How is GPA calculated?

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I have a sort of strange circumstance. I'm in my second year of university and doing fine, just want to bring my GPA up a little bit, and I'll probably take the DAT this summer so that I can retake it later if I need to.

When I was in 12th grade in high school I attended a magnet school that sent all of its seniors to university for a full year. That is, I was in my last year of high school but I spent the entire year as a student at a recognized university, taking classes as any other student there. After graduating at the end of the year I went on to McGill University, where I am now. Since I spent a full year in university in 12th grade, McGill transferred all my credits - almost a full year's worth (27!). Of course the classes didn't count towards my GPA here at McGill though, they just got me out of certain required classes and gave me some elective credits. I'm aware that I will have to send transcripts from both McGill and the other university to schools when I apply for dental school.

My question is: will the GPA the application calculates for me, the GPA that dental schools will look at and judge me by, include that year of high school? I really hope not since it was 12th grade and I obviously did not work as hard as I am now that I'm in university. (My grades were almost exclusively B's that year.) I'd hope that they'd look at my McGill GPA separate from the 12th grade GPA as I'm working much harder now that I'm in university. If the schools do look at a combined 12th grade & university GPA, is there some way I can point out why those grades are lower and have them take a look at my GPA just from McGill?

Thanks for any help in advance.

 

[barami0113]

1) will the GPA the application calculates for me, the GPA that dental schools will look at and judge me by, include that year of high school? 2)is there some way I can point out why those grades are lower and have them take a look at my GPA just from McGill?

1) Yes.

2) You can explain it in application or at interview. Also, adcom people focus on undergraduate career. I heard upward trend somewhat helps.

 

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Urgh, so the GPA the application calculates includes the coursework done at all universities attended, even if you weren't in college for part of it? Maybe there's a loophole since it's not like I transferred from one school to another - the credits McGill gave me might as well be from AP or IB. I'm just afraid those classes will bring down my GPA too much and will make schools ignore my application.