<p>In the College of Arts and Sciences, is there a minimum amount of courses that you must take each semester? Since there is a 60 AP/IB credit limit for UVa, could you take 60 credits over 4 or 3 years? By my calculations, that's only 7.5/10 credits per semester which equates to about 2-3 courses per semester...?</p>
<p>I want to become a doctor someday so I need a very high GPA during college. I was planning on reducing my college course load (due to AP/IB cred) so I can take fewer courses and excel in them. Am I missing something here?</p>
<p>very true--you could get 60 ap credits and then take 60 credits at UVa and graduate. The problem is 1) all the classes you will be taking will be the advanced classes which are usually harder than the intro classes you will be placing out of 2) depending on what you major in those 60 credits may not actually put you towards graduating (for example if you major in chem and biology, you would need to take more than 60 credits worth of classes to graduate with those majors) 3) you need to take at least 12 credits a semester to be full time 4) i doubt med schools will take you as seriously if you only took 60 credits over 4 years--although this is just speculation, i don't really know.</p>
<p>Isn't 60 ap credits like 15-20 ap tests? Are you insane?</p>
<p>Med schools frown upon taking light course loads. They expect you to take 14-17 credits per semester, regardless of AP/IB/transfer credit. Every premed I know around me (5) is taking 16-18 credits, and they all came in with AP credit.</p>
<p>I came in with 30 or 40 credits. I'm a second year and I need 24 more credits to graduate. I take 12 credit semesters and it's AMAZING. But, I'm in Curry (ed school), so my BA/MT is guaranteed (with required GPA which is a joke) so I can get away with it. Premed... Dunno. Also, regardless of whether I take 12 credits or 19 credits a semester I have to be here for 5 years so I have pretty much no motivation. I use my 12 credits to take grad level math classes that otherwise I would NOT have enough time to devote to.</p>
<p>I can't even imagine the kind of freedom that comes with coming in with more than I came in with, because it's more than enough for me.</p>
<p>On the other side of the argument, there's a kid who graduated in ONE year because he came in with 60 credits and overloaded each semester to get 60 more. CRAZY.</p>
<p>I also know a pre-med student who is trying to graduate early (she overloads AND takes JTerm and summer classes)... If not in 2 years then in 3. She's insane.</p>
<p>I would be SO FREAKING BORED if i took 12 credits... omg I think I would die. I took 17 (5 classes) first semester (of hard classes) and played WAY TOO MUCH GUITAR HERO while managing to get all my work done. So now I am taking 19 (6 classes) and its probably about the same because I am taking easier classes for the most part like CS150 which is a joke and PHYS254 which is just easy because I already knew C pretty well, but I am also taking MATH 552 which kinda evens things out ;).</p>
<p>But I digress, my point is that taking 12 credits might be something to try... but you might not like it. Realize that while your in college you will have a LOT more free time than in high school. Your only in class about 3-4 hours per class you take a week... with only 4 classes that is not much time. You will have a lot more work but still...</p>
<p>Also, med schools would scoff at only taking the bear minimum.</p>
<p>also, if you count classes that I was able to test/just not take because of self-study and post-AP in high school then I probably had about 45-50 credits coming in... and its not unheard of for someone to have 60.</p>
<p>Hazel, one of my good friends is very close friends to that guy! He is insane. He came in with 60 but he actually had MORE than 60... they could just only take 60 of them!! So he was able to take like 25 then 35 credits and some summer classes because he had seen some of the material before and just couldnt get AP credit. The guy is a machine. He freaking double majored in Math and Physics(BA) and is now in law school... and a national Bridge consultant... who would have thought!</p>
<p>Spidey,</p>
<p>There is a minimum course load. It can be waived and is waived more often than they let on, but they try to sustain the minimum.</p>
<p>As others pointed out, AP credits and Pre Med do not mix well. Med schools will not (rare exceptions) accept AP credits in place of taking the required courses. So, as pointed out above, you either have to turn down the credits in Bio/Chem/Physics/Math/English and take the base level class, or take more advanced courses. It is true that med schools think the latter is cool, but if it hurts your GPA, then it isn't worth it. </p>
<p>My advice is a blend. First assess your strengths and weaknesses. If you got credit for a course, but in your heart you know you are shaky there (or you took it as a 10th grader), take the first level class and go for a big A. </p>
<p>Second, if you are majoring in one of the science areas, then accept the AP credit, because you will be taking a bunch of advanced classes anyway.</p>
<p>In other areas, just choose wisely based on balancing your load. For example, the base level English class is often horribly boring, and a more advanced class is probably no more difficult, so take the AP credit. And with the AP credits, you can schedule carefully to avoid nightmare semesters (e.g. take Organic in a semester when your other classes are lighter).</p>
<p>Frankly, the whole process is pretty complicated. Just get to know your advisor well.</p>
<p>HartinGA gives good advice. I would opt for the take AP cred and then advanced classes if I were you, med schools will like that, but dont take it too crazy your first year. I did, and it worked out, but I would have been so screwed if it didn't turn out well (and jury is still out on second semester).</p>
<p>if you are really confident then go all out and med schools are gonna eat it up, but be careful.</p>
<p>Agreed. I'll throw in a few more thoughts as well</p>
<ol>
<li> If you're covered by a parent's insurance (health, car, renters (second year and on if you move off-grounds, your parents home insurance can cover you), etc), most will not continue to cover you after 18 unless you're a full-time student, which is 12 credits. I know people who got into trouble with this, not good!</li>
<li>Taking less credits can actually bore you out, making you even less productive. Most people like to have a steady amount of work, but not overwhelming amounts. There's a middle ground that can bring out productivity without wearing you out, and 5 classes is pretty much that good number.</li>
<li>I would take previous poster's advice, and use your english/history AP credits. Those classes are pretty boring, and often if you need a second writing req. and another history req, you can use certain classes that cover both.</li>
<li>Go see a pred-med advisor! They can help give you an idea of what med schools will/won't take and what they do/don't want to see. If you're positive about pre-med, tell your advisor during summer orientation, and I know some places (including UVa) have special programs on the second, slower-paced day that is filled with programs/presentations geared towards specifics (pre-prof. school info, housing, job, etc).<br>
5.Get a jump start, and try to map out your years early on. List out all of your requirements for graduation and pre-med, and try to overlap when you can. It's much easier to do this rather than get to the end and be missing things. I would prioritize on spacing out the difficult classes (second semester of bio, organic I&II, labs, etc) and then fill in around them.</li>
</ol>