AMCAS GPA: A way to cheat the system?

[jkim255]

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I'm a junior at Emory University in Atlanta, GA.

Recently, I found out that AMCAS gpa LUMPS all of your grades obtained from your current school (in my case Emory) as well as any other colleges (including any community college in us) you may have attended in the past, no matter which class, for what purpose, or how long ago you may have taken the class.

I've taken three classes (all math classes) at a local community school during sophomore year of high school in ordered to be placed in calculus. Ive obtained all A's, this significantly boosts my science gpa, since my science gpa at Emory is not very competitive (~3.3 ish).

So, this is is my question, can I continue to take random science/math classes outside of emory over the summer, let's say at a local state college, where it is relatively cheaper and easier to obtain higher grade and continue on boosting my AMCAS gpa. If I do this, I am fairly certain that at least my AMCAS gpa will become competitive. Will any of this be frowned upon?

 

[nabeel76]

Yes this will effectively boost your AMCAS gpa, all courses at all schools will be factored into one cummulative gpa. However, I believe that AMCAS doesn't just randomly lump your grades into 1 lump but seperates them and reports them by year and all schools that you apply to will see where you where enrolled that year. In the case of CC credits, leaving your home school to take courses at a CC will be questioned by med schools. As for additional courses at a local 4 year university, go for it if you feel you need the postbac work to give your gpa a needed boost.



P.S. I don't believe math courses prior to Pre-Calculus are considered college level, I believe they are remedial, and they might not be factored into the BCMP but I am not sure about this.In addition, depending on the number of science courses that you have already taken, 3 courses of A's might not change your sgpa by that much.

 

[Dr Simplicity]

Yes, adcom members will frown upon this. Maybe you can take some general education requirements at a local state college especially if you have a good reason to do this (like graduating early, double majoring etc). Make sure to take your pre-med reqs and any advanced science courses at your school (or at a school on the same level as emory).

 

[StIGMA]

This is what the AMCAS file looks like for posted GPA, which is listed by academic year. Individually, your grades will have the school where you took the class. To my knowledge there is no school followed by GPA at that school, only what I just posted where the GPA of a year is grouped.

 

[WeAreNotRobots]

you wouldn't be cheating the system or fooling the adcoms...

only yourself.

 

[AbRKnight]

you wouldn't be cheating the system or fooling the adcoms...

only yourself.

Yeah, how could you ever live with yourself?...

 

[236116]

So, this is is my question, can I continue to take random science/math classes outside of emory over the summer, let's say at a local state college, where it is relatively cheaper and easier to obtain higher grade and continue on boosting my AMCAS gpa. If I do this, I am fairly certain that at least my AMCAS gpa will become competitive. Will any of this be frowned upon?

Don't do this.

It makes you look like a douche.

 

[drizzt3117]

You should take your prereqs and upper division science classes at your home institution. Taking other classes that you are interested in at a CC (that also happen to boost your GPA) is fine though.