hours of service per semester
4. Once my science GPA rises a bit, I'll be able to join the Alpha Epsilon Delta and Tri Beta honors societies for Pre-Health and Biology, respectively.

So yeah, it's not exactly like I am doing nothing with my extra time.

Yeah you need to add something clinical.

Also, this isn't THAT much.

I don't necessarily think that 12 hours while doing this stuff will be a problem when it comes to med school but you are probably on the bottom end of the spectrum when it comes to ECs right now. So you may want to start adding stuff. I'm not trying to be mean. But you made that post as if its somehow TONS of time and makes up for taking only 12 hrs. But the reality is it doesn't. If a school is going to have a problem with your 12 hrs (don't know if they will or won't) they're not going to look at your ECs and be like wow he was really busy. Because plenty of your peers do 18-23 credits while doing many more hours of EC/week.

Brief overview of how med schools will see your ECs:

1. Paid position where he sits on his butt and studies. Not really learning any skills or having valuable experiences.
2. Potentially good EC depending on how you use a position and what sort of activities you do and how you talk about them. Good for leadership skills.
3. 25hrs/semester is nothing and if you're not in a leadership position in this group its not very impressive. You'd be better off getting into a single community service program (not a club) where you work with the same supervisor all the time
4. These are basically useless fluff and adcomms know it.

Also, I see no where on here where you will be able to get a non-academic LOR - you have no PI, no boss you work closely with and no consistent community service supervisor. In many cases, the most valuable part of ECs are the LORs that you can get from them, you have nothing that will give you an LOR here. Thats a huge problem. As is the lack of clinical stuff.

 

[alwaysaangel]

Also, when you say all you need is 12 credits per semester...what do you mean?

Is that to finish your philosophy major and bio minor and your med school prereqs?

Because you should really add some upper div biology classes (immuno, genetics, physio, virology, microbe, etc) because a lot of schools are starting to "recommend" (aka require) that.

Some schools require stats - check if the ones you're interested in do or do not.

Also, will 12/semester get you done in time to take your MCAT before you apply your senior year?

The last thing you need to ask yourself is what will your GPA be when you apply? Remember you apply summer before your Senior year if you're not taking time off. So you would only have 4 more semesters on your transcripts. How much of an improvement is that really going to make on your GPA...or do you need your senior year too?

Just some stuff to think about.

 

[skyeblue0610]

If you can do and still finish in 4 years then go for it. Every semester is a toss up. Do some extra ECs and/or volunteering since you have a bit more time. I think as long as you make good grades then it shouldn't be a problem

 

[cofcemt]

My thought is that while a high GPA is most important, adcomms also like to see you prove you can carry a heavy load and still succeed academically. In medical school you'll be taking all science classes, and you are expected to do well in all of them (the equivalent of 21 semester hours of classes).

Some people have no choice about taking 12 semester hours, because they work a lot of hours each week, or spend a lot of time on research, or pull down major hours volunteering.

So you have to walk a fine tightrope; get great grades, but prove you have what it takes to do well in med school.

I think unless you are going to try to get into an ivy or top 10, 12 hours does not matter one bit. Wise up, take the 12 hours a semester, do well in your classes, enjoy college for what it is supposed to be and get plenty of ECs.

The people on SDN are super overachievers that see (usually) college as a way to forward their future by only focusing on Medical School admissions, seeking high honors, leadership opportunities that look good, but don't do anything, use their parent's money to go to "medical outreach" in different countries and it just continues. You would be much better off contacting the Medical Schools you want to apply to and ask the Admissions Director, they are usually very nice and I know when I asked about the local med school here, they said they could have cared less about how many hours, just that you did something in your free time and are a well rounded person. Remember, each med school looks for something different. Take your 12 hours and enjoy it.

 

[paranoid_eyes]

i take like 3 classes per quarter. nobody's going to care since my gpa is high and the classes ive taken are all intense science courses....

no body cares what classes you take. it's your gpa/mcat that define you academically. but, i think you need MUCH MUCH more than that to get into med schools. you need EC's, shadowing, LOR, Research, blah blah blah. Those "other" things are more important...

 

[el aye]

I'm only taking 12 hours this semester, but that's only because I need to take prereqs before I can go on with classes in my major and I couldn't get into any other classes that interested me. Granted, it isn't exactly an easy 12 because I'm taking orgo2, pchem, and genetics.

 

[DoctorPardi]

I only took 12 hours a semester, but I did go year round. Also I worked anywhere from 25-45 hours a week while in college, for about a year I was working something like 45 hours a week while volunteering 5 hours a week. Plus during summers I did a lot of research which counted for credit hours.

I think if you just take 12 hours and are not doing anything else significant then it may be a concern, especially considering you had a GPA on the low side before while taking higher credit hours. However the most important factor is getting a high GPA. If you had the choice between having a 3.5 with 15 hours/semester and a 3.8 with 12 hours a semester I would go with the latter every time.

Just make sure you have something else going on and that if asked about your course load don't say "I wanted to have a high GPA", have a response like "with so many ECs I could be involved with, research, leadership etc and the fact that I only needed to take 12/semester to graduate on time I thought that would be the best use of my time in college."