AMCAS GPA calculation..

[kthakk4]

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Hi all,
I am applying for medical schools in August this year. I have screwed up a couple of my classes by getting Ds. The classes were super easy and I know for sure that if I take it again I will get A in both of them. The question: is it worth paying $2000 for summer classes? My school (UCONN) counts the second grade as the official grade in calculation of GPA, so that should definately improve my GPA. However, I am not familiar if AMCAS does the same whilel counting GPA. So if anybody knows, I will really appreciate it.

 

[Wahina]

I would retake. AMCAS is going to count the original and the retake, so you won't end up with just the A. However, a 2.5 is a whole lot better than a 1.0, and I think it's important to show that the D was just a fluke and that you have matured since then.

 

[Rafa]

I believe AMCAS counts all grades included on your official transcript. So if Uconn will make the first grade 'dissappear' and replace it with your re-take grade (and only the re-take shows up on the OTrans), then I'd re-take the classes (if I had the money, time, and inclination). However, if both of your grades would still appear on the transcript, then I wouldn't re-take, unless it would really improve my GPA. So it depends.

Basically, AMCAS factors only what appears on your OTrans. So find out what would appear, and that'll help you figure out what to do. If both of your grades appear (say you get two As and your two Ds), all four get factored into your AMCAS GPA. If only the two As appear, then you'll be in a lot better shape.

 

[Wahina]

Legally, you have to report both.

 

[Rafa]

Legally, you have to report both.

If you report both on your AMCAS application, and both aren't listed on your official college transcript, AMCAS will not accept your application, and will send it back to you to 'correct it'. They say you're supposed to report every class you took, whether or not you took it to completion, but if you try to be honest when your school's policy is to ignore classes you drop, you're simply going to hold up your application. I believe the same resultant applies to re-taking classes. You can add every class you've taken to your application if you wish, but if your college transcript says you didn't take even one of them (because your college erases the old grade for the new one, etc), then you're going to get your AMCAS back. This also occurs if your OT doesn't include things like +s or -s, due to school policy, and you try to be 'honest' and note you got a "B-" in O-chem or whatnot. You do that, and you'll get your application held up. They say they want you to be honest, etc, but you're just supposed to copy what your OT says into that section, and make sure both match up.

Basically, your original transcript supercedes the AMCAS in that section, since that's what they'll follow when checking the accuracy of your reported grades.

 

[kthakk4]

Thanks for the quick replies guys.
My school transcript will show both classes on the trascript but it will only count the second grade the cumulative GPA calculation. I emailed the AMCAS regarding that, let's see what they have to say.

 

[Rafa]

No prob. But yeah - if the external (official) transcript would show both, then AMCAS would count both grades when calculating your GPA, even though your school wouldn't.

 

[Zoom-Zoom]

I believe AMCAS counts all grades included on your official transcript. So if Uconn will make the first grade 'dissappear' and replace it with your re-take grade (and only the re-take shows up on the OTrans), then I'd re-take the classes (if I had the money, time, and inclination). However, if both of your grades would still appear on the transcript, then I wouldn't re-take, unless it would really improve my GPA. So it depends.

Basically, AMCAS factors only what appears on your OTrans. So find out what would appear, and that'll help you figure out what to do. If both of your grades appear (say you get two As and your two Ds), all four get factored into your AMCAS GPA. If only the two As appear, then you'll be in a lot better shape.

My school is unfortunately one of the ones that keeps both grades on the transcript. This blows. Any possibility I can tell my Dean how hard i've been working and have him take those grades off?

 

[hp85]

You might want to keep in mind that AMCAS submission starts in June and that you're very well advised to admit it asap. Unless you're planning to hold off submitting AMCAS until after you complete your summer courses (is that what you're implying when you say that you'll apply in August?), your grades won't enter into AMCAS.

 

[Rafa]

My school is unfortunately one of the ones that keeps both grades on the transcript. This blows. Any possibility I can tell my Dean how hard i've been working and have him take those grades off?

You could try. If you've got one of those 'upward trends' on your GPA since the bad grades landed on the transcript, he might look upon your case favorably - but I dunno. Doesn't hurt to ask, though.

And if he didn't, at least your transcript will show you were willing to take the classes again, and do better on them. That'll give you mojo points.

 

[Sondra]

What were the classes that you made D's in? If they were (Gen Bio I or II, Gen Chem I or II, O Chem I or II or Physics I or II), I would possibly repeat them. If it was another class, then I would just make sure to take a higher/more advanced class in the same area such as an another upper level humanities for a D in art appreciation. If it was a 100 or 200 level science class, then I would take a 300/400 level science class in order to boost my BCPM GPA. I know is a little harder than just repeating a course you have already taken.