Bcpm...

[tautomer]

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Hey all,

One quick question: Do only courses listed under Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Math factor into the science GPA? I'm interested in taking astronomy classes, and was wondering if they would factor into my AO or BCPM.

 

[jlee9531]

yeah thats pretty much it...

hence the name BCPM.

 

[TRUE]

There are people out there who factor all sorts of classes in there if they did well. They fit astronomy in as Math or physics...you'd be suprised.

 

[farley is god]

Originally posted by facted
There are people out there who factor all sorts of classes in there if they did well. They fit astronomy in as Math or physics...you'd be suprised.

and this works?

I've taken probability and statistics courses, but they're not listed under MATH - they're listed under my major...

can I include classes like that?

 

[jlee9531]

Originally posted by farleyisgod
and this works?

I've taken probability and statistics courses, but they're not listed under MATH - they're listed under my major...

can I include classes like that?

course title has to have MATH in it.

like my stat class was called Math 160 so I could add it. Astronomy or Nutritional Sciences I was not able to add in the BCPM. the AMCAS has a list of categories classes fall under so you can take a look at that.

 

[Spitting Camel]

It's simple


If your class is Chem 101, it's a chem class


If your class is Bio 101, it's a Bio class


If your class is Math 101, it's a math class


If your class is Physics 101, it's a physics class



Don't try to cheat the system because your transcript has to match your amcas application. Otherwise, they'll correct it for you and it will look deceptive to schools (They mark it with a big fat red X)

 

[farley is god]

thanks for the answers, guys.

I assumed it had to be either BIO, CHEM, PHYS, or MATH... but I just wanted to make sure.

and I wasn't trying to cheat the system 🙂

 

[WatchingWaiting]

Originally posted by farleyisgod
thanks for the answers, guys.

I assumed it had to be either BIO, CHEM, PHYS, or MATH... but I just wanted to make sure.

and I wasn't trying to cheat the system 🙂

These guys are full of it, actually. The department the class is offered in is NOT the defining criteria-- the description in your course catalog is (AAMC supposedly has the catalogs from every accredited US university and references it to verify questionable claims). If you take a statistics class that has a course description that passes muster as a math class and you did well in it, count it as a math class. I counted several computer science theory courses that were math heavy as Math classes and an Intro course in the Electrical Engineering department that was very physicsish as a physics class. A theory of probability class in the statistics dept-- Math. No Xs; no interviewers cared.

Your astronomy classes may very well be cross-listed in the physics department-- astronomy is physics! Don't let the arbitrary departmental divisions of your school throw you-- the AMCAS categorization is based on the course material, not necessarily the department.

Do make sure that the course description in your catalog could place the class as a math or physics class though.

 

[sandg]

Let's flip the question around: is it OK to not list some courses with BCMP content in them?
For example, I have taken stats, thermodynamics, etc. from engineering departments. While the content is probably similar to courses taught by the math or chem department, can I not list them? (I did fine in these courses--I am just trying to avoid any potential hassles.) Thanks.

 

[TRUE]

Department listings don't tell you a thing about the course. A stat's class taught by the psych department is still a math class. I have friends who took comp sci classes that involved heavy amounts of math and added those in to math too. If your class heavily involves one of the subsets, you can feel free to add it in my opinion. The person who would know best, though, is a college counsler. Personally, I added psych stats to my "math" and I've gotten interviews and acceptences and no one marked anything with a big fat red x....

 

[Jason110]

I would not use department as the defining criteria for adding courses to BCPM. If you take a course and it falls under some of these categories, then add it to BCPM. The list below is from the 2004 AMCAS Instruction Booklet. It's available at http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/2004instructionbook.pdf if you wish to look at it.


From the 2004 AMCAS Instruction Booklet:

Course Classification
Each course must be assigned a course classification based entirely on the primary content of the course. See the
listing of course classification examples below for guidance in selecting Course Classifications. The Course
Classifications below are bolded, and are titled as they appear in the Course Classification drop down menu. Click
each Course Classification to open a list of example courses for that classification. The bulleted items beneath
each bolded Course Classification are examples of courses for which you should select that bolded Course
Classification. You are responsible for selecting the correct Course Classification. However, AMCAS reserves the
right to change Course Classifications if the assigned Course Classification clearly does not apply. AMCAS is not
responsible for any processing delays or incorrect GPA calculations resulting from incorrect Course Classifications.
In addition, AMCAS will not make corrections to course classifications based on information that becomes available
after you submit your application.
Course Classifications, in addition to describing the courses you enter, are used in the calculation of your AMCAS
GPA. On the list of Course Classification examples below, bolded Course Classifications that are followed by
"BCPM" indicate that courses for which you choose this Course Classification will be calculated in your BCPM
GPA. The BCPM GPA is comprised of courses, which are considered to be Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, or
Physics courses. Bolded Course Classifications that are not followed by "BCPM" indicate that courses for which
you choose this Course Classification will be calculated in your AO (All Other) GPA.

Behavioral & Social Sciences (BESS)
? Anthropology
? Economics
? Family Studies
? Psychology
? Sociology

Biology (BIOL) - BCPM
? Anatomy
? Biology
? Biophysics
? Biotechnology
? Botany
? Cell Biology
? Ecology
? Entomology
? Genetics
? Histology
? Immunology
? Microbiology
? Molecular Biology
? Neuroscience
? Physiology

Business (BUSI)
? Accounting
? Business
? Finance
? Human Resource Studies
? Management
? Organizational Studies
? Marketing

Chemistry (CHEM) - BCPM
? Biochemistry
? Chemistry
? Physical Chemistry
? Thermodynamics

Communications (COMM)
? Journalism
? Media Production & Studies
? TV, Video, & Audio

Computer Science/Technology (COMP)
? Computer Science
? Computer Engineering
? Information Systems
? Telecommunications

Education (EDUC)
? Counseling & Personnel Services
? Curriculum & Instruction
? Educational Policy
? Educational Administration
? Health Education
? Human Development
? Physical Education
? Special Education

Engineering (ENGI)
? Aerospace Engineering
? Biomedical Engineering
? Chemical Engineering
? Civil Engineering
? Electrical Engineering
? Engineering
? Environmental Engineering
? Mechanical Engineering
? Nuclear Engineering

English Language & Literature (ENGL)
? English Composition & Rhetoric
? English Creative Writing
? English Language & Literature

Fine Arts (ARTS)
? Art
? Art History
? Dance
? Fine Arts
? Music
? Photography
? Theatre

Health Sciences (HEAL)
? Allied Health
? Chiropractic
? Dentistry
? Hearing & Speech Sciences
? Hospital Administration
? Kinesiology
? Medical Technology
? Medicine
? Nursing
? Nutrition & Food Sciences
? Occupational Therapy
? Optometry
? Osteopathy
? Physical Therapy
? Physician Assistant
? Public Health
? Pharmacology & Pharmacy
? Sports Medicine
? Veterinary Medicine

History (HIST)
? History

Foreign Languages/Linguistics/Lit. (FLAN)
? American Sign Language
? Comparative Literature
? Linguistics
? Foreign Language(s) & Literature

Government/Political Sci/Law (GOVT)
? Criminology & Criminal Justice
? Government
? International Relations & Studies
? Law/Legal Studies
? Political Science
? Public Affairs & Policy
? Urban Policy & Planning

Math (MATH) - BCPM
? Applied Mathematics
? Mathematics
? Statistics

Natural/Physical Sciences (NPSC)
? Agriculture
? Animal and Avian Sciences
? Forestry
? Geography
? Geology
? Horticulture
? Landscape Architecture
? Meteorology
? Natural Resources
? Oceanography
? Environmental Science & Policy

Other (OTHR)
All courses which do not fit appropriately into another category, including:
? Architecture
? Interdisciplinary courses
? Library Science
? Military Science

Philosophy/Religion (PHIL)
? Ethics
? Logic
? Philosophy
? Religion
? Theology

Physics (PHYS) - BCPM
? Astronomy
? Physics

Special Studies (SSTU)
? Afro-American Studies
? American Studies
? Gender Studies



Hope this helps,

Jason