Does DO grade replacement affect overall gap?

[psu228]

Hey all,

So this may seem like a simple question, but will DO schools only factor in my highest grade for a class for my overall gpa? I had a c in gen Chem 2, retook it and got an A. My college averages the two to a B so my average gap only went up slightly. In the eyes of a DO school, is the c simply entirely replaced by the A?

Thanks

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[OrdinaryDO]

Hey all,

So this may seem like a simple question, but will DO schools only factor in my highest grade for a class for my overall gpa? I had a c in gen Chem 2, retook it and got an A. My college averages the two to a B so my average gap only went up slightly. In the eyes of a DO school, is the c simply entirely replaced by the A?

Thanks

It is only replaced by the highest grade in the situation where a class with the higher grade has the same exact name as the class you took before it.
Ex. College Physics - C cannot be replaced by University Physics - A. However General Chemistry can be replaced by another higher grade in general chemistry. No, they do not average the scores like your university does.

 

[HowYouGetAnts]

Be sure it's the same class, same name, same # of credits and the higher grade will outright replace the lower grade. So if you retake the class and get an A, in the eyes of DO, you received an A. The DO schools do not average between the grades.

 

[Two Sides]

It is only replaced by the highest grade in the situation where a class with the higher grade has the same exact name as the class you took before it.
Ex. College Physics - C cannot be replaced by University Physics - A. However General Chemistry can be replaced by another higher grade in general chemistry. No, they do not average the scores like your university does.

I replaced Elements of General Chemistry with General Chemistry, and I replaced an MGMT 250 course with a CSC 1000 course (both had completely different names).

 

[HowYouGetAnts]

I replaced Elements of General Chemistry with General Chemistry, and I replaced an MGMT 250 course with a CSC 1000 course (both had completely different names).

That's very interesting. Maybe someone more knowledgeable can chime in since grade replacement is a reason why many people decide to apply to DO schools.

 

[Two Sides]

That's very interesting. Maybe someone more knowledgeable can chime in since grade replacement is a reason why many people decide to apply to DO schools.

I think retakes are done by course descriptions if the titles differ (MGMT 250 with CSC 1000), and easier courses can be replaced by harder courses if they're similar (ex. Intro to Ecology with General Ecology).

 

[0dee]

It is important to note that AACOMAS factors your last attempt not your highest grade.

 

[OrdinaryDO]

I replaced Elements of General Chemistry with General Chemistry, and I replaced an MGMT 250 course with a CSC 1000 course (both had completely different names).

That's very interesting. Maybe someone more knowledgeable can chime in since grade replacement is a reason why many people decide to apply to DO schools.

I think retakes are done by course descriptions if the titles differ (MGMT 250 with CSC 1000), and easier courses can be replaced by harder courses if they're similar (ex. Intro to Ecology with General Ecology).

Straight from AACOMAS:

"Courses retaken at the same school or a different school for a higher grade are considered “Repeated.” If you repeated a course, mark the first attempt and each additional attempt at the same or a different institution as “Repeated”. Do not mark withdrawn attempts as a repeated course. Make sure you have entered 0.00 credits for the initial attempts. Only the final attempt should receive full credit value. Withdrawn courses and courses taken multiple times for new credit (such as physical education courses) are not considered repeated. Select “yes” and then check off each attempt at the class to mark it as “Repeated.” Only the final attempt at Repeated courses will be factored into your AACOMAS GPA. Repeated courses taken at the same school must have the same departmental prefix and course title.

While AACOMAS allows applicants to classify similar coursework from separate schools as repeated, the verification staff is not responsible for determining whether the content, course level, and credit hours are equivalent. AACOMAS staff can only correct incorrectly classified repeated coursework from the same school. In order for repeated coursework across institutions to be verified as repeated, the applicant must enter the initial attempts as 0.00 credits and mark each attempt as “Repeated” during Transcript Review. AACOMAS will not edit repeated courses across institutions after the applicant is verified."

help.unicas.com:8888/aacomasHelpPages/instructions/academic-history-2/transcript-entry/index.html

Edit: I know what I am talking about, the fact that they let you replace your courses is just odd unless it was from a totally different institution, because it clearly states here it must have the same prefix and name. Also, I do not believe you can replace easier courses with harder courses.

 

[Two Sides]

Straight from AACOMAS:

"Courses retaken at the same school or a different school for a higher grade are considered “Repeated.” If you repeated a course, mark the first attempt and each additional attempt at the same or a different institution as “Repeated”. Do not mark withdrawn attempts as a repeated course. Make sure you have entered 0.00 credits for the initial attempts. Only the final attempt should receive full credit value. Withdrawn courses and courses taken multiple times for new credit (such as physical education courses) are not considered repeated. Select “yes” and then check off each attempt at the class to mark it as “Repeated.” Only the final attempt at Repeated courses will be factored into your AACOMAS GPA. Repeated courses taken at the same school must have the same departmental prefix and course title.

While AACOMAS allows applicants to classify similar coursework from separate schools as repeated, the verification staff is not responsible for determining whether the content, course level, and credit hours are equivalent. AACOMAS staff can only correct incorrectly classified repeated coursework from the same school. In order for repeated coursework across institutions to be verified as repeated, the applicant must enter the initial attempts as 0.00 credits and mark each attempt as “Repeated” during Transcript Review. AACOMAS will not edit repeated courses across institutions after the applicant is verified."

help.unicas.com:8888/aacomasHelpPages/instructions/academic-history-2/transcript-entry/index.html

Edit: I know what I am talking about, the fact that they let you replace your courses is just odd unless it was from a totally different institution, because it clearly states here it must have the same prefix and name. Also, I do not believe you can replace easier courses with harder courses.

I replaced Elements of General Chemistry (a survey course) with General Chemistry (same institutions), Introduction to Ecology (a survey course) with General Ecology (different institutions), MGMT 250 Information Tech for Business with CSC 100 Intro-Computers (different institutions). AACOM stated over the phone that could retake the courses at different locations if the course descriptions are similar. I have a friend who completed his entire degree at a 4 year school, and did some retakes at a cc and at different 4 year school. The retakes still counted, and there's no way they could all have similar titles. I did the same.

I did retake the courses through different institutions, except for the two chemistry courses. AACOMAS stated you could replace a survey course with a general course over the phone, but I would definitely email the course descriptions beforehand. I also think they're pretty fluid with their policies.

 

[I'mJustCurious]

Sorry to add anymore confusion but if I got a C (5 credit) at a CC and then an A (4) at a University will that not count?

 

[Two Sides]

Sorry to add anymore confusion but if I got a C (5 credit) at a CC and then an A (4) at a University will that not count?

I was in a similar dilemma, except I was replacing a 4 credit course (lecture + lab) with a 3 credit course + 1 credit lab. AACOM said that I should contact the 4 credit institution, and try to separate the course and the lab. Maybe, you would be able to do that and replace the lectures. I would see a mismatch for the labs though ( 2 credit and 1 credit).

 

[I'mJustCurious]

I was in a similar dilemma, except I was replacing a 4 credit course (lecture + lab) with a 3 credit course + 1 credit lab. AACOM said that I should contact the 4 credit institution, and try to separate the course and the lab. Maybe, you would be able to do that and replace the lectures. I would see a mismatch for the labs though ( 2 credit and 1 credit).

The only problem with that is both institutions don't have a separate credit that is lecture + lab, it's just combined

 

[Two Sides]

The only problem with that is both institutions don't have a separate credit that is lecture + lab, it's just combined

If you call AACOM, they'll tell you to contact the schools and see if they can split the course into lecture and lab for you. I would call AACOM and tell them of your situation, and then contact the schools' registrars and see if they can help you out.