3 quick and easy admissions questions

[BASuperman]

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1. I ended up taking the basic biology classes my freshman year, Biology 101-104 instead of the (pre-med) courses which are Biology 115 & 117, how will schools not affiliated with my undergraduate school loook at this? Will they know? because I talked to the medical school admissions staff at my undergrad and they said that 101-104 will take the place of 115 and I can simply take 117 and be fine, but I dont know if its even worth the trouble for OOS schools.

2. When you determine prerequisite or (science) GPA do you take Math classes into consideration too? Or only prerequisites? Such as if I take more chemistry than is required, will those extra chemistry classes count into my pre-req/science GPA? What determines science GPA?

3. When should MCAT studying begin, and when would be the best time to take the test?

Thanks! 🙂

 

[mauberley]

2. When you determine prerequisite or (science) GPA do you take Math classes into consideration too? Or only prerequisites? Such as if I take more chemistry than is required, will those extra chemistry classes count into my pre-req/science GPA? What determines science GPA?

In the AMCAS instruction manual is a list of courses and their classifications. Biology, chemistry, physics, and math courses count for the BCPM GPA (also called science GPA/sGPA in the pre-allo forum). All courses that fall under those categories count for that GPA, even non-prerequisite courses.

 

[MedDevil]

1. I ended up taking the basic biology classes my freshman year, Biology 101-104 instead of the (pre-med) courses which are Biology 115 & 117, how will schools not affiliated with my undergraduate school loook at this? Will they know? because I talked to the medical school admissions staff at my undergrad and they said that 101-104 will take the place of 115 and I can simply take 117 and be fine, but I dont know if its even worth the trouble for OOS schools.

2. When you determine prerequisite or (science) GPA do you take Math classes into consideration too? Or only prerequisites? Such as if I take more chemistry than is required, will those extra chemistry classes count into my pre-req/science GPA? What determines science GPA?

3. When should MCAT studying begin, and when would be the best time to take the test?

Thanks! 🙂

1. Check w/ schools you want to apply to asap. Don't take chances when application time rolls around.

2. Math + Biology + Chem + Physics = science gpa. Any of these classes (including upper divisions) goes towards your sci gpa, not just prereqs.

3. Take the MCAT when you feel that you're ready. Some people take it as soon as after sophomore year. Some take it right before they apply to med schools during the spring of their Junior year and have a few more upper division science courses under their belt. Give yourself 3-4 months to study.

 

[BASuperman]

1. Check w/ schools you want to apply to asap. Don't take chances when application time rolls around.

2. Math + Biology + Chem + Physics = science gpa. Any of these classes (including upper divisions) goes towards your sci gpa, not just prereqs.

3. Take the MCAT when you feel that you're ready. Some people take it as soon as after sophomore year. Some take it right before they apply to med schools during the spring of their Junior year and have a few more upper division science courses under their belt. Give yourself 3-4 months to study.

Thanks for the replies!

 

[CodeBlu]

1. Check w/ schools you want to apply to asap. Don't take chances when application time rolls around.

2. Math + Biology + Chem + Physics = science gpa. Any of these classes (including upper divisions) goes towards your sci gpa, not just prereqs.

3. Take the MCAT when you feel that you're ready. Some people take it as soon as after sophomore year. Some take it right before they apply to med schools during the spring of their Junior year and have a few more upper division science courses under their belt. Give yourself 3-4 months to study.

True say.

Thanks for the replies!

So does english/behavorial sciences not count towards your science GPA?

No, they do not. Read that manual.

 

[BASuperman]

True say.



No, they do not. Read that manual.

Ok I just read it, sorry about that. So out of pre-req GPA, science GPA, and overall GPA... how important is each?

 

[cdm3413]

Ok I just read it, sorry about that. So out of pre-req GPA, science GPA, and overall GPA... how important is each?

Pre-req GPA does not exist.

Adcoms look at cGPA (cumulative) and sGPA (science), amongst trends.
That is, doing terribly your freshman year and redeem yourself with a high grade trend, will be considered as well.

 

[MedDevil]

Pre-req GPA does not exist.

Adcoms look at cGPA (cumulative) and sGPA (science), amongst trends.
That is, doing terribly your freshman year and redeem yourself with a high grade trend, will be considered as well.

In addition, sGPA is slightly more important than cGPA.