A few questions...

[242563]

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I transfered to another school after my Freshman year. I brought with me a 2.3 GPA. For some reason, the transcript from my new school does not calculate the cumulative GPA for both schools combined. Is this how medical schools will calculate GPA, by taking the most recent transcript? Or would I need to send transcripts from both schools so they could calculate the GPA themselves?

Also, I'm curious about a few things: I may need to take a job and subsequently go to school only part-time. How will this look on my application? I'm already a non-trad, but how do schools respond to people that didn't blow through UG in 4 years full-time?

Are there any good books or other resources that cover how to get accepted to medical school? Perhaps a book that leans towards the student-that-screwed-up-his-GPA-freshman-year.

 

[TAWS]

It does not really matter the GPA listed on the school transcript because AMCAS recalculates your GPA according to their scale. When they recalculate your gpa, they include all grades you have earned in a cumulative science, non-science, and overall GPA. They will also list gpa earned by year.

Since you attended more than one school, you will have to submit transcripts from all the schools you attended.

For a low freshman GPA, you would want to "dilute" the low GPA. The more classes you take and do well in, the less impact those freshman grades will have on your AMCAS GPA.

 

[Premed Worrier]

It does not really matter the GPA listed on the school transcript because AMCAS recalculates your GPA according to their scale. When they recalculate your gpa, they include all grades you have earned in a cumulative science, non-science, and overall GPA. They will also list gpa earned by year.

Since you attended more than one school, you will have to submit transcripts from all the schools you attended.

For a low freshman GPA, you would want to "dilute" the low GPA. The more classes you take and do well in, the less impact those freshman grades will have on your AMCAS GPA.

Already answered thoroughly above.

I think that if you have a good reason to go part time while in school (i.e. to work so you can survive) it would be ok. But you need to remember that they want to see that you worked hard through school. So maybe go to school 3/4 time or something. I would advise taking more than one class a semester if you can.

Can't help with the book question.

 

[Stratego]

You don't need a special book if you read the SDN forums widely.

If you started with a 2.3 for freshman year, with three years of straight As you could get to a 3.5. If you can't get it high enough to be competative, you can complete a Special Masters Program.

Med schools like to see that you can carry a heavy load and still succeed academically. That load can be academic or work, or volunteering, or leadership, or sports, or a family. Going to school part time is not a problem.

Here is an AMCAS GPA calculator to help figure out your true cumulative GPA, including both schools, at this point: http://medschool.ucsf.edu/postbac/pdf/AMCAS%20GPA_Calculator%20Version%204%20Final.xls

 

[242563]

Wow... thanks for the very thorough answers guys.