How does AMCAS calculate GPA and consider post bacc GPA

[Maggie0008]

I am starting to determine my chances of going to a US Medical school and am confused about how the GPA is calculated. Back when I was in college, like 20 YEARS ago, my college calculated the GPA by substituting the last grade that you received for the course. So for example, if you got an F in Physics, and then you retook it and received an A, your grade would be an A. Also, when I transferred from another college to the one I eventually graduated (electrical engineering) the old grades were not counted. In looking at the transcripts from the first school, I now remember that I was actually SUSPENDED! My questions are:

1. Will the grades from the first school count (they were not counted for my final GPA reflected on the transcript, which is bad enough)

2. Will the grades be calculated per semester and not how my college calculated them (i.e. the F's will be counted).

3. I still have the biology and orgo classes to take. I already have calculus, Physics and Chemistry (but again from like 20 years ago and with B, C's and D's). Will the post bacc classes be counted towards the GPA? Should I re-take the chemistry and Physics?

4. Is there any benefit for obtaining a "medical sciences diploma" vs. just the post bacc credits I need?

5. My tier-2 MBA business school GPA was 3.46. Will this be taken into account at all (received on 2006)

I had undiagnosed ADD at the time, but over time it has greatly subsided. My MCATs are coming up to 35-37 range, and I have not studied that much. I think it would be very unfair for the grades to be calculated with a different system than the one that was in place when one was at school. I know that I would have made entirely different decisions.😕

Any feedback appreciated.

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[Catalystik]

1. Will the grades from the first school count (they were not counted for my final GPA reflected on the transcript, which is bad enough)

2. Will the grades be calculated per semester and not how my college calculated them (i.e. the F's will be counted).

3. I still have the biology and orgo classes to take. I already have calculus, Physics and Chemistry (but again from like 20 years ago and with B, C's and D's). Will the post bacc classes be counted towards the GPA? Should I re-take the chemistry and Physics?

4. Is there any benefit for obtaining a "medical sciences diploma" vs. just the post bacc credits I need?

5. My tier-2 MBA business school GPA was 3.46. Will this be taken into account at all (received on 2006)

1) You will be obliged to submit a transcript for every college attended. All grades count toward your application GPA.

2) Fs will be counted. AMCAS uses its own rules to calculate the GPA, regardless of how your colleges did it.

3) Postbac classes count exactly the same as it you had taken them while still an undergrad. Retaking prerequisites is wise if it will improve your MCAT score or you got a D or F.

4) No, so long as you take upper-level science, too, not just the prereqs. An SMP, however, could override your undergrad GPA if it's really low.

5) Your grad GPA will appear on the transcript and summary section, but AMCAS will not merge it with the undergrad GPA. Your grad GPA won't have an impact on adcomm decision making.

All that said, when you are a nontrad, less weight is given to classes taken long ago. Your most recent academic work therefore, needs to be terrific.

 

[ThaliaNox]

1. Will the grades from the first school count (they were not counted for my final GPA reflected on the transcript, which is bad enough)

2. Will the grades be calculated per semester and not how my college calculated them (i.e. the F's will be counted).

3. I still have the biology and orgo classes to take. I already have calculus, Physics and Chemistry (but again from like 20 years ago and with B, C's and D's). Will the post bacc classes be counted towards the GPA? Should I re-take the chemistry and Physics?

4. Is there any benefit for obtaining a "medical sciences diploma" vs. just the post bacc credits I need?

5. My tier-2 MBA business school GPA was 3.46. Will this be taken into account at all (received on 2006)


Any feedback appreciated.

1. All college classes you have ever taken count, even classes from dual enrolling in high school, or classes which were not transferrable to another school. All these classes will be counted in your GPA, including things you retook.

2. All Fs will be counted as X credits of 0.0 GPA, even if your school didn't count it. This can feel harsh when it was a long time ago, but with every school using a different system, it's the only way to be fair to everyone.

3. Retake any pre-req you got a C or below in to prove to adcoms you've mastered the material. They look very closely at pre-req grades because everyone has to take them, making them useful for comparing applicants. Your schooling now has to be top-level if you want schools to take the stance that you've grown since your original grades, and that those should not be used to judge your current potential.

4. You don't really need to get a particular certificate or diploma. You do need to have absolutely stellar grades.

5. Grad school grades, especially outside of the hard sciences are not really counted much in determining the potential of an applicant. They are not counted in your undergraduate GPA, which is the one that really matters.


I would consider looking into DO schools, which practice grade replacement. (An A in a class you've retaken replaces a previous bad grade) It would help get your GPA up much faster, especially since you already appear to have a lot of credits.