Lighter senior year before grad school?

[moving_up]

I'm currently a second semester senior in my undergraduate math program. Last semester I applied to 5 biostats masters programs and Ohio State's MMS program. During last semester, I only took 3 classes (4 is considered a normal full-time load but 3 is not uncommon) because I have extra credits. I want to do the same this semester, but my dean says that having a lighter senior year will look bad to the grad programs. I also hold a leadership position in the school's student government, as well as a few part-time on-campus jobs. My GPA last semester was also better than its ever been.

My question is: will the grad schools really care if I have 3 classes instead of 4? Most of them won't want an official transcript unless they accept me, so is this something they would rescind admittance over?

[Guest]

I've read quite a few times that the upperclassman years are what matters the most in terms of your GPA. As long as your grades are on point, then I can't imagine taking only 3 classes for one semester as being setback. I do not think that you will be perceived as lazy or anything like that when it comes to taking only three classes. Full-time can be a burn out at times...especially if you have always done over 12-14 credit hours. You even have some people who take a semester off for personal reasons. 

 

I'm a senior as well by the way...and I've always pulled 16-18 credit hours during my undergrad career. My senior year is the first time where I've only taken 12 credit hours (4 classes) in both the fall and spring. I really only need two classes to graduate this semester. But, I 'have' to take four due to being on a scholarship that will only grant aid to full-time students. This might seem like a waste of time to some people who were in my shoes.

Edited January 26, 2015 by Guest

[bayessays]

They will not care.  My last 2 years of undergrad, I took 12 credits (2-3 full classes) per semester and was admitted to multiple top 5 PhD biostatistics programs.  Enjoy your last semester.

[cyberwulf]

It's unlikely that anyone would even notice, let alone care.