MD/PhD acceptance

[Medglory]

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Hi guys,

I have a serious issue since I've done one semester in the medical technologist program. I am a F1 visa student and my university accepted 57 credits from abroad. These credits include: General, organic and analytic chemistry, general biology, human physiology, genetics, physics...
The thing is that my GPA for these courses is 1.77 ( because I come from the french system where you have to pass the class only) and I will have to take 67 credits in the US in order to get my bachelor's degree. My question is: Shall I transfer these classes or shall I retake them so my GPA will be much better?
Will the low GPA of my transfer courses from abroad affect the acceptance to the MD/PhD program or even to a PhD alone?

Thanks

 

[SBR249]

My university does not factor transfer credits into GPA calculations.

However, definitely retake. Medical schools want to see prerequisite courses for premed taken in the US and definitely NOT on a pass/fail basis. If they don't even like community college courses on a graded basis, I can't see them viewing your courses favorably and this might even sink your application.

 

[StoicJosher]

Here is the AMCAS instructions on entering coursework obtained outside the US/Canada.

Courses attempted independently (not through a study abroad program) at a foreign institution must be listed if the credit has been transferred to a U.S. or Canadian institution using a credit hour system convertible to semester hours. Include the foreign institution and the U.S. or Canadian institution accepting transfer credit in Schools Attended. Request a transcript exception for the foreign institution. Indicate the U.S. or Canadian institution on whose transcript these transfer credits will appear. List foreign course work under the foreign institution at which it was attempted.

If transfer credits are not assigned to individual courses, subdivide the credit hour total as appropriate and assign credit hours to each course. If the U.S. or Canadian institution awarding transfer credit provides letter grades (e.g., A, B, C, etc.) and credit hours convertible to semester hours for each course on their transcript (or on an official letter attached to their transcript):
o Enter all required course data.
o AMCAS will include this course work in AMCAS GPAs, regardless of institutional policies.

If the U.S. or Canadian institution does not provide letter grades other than Pass/Fail:
o Indicate Pass/Fail as the Special Course Type and provide all other required course data, entering the transcript grade exactly as it appears on your official transcript.
o AMCAS will not include this course work in AMCAS GPAs; however, AMCAS will include this course work in cumulative Pass/Fail - Pass and Pass/Fail - Fail credit hour totals.

From what you explained, it seems like your US institution awards transfer credits and grades. In that case, it is in your best interest not to transfer the classes over because it will ruin your GPA. Retake them here in the US (and like SBR249 said many schools require you to take your pre-reqs in a US/US territory/Canadian institution.)

For more information, ref: https://www.aamc.org/students/download/182162/data/2012_amcas_instruction_manual.pdf

 

[Medglory]

Thanks guys.

I have another question concerning research experience. At my university, I found a couple of opportunities with two professors; but none of the two does concern the medical field. One is about bees ( biology) and the other one is about the purity of water ( Chemistry). Does the AMCAS consider this type of research experience?

Thanks

 

[Maebea]

This would qualify as research. The more important question is whether the work would impress admissions committees. The research should be involve a hypothesis. Avoid projects that are strictly descriptive and focus on those that involve mechanisms.

 

[Medglory]

Thank you guys for your responses.

 

[Medglory]

I have another issue for which any help is more than welcome. My university unfortunately transferred my credits from back-home and as I said before, my cumulative GPA is really low.
They transferred everything including some Ds and also two courses which they estimate as Fs( even if I don't get it !). I am definitely retaking the medical prerequisites but my university says that the transferred courses will affect anyway my cumulative GPA even if I retake the courses and that there is no way to go back.
My question is: Does the AMCAS look at the prerequisites GPA, the major GPA or the cumulative GPA?

Thanks

 

[StoicJosher]

AMCAS looks at the grade you got in every college level class you have ever taken. Those D's and F's are going to be factored into your GPA when AMCAS calculates it because you transferred it to a US institution and the grades are present in the transcript.

 

[PfNO22]

amcas looks at the grade you got in every college level class you have ever taken. Those d's and f's are going to be factored into your gpa when amcas calculates it because you transferred it to a us institution and the grades are present in the transcript.

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