AMCAS Calculated GPA

[phobic]

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Hello first time poster here.

I did use the search option and it returned similar results but situation is unique.

I am a non-traditional student wondering about the mistakes I made in the past. I went to a few community
colleges after high school where I took courses and never finished them. I received roughly 6-8 F's in those
courses and that was mainly due to the fact that I had no idea what I wanted to do. Now I have an associates
degree which I earned a 3.0 in (again didn't know it was going to bite me back).

I'm about to begin my pre-med, biology undergrad from the beginning since I have no passed credits and or not
accredited. I came across the AMCAS rules and found that all transcripts must be submitted.

Now I am worried because even if I get a 3.8+ undergrad, I will have all those classes weighing me down right? It would be near impossible to have a decent cGPA? Or will they overlook those courses?

Need some guidance here before I waste 4 years on a biology degree that wont allow me to advance due to my past.

Thank you guys!

 

[Crayola227]

but is this really in the past?

what "bit" you where in both different academic periods you were not able to succeed, and what has changed that you are now ready to show that you're a science, scholastic, standardized test taking machine rumbling along at mostly straight A's while working 80 hour weeks??

at a young age I had to accept that my height meant that I would likely never be an Olympic class gymnast
some people just aren't good at the 3 S's, science, school, standardized tests

 

[alexwantsanMD]

Same boat, 1.69 freshmen year. A decade later I'm making A's. I'm wrapping up the premeds and undergrad, and the highest cGPA I can achieve is 3.2ish. I either apply or keep going to school is my conclusion. Some school's have a different system for weighing grades. (UW Med being one.) I would appreciate more insight into this topic. Any member's out there that were accepted with a low gpa due to a poor or 'colorful' first year in college?


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[brainnurse]

Unfortunately, yes, they do look at all of your credits. I would highly suggest a GPA calculator to see where you'll end up and what you'll need. Crayola, of course, has a good point. Make sure that you make A's from here on out. What is your Associate's in? Wouldn't it be better not to start from scratch and just finish up a Bachelor that bridges from your Associate's and just include pre-med coursework?

 

[Eccesignum]

They look at all grades you earned on college-level courses. All of them. They will, however, see a breakdown of your cGPA and sGPA by year (freshman, sophomore, etc defined by credit hours) so trends will be noticed.

I'm in a similar situation, as I did almost an entire bachelor's many many years ago with a 2.71, then an associate's at 4.0, then another bachelor's at 3.9. I had to report every single grade, and came out in the end with an AMCAS cumulative of 3.28 (though with a very high sGPA). I can say that I do know from comments made during interviews that many places did look at my credit breakdown by year and to some degree by institution, and did judge accordingly. But medical school admissions never carries guarantees; remember that there are folks with 4.0s who've never failed a class in their lives who still won't get in. There are many, many factors at play. When it comes time to apply you need to apply smartly and broadly.

I've attached a useful spreadsheet which will help calculate your AMCAS GPA. For AACOMAS it's the same, just if you've ever retaken a course only put in the grade you got on the retake rather than the original grade + retake.

 

[phobic]

Currently I have an associates in respiratory therapy. I went to a career college so my credits are not regionally accredited so I doubt that any university would let me finish it off.

I was going to start over because I had no other choice. I work in the ICU and take care of patients on mechanical ventilation. I see what the MD's do and it has really inspired me
to be a more integral part of the patients healing process. I'm so limited with my specialty.

I will try and use the calculator you suggested. I literally moved across the country to attend a university that accepted me, just to find out that my past will still haunt me.

I am positive that the motivation and direction I have for medicine now would take me further than I originally expected. But maybe I am predestined with the decisions I made
as an 18 year old...

 

[Eccesignum]

Currently I have an associates in respiratory therapy. I went to a career college so my credits are not regionally accredited so I doubt that any university would let me finish it off.

I was going to start over because I had no other choice. I work in the ICU and take care of patients on mechanical ventilation. I see what the MD's do and it has really inspired me
to be a more integral part of the patients healing process. I'm so limited with my specialty.

I will try and use the calculator you suggested. I literally moved across the country to attend a university that accepted me, just to find out that my past will still haunt me.

I am positive that the motivation and direction I have for medicine now would take me further than I originally expected. But maybe I am predestined with the decisions I made
as an 18 year old...

Unfortunately yes, the past staying with you is just life in general. No different here. A complete bachelor's with a high GPA will help. Remember they are looking for evidence of an ability to successfully handle a rigorous, sustained course load, so that's what you need to do. Take your time, get the basics under control, then as you move on take as much upper level science as you can when you're ready to do so. Go above and beyond and do it well. Remember to keep your ECs up as well, as they'll want to see commitment in the form of volunteering and other activities. I highly recommend shadowing even though you work in a medical field, as that'll show you've taken the time to get a glimpse into what physicians really do.

You have time to build a strong application, so take advantage of the years ahead of you. Good luck to you.

 

[brainnurse]

We are attached to our eighteen-year old selves in this particular path, unfortunately. But as you can see in @Eccesignum's case, there are ways to at least better our odds. Check all the boxes. Reacquaint yourself with the sciences. Get As from here on out. Do really well on the MCAT. Like @Eccesignum said, you have the luxury of time right now. Not many of us get four years to prep an application. Take full advantage of that.

Oh, I haven't seen an RT to MD/DO support thread, but an RN to MD/DO does exist somewhere on the NonTrad forum. Quite a few ICU/ER folks over there. Good luck and welcome!