I was wondering how the AMCAS handles repeated courses? Is it an average of both? And how highly do schools look at the last two years performance? Science GPA? also should I apply to schools that require calculus, eventhough Ive only taken a quarter,but might take it next year, or will they just throw my application away? These are my stats, Fresh 3.2, Soph 3.2, Junio 3.6, Senior 3.75, MCAT 28, but just retook it yesterday! thanks in advance for your advice.
I'm not sure about the repeated course thing. They do look at your science gpa probably the same as they look at the overall gpa so it is important. As for the schools that require calculus, you should fulfill the requirements at all schools you will apply at. Also, I would like to say that if you are full Peruvian, and you are fluent in Spanish, you will have a major advantage in the process because you would be considered underrepresented in medicine. The definition used to be only African americans, native americans, puerto ricans, and mexicans but they extended that definition to include all hispanics. Your 28 should be enough to get accepted somewhere. Good luck.
My understanding is that when you repeat a class, both grades are included in the AMCAS calculation. This is not the same as taking the average. (It will make your AMCAS GPA lower)
Check this one out... It addresses the same question. http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=113672 EDIT: (about retaking classes)
i think the threads given answer your repeated courses question well. as far as calculus goes--you can apply to schools that require calculus as long as you have a plan for meeting the requirement prior to matriculation. in other words, you should enroll in calc next year or have a way to take it over the summer if you get into a school that requires it. the schools will just ask that you send them your updated transcripts to prove that you've met the requirements. good luck! and congrats on finishing the MCAT yesterday!
Hold up, I wrote a post about that not too long ago, and I got a TOTALLY different response. My situation: biology. 4 credits. F the first time (long story, but a good one). Will be A for retake. Told that it would be 4 credits of the AVERAGE between the 2 grades... Who's got this right? -Liz
Essentially it is an average, because they both count. So, a 4 credit F and a 4 credit A would average out to a C, but an 8 credit C. Do you see?
Always wonderful. Can anyone point me to where this is officially published? I'm looking to go after my university, and this is a little bit of ammunition and why I'm very upset. Thanks a bunch!
You are wrong. IF you take a 4 unit class and fail it, and then retake it and get an A, you dont get 8 units of C, you get 4 units of C. That is why retaking classes boosts your GPA more than taking a whole new class if the averaged grade is below your Cumulative GPA - would you rather have 8 units of B or 4 units of B?
We are talking for AMCAS purposes here. They take into consideration EVERY class you have ever taken. Even if you retake it and get an A, AMCAS sees 4 units of F and 4 units of C, which are like 8 units of C when they are averaged out.
I wish I had known that, unlike my college, which only counts the classes you re took, AAMCAS looks at ALL of your classes, inc. the ones you made D's on! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
I have read the guidelines before and I think Spitting Camel and the others are right. For your school they might average the 2 together and you end up with 4 credits of C, but for the AMCAS you will end up with 4 hours of A and 4 hours of B because they count every single class separately. So basically, 8 hours of C.
they ALL count for AMCAS. Me and Spitting Camel have been going through the process this year so we are pretty reliable. And this has come up many times before in this year and the responses have always been the same. Your university will do things different from AMCAS such as replacing the crap grade or averaging the crap grade...to put everyone on a level playing field...AMCAS counts every class you have taken regardless if your university replaced them on your official transcript. They ALL COUNT. If you get an F the first time and an A the second time. On the AMCAS application, you must input both grades.
Thanks for the back-up, jlee... I was begining to think i was crazy... So, you figured out who I was/am?
NO! It doesnt work like that!! You dont get 8 units for retaking a four unit class! you get four units! Do I have to post my AMCAS to prove it?! w Jlee, I think we're saying the same thing in different ways. Yes, you have to input both grades, but no you dont get 2x the units for retaking a course. The two grades are averaged, but for a given class you can only get 4 units. I graduated with 121 units because retakes erase old units on your transcripts and AMCAS lists 121 units. If you got units both times I would have had something like 140 units. I really think you guys should believe me. I had about 8 retakes so I spent a lot of time figuring out how it impacted my GPA and credits for AMCAS so I think I know the AMCAS method pretty well.
Do not take our word though go here and read the pdf file http://www.aamc.org/students/amcas/2004instructionbook.pdf Although this is for amcas 2004 it is a must read for all pre-meds applying this explains EVERY DETAIL. Cheers.
On page 47 it says: "AMCAS GPAs are almost always different from those calculated by the schools you have attended. Therefore, AMCAS does not in any way attempt to compare our calculations with those appearing on your official transcript." Additionally: "AMCAS counts all attempts of a repeated course, even if your school does not." I did notice that nowhere in any of the information that I looked at (I didn't read the entire document in detail!) did it mention anything about averaging any grades.
