Med schools dont average?

[liquidsnake02]

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So I was under the impression that if you retake a class, like Organic Chemistry which I got a C- in, that they will average the two grades. So is this true for all the medical school, they don't average a retake? Also, why are there so many posts saying that the AMCAS does average the two grades?

 

[VTBuc]

They do essentially average. What they don't do is replace the old grade with the new one(DO schools do). Both grades show up on AMCAS which means they are averaged in calculating GPA.

 

[justinbaily]

I'm not sure that I understand what you're saying. Both will be counted, so in that way it's like they've been "averaged."

 

[muhali3]

They don't average, they count both attempts. So if you took O-chem once and got a C, and then you took it again and got an A, they would count O-chem as 6 credits of B. Technically they just count it as 3 credits of A, and 3 credits of C...but its the same thing.

 

[MBHockey]

They don't average, they count both attempts. So if you took O-chem once and got a C, and then you took it again and got an A, they would count O-chem as 6 credits of B. Technically they just count it as 3 credits of A, and 3 credits of C...but its the same thing.

That is an average.

 

[VTBuc]

That is an average.

👍

Basic math people...basic math.

 

[muhali3]

That is an average.

They count both attempts. Many people think an average would mean that they count it as 3 credits, with the average of both grades (in my example, a B). What they actually do is just count both attempts, for a total of 6 credits.

Counting both attempts is actually more detrimental to your GPA, if the grade you averaged is lower than your cGPA.

 

[just one]

They count both attempts. Many people think an average would mean that they count it as 3 credits, with the average of both grades (in my example, a B). What they actually do is just count both attempts, for a total of 6 credits.

Counting both attempts is actually more detrimental to your GPA, if the grade you averaged is lower than your cGPA.

As House would say, "most people are idiots". GPA is nothing but an average. Retake the class or take a completely different class, it still counts the same.

 

[TooMuchResearch]

As House would say, "most people are idiots". GPA is nothing but an average. Retake the class or take a completely different class, it still counts the same.

Unless it's a different credit value.

 

[mdeast]

As House would say, "most people are idiots". GPA is nothing but an average. Retake the class or take a completely different class, it still counts the same.

Well, no. If you got a C the first time and an A the second they'll still see the increase. This would be better, than say, taking an English class instead. Either way though, it doesn't affect your cGPA what class you take, but can affect other things.

Personally, I don't think medical schools really spend that much time looking at your individual classes. They'll more concentrate on your science GPA and cGPA. Just too many applications to go through.

 

[just one]

Well, no. If you got a C the first time and an A the second they'll still see the increase. This would be better, than say, taking an English class instead. Either way though, it doesn't affect your cGPA what class you take, but can affect other things.

Personally, I don't think medical schools really spend that much time looking at your individual classes. They'll more concentrate on your science GPA and cGPA. Just too many applications to go through.

That is all I was saying.

 

[LizzyM]

Well, no. If you got a C the first time and an A the second they'll still see the increase. This would be better, than say, taking an English class instead. Either way though, it doesn't affect your cGPA what class you take, but can affect other things.

Personally, I don't think medical schools really spend that much time looking at your individual classes. They'll more concentrate on your science GPA and cGPA. Just too many applications to go through.

You'd be surprised. Some adcom members have their pet subjects (o-chem or physics, usually) or they run down the listing looking for grades < B-. It takes about 12 seconds.

 

[missbones]

You'd be surprised. Some adcom members have their pet subjects (o-chem or physics, usually) or they run down the listing looking for grades < B-. It takes about 12 seconds.

I have a question regarding this.
I have taken a 1 unit lab and received an F (for failure to realize I hadn't dropped it), then I retook it and received a D, and then retook it again and received an A. Obviously this makes me look like a total idiot, but my overall GPA is 3.56 and I've taken several upper division classes of the same material and aced it all. Can I overcome this or is it pretty damaging?

 

[LizzyM]

I have a question regarding this.
I have taken a 1 unit lab and received an F (for failure to realize I hadn't dropped it), then I retook it and received a D, and then retook it again and received an A. Obviously this makes me look like a total idiot, but my overall GPA is 3.56 and I've taken several upper division classes of the same material and aced it all. Can I overcome this or is it pretty damaging?

Well, that does look pretty bad but you might do OK.

 

[missbones]

Well, that does look pretty bad but you might do OK.

thanks lol

 

[45408]

Personally, I don't think medical schools really spend that much time looking at your individual classes. They'll more concentrate on your science GPA and cGPA. Just too many applications to go through.

They're all in a list, so it's really easy to look them all over in just a few seconds. I glance at grades and the course titles.

 

[Wheee]

it hasn't concerned me personally, but at my school, they wipe out your original grade if you retake a class. Doesn't show up that you took the class the first time, no F factored into your GPA, no record. They actually advise people who've retaken to not report the original grade to AMCAS since there's no paper trail...sounds suspicious to me, but again, doesn't affect me.

 

[45408]

it hasn't concerned me personally, but at my school, they wipe out your original grade if you retake a class. Doesn't show up that you took the class the first time, no F factored into your GPA, no record. They actually advise people who've retaken to not report the original grade to AMCAS since there's no paper trail...sounds suspicious to me, but again, doesn't affect me.

You don't want to get caught hiding that kind of thing.

 

[LizzyM]

it hasn't concerned me personally, but at my school, they wipe out your original grade if you retake a class. Doesn't show up that you took the class the first time, no F factored into your GPA, no record. They actually advise people who've retaken to not report the original grade to AMCAS since there's no paper trail...sounds suspicious to me, but again, doesn't affect me.

I've heard of one big name school like that... basically I figure that school to be a hotbed of grade inflation because of the retake policy.

Who can fault you if you list everything as it appears on your transcript?