AMCAS GPA: BCPM went up and AO went down

[ReptarBar]

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I was in a neuroscience class that I designated as "Biology" (like my other neuro classes, which ended up fine), but upon verification, it was changed to "Health Sciences."

I got a B- in that course. Because it was removed from my BCPM, my BCPM gpa went up by 0.06 while my AO gpa dropped 0.13.

What do you guys think about this? The class was definitely a BCPM class (it was all about structures/function), but now my AO gpa is 3.48.

Should I ask them to change it, or do you think that AO is not that important + the extra 0.06 to BCPM is worth it?

 

[Irish Football]

One class is probably not that important, but what is your new BCPM?

 

[ReptarBar]

it went from a 3.71/2 to a 3.78.

i think i will just leave it. seems like AO gpa is pretty useless.

it would seem like a lot of trouble anyways since schools are getting my app now.

 

[Irish Football]

Hmm...I think you're fine, I would kill for that sGPA! Like you said, if you caught it earlier maybe it'd be worth it to change it, but now I would just say roll with it.

 

[McPhee]

it went from a 3.71/2 to a 3.78.

i think i will just leave it. seems like AO gpa is pretty useless.

it would seem like a lot of trouble anyways since schools are getting my app now.

Sounds like an epic win. BCPM is more important than AO, although both GPAs are important, second only to your MCAT.

 

[BigBlueBear]

Sounds like an epic win. BCPM is more important than AO, although both GPAs are important, second only to your MCAT.

Pretty sure there was a survey posted a couple few weeks ago that clearly showed that GPA > MCAT. But I'm nitpicking 😉

But yes OP this is a huge break for you. Don't you dare change it 😛

 

[ReptarBar]

are you guys sure about this? a 3.48 seems really low to me...

how long does the academic change request take to process?

 

[Nymphicus]

Generally, BCPM >= cumGPA > AO

 

[BigBlueBear]

I wasn't even aware that AO mattered at all. I thought it was just BCPM and overall.

But we'd probably need LizzyM or Cat to confirm (or refute) this for sure.

 

[LizzyM]

Sounds like an epic win. BCPM is more important than AO, although both GPAs are important, second only to your MCAT.

^ agree

 

[McPhee]

Pretty sure there was a survey posted a couple few weeks ago that clearly showed that GPA > MCAT. But I'm nitpicking 😉

But yes OP this is a huge break for you. Don't you dare change it 😛

I would love to see that survey. An adcom told my pre-med commitee this: MCAT > GPA > Shadowing > Everything else.

Interestingly, while this adcom's medical school has a primary care and rural medicine focus, it also does significant research and has an affiliated NCI Cancer Center. I think the logic is that the students who want to do research should have research experience, while the students who want to be family docs don't need to worry as much about research. Hence why research is not highly valued at this particular state medical school (for MD-only applicants).

are you guys sure about this? a 3.48 seems really low to me...

how long does the academic change request take to process?

Nobody said a 3.48 is a good AO. I'd guess that most pre-meds have 3.9+ AO and a lower BCPM. That's how it is for me. Anyway, our point is that this is quite a coup for you and you should not have it changed. Your BCPM GPA is solid - don't mess with it.

 

[BigBlueBear]

I would love to see that survey. An adcom told my pre-med commitee this: MCAT > GPA > Shadowing > Everything else.

Interestingly, while this adcom's medical school has a primary care and rural medicine focus, it also does significant research and has an affiliated NCI Cancer Center. I think the logic is that the students who want to do research should have research experience, while the students who want to be family docs don't need to worry as much about research. Hence why research is not highly valued at this particular state medical school (for MD-only applicants).



Nobody said a 3.48 is a good AO. I'd guess that most pre-meds have 3.9+ AO and a lower BCPM. That's how it is for me. Anyway, our point is that this is quite a coup for you and you should not have it changed. Your BCPM GPA is solid - don't mess with it.

Couldn't find the survey...but it polled a bunch of adcoms on what they look for pre-interview and post-interview, based on a scale of 1-5 with 1 being not important and 5 being very important. I seem to remember that GPA was like 4.5ish and MCAT was only like 4.0.

 

[cgk]

Generally, BCPM >= cumGPA > AO[/QUOT

Do ADCOMS look at the list of classes that comprise the BCPM to see if they are natural science courses vs pure math courses? Obviously, for math majors, the BCPM will be comprised of far more math than biology, chem or physics type of classes. Does it matter?