Question.
If I'm retaking a couple classes this summer that wrap up in early August, should I wait till August to trigger my primary AACOMAS application? Alternatively should I put everything in motion in May and then update them with the retake grades?
These two classes will boost my undergrad sGPA by about 0.4 (retake 2 C's) and I'd really hate for my primary application to be filtered out because of a desire to rush out of the gate in May. Anyone have any thoughts?
As long as you meet the minimum GPA cutoff (which is usually around 2.7 overall), then you will not be screened out. Anybody that meets the minimum cutoff automatically gets sent out a secondary (this is the case with most schools...some schools
do screen...check one of the sticky threads in this forum for info)
I am kinda worried, i have a a Bachelor of Science, I have two really bad years, 2.9 GPA and 3.5 really good years, 3.6, my overall adcoms average is a 3.42 science GPA and a 3.52 non science GPA.....so I have a huge upward trend, I am worried though, I have a C in Biochem and a C in cell bio ( I was taking my EMT program while taking these classes and I was WAY to overloaded) I dont really want to retake them since I have alot of other upper level science classes I did well in (histo, developmental, micro, A and P, paristilolgy, animal phys etc.....) I am taking the MCAT in August, I am also an EMT and have worked and volunteered with an agency that supports handicapped people. do you think that my two C's I got in the last 3.5 years of my undergrad will affect me? Im planning to apply in May and I really want to get into a school.......thankx in advance
You will be fine because you have an upward trend and you have other upper level classes that you did well in. Go ahead and apply in May. If you get asked about your C's at interview, then mention that you were overwhelmed. Otherwise, I would not talk about them at any point in your application process (PS, secondaries, etc.).
Thanks Rollo for the quick response.
My sciGPA after spring might not be quite at 2.75...hopefully it will be i might be a little under like a 2.7ish and since my preffered school is CCOM I'm afraid I might get screened out. Hopefully I do get it to atleast a 2.75 so I won't have to deal with waiting until after summer. So you recommend that I send my primaries in May? Im planning to take the MCAT on June 18..is it ok to send MCAT scores later? Then send updated transcripts after summer semester and after fall semester? How do I have my sciGPA and cGPA recalculated with the retakes?
When you fill out the primary, you can indicate that you plan on taking MCAT in June. When you get the scores, then you can forward those scores to AACOMAS and they will be updated.
As far as your classes, you can indicate that you plan on taking certain classes in summer/fall. When you get the grades, you will have to get your school to send an official transcript to AACOMAS. At my undergrad, you could put in a request for official transcript BEFORE the grades are posted, and you would just have to indicate that they send the transcripts AFTER semester grades are posted. I'm sure your undergrad would let you do the same thing. Might as well go ahead and take care of it in May after you submit AACOMAS.
But of course, if your GPA isn't 2.7, then you will definitely want to wait until summer grades are posted. Best thing to do in that scenario would be to submit AACOMAS for verification 2 weeks before summer grades are posted. Verification takes anywhere from 4-6 weeks so you will have plenty of time to send the transcripts.
This is straight out of AACOMAS Application Instructions which you will see when you register for AACOMAS in May...I'm posting it so you understand how it all works:
Repeat: Courses repeated for academic improvement or grade change must be listed each time taken. Courses repeated for additional credit, but not for a better grade, such as physical education or chorus, are not considered a repeat. Applicants should list the original class as a repeat i.e. "Repeat" and then list the final time it is taken as "Last Repeat". All repeated courses should be coded in sequence. Please see the examples below:
Repeat Example 1
Fall Semester 1999 ENGL 1113 English Composition I: Code as "Repeat 01"
Spring Semester 2001 ENGL 1113 English Composition I: Code as "Last Repeat 01"
Repeat Example 2
Fall Semester 2000 CHEM 3153 Organic Chemistry I: Code as "Repeat 02"
Fall Semester 2001 CHEM 3153 Organic Chemistry I: Code as "Last Repeat 02"
Please contact the AACOMAS office (
[email protected]) if you have any questions about repeated courses.
Repeat/To Be Completed: If you are repeating a course but have not yet completed it, code RNY in the type column.
Rollo, I'll take any school that will take me at this point. I do not know which classes I should include as my science GPA since I've got a minor in public health and if I should count those classes in the GPA. My complete cumulative GPA is 2.72 with the 2Fs and Ds included, I haven't filed for my 3 grade forgiveness as of yet. I haven't taken my first practice test, but I've gotten through college with the knowledge I obtained from lectures in High school, I shouldn't have a problem scoring high on the MCATs.
Check the sticky in this forum for detailed list of which courses are considered science by AACOMAS.
You are taking MCAT in May 2 and haven't taken a practice test yet? Have you been studying for it? I want to warn you that MCAT is very challenging, you can't just "wing" it. Take an official practice test this week and see how you do (a free one is on MCAT website).
- BS Bio (Canada), ~3.12
- MPH (US), ~3.90
- Have repeated some undergrad courses (OC 1&2, Anatomy, Physio, etc.) and earned A's this time rather than C's & D's (which would increase the 3.12 quite a bit)
- Two poor MCATs (2005, 2006), will repeat in late July/early Aug, hope to score >30
- Research experience in several labs, health system research, hospital volunteering, student leadership, TA class, etc. no shadowing (yet)
- Not a citizen or PR of the US (from Canada)
Your best bet is to ask in international student forum since most of us here are US citizens or permanent residents. You should also think about shadowing some US DOs. This is VERY important for you. Make sure you shadow them
in US. From the looks of it, you should be fine as long as your MCAT is 26+. However, ask over at international student forum if you want reliable, and not speculative, advice.
