Question about ACOMAS

[jules0328]

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If you retake a course, and its a bit lower than the last one, does acomas still replace it with the most current grade?

I took Physics I last spring (got a B, at a CC) and then retook it this fall and did worse (got a C+, but it was from a 4 year university). What does ACOMAS do? Does anyone know if ACOMAS automatically just takes the most recent grade or do they take the better? With my luck they take the most recent. I love my life, this is just great. Urghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

[PublicEnemy]

yes, aacomas will count the most recent time you took the class, not just the higher grade.

my advice, don't list the class as a re-take and see what happens. sometimes, they don't do the whole factoring out re-takes etc, if you don't list them. best case scenario, you could get lucky and they may just count both. its worth a shot.

 

[dr.z]

I thought AACOMAS averaged 2 grades.

 

[PublicEnemy]

no, aacomas counts your most recent grade.

thats a big reason why many non-trads and people looking for a second chance choose DO schools. aacomas makes it possible to make a big change in your science and overall gpa's in a much shorter amount of time.

check it out if you took orgo and bio as an undergrad and got all D's, your science gpa would be 1.0. but then if you retake them, as a postbacc or even at a county college, and get all A's, your science gpa would become 4.0

on AMCAS you would only have a 2.5.

 

[Nate]

Are you sure it is most recent and not better of the two?

 

[PublicEnemy]

yeah, say you took a class sophomore year but you retook it later, you have to list the first time you took the class as R01 which indicates you retook it later, but for the grade from when you retook it, you list as L01, for last re-take of that particular class. and only the one designated L, last repeat is the one that counts, so technically you can take the same class 10 times and only the last one will count. their system automatically just counts the latest re-take and factors out the old ones without any reference to the grade.

 

[jules0328]

yeah, say you took a class sophomore year but you retook it later, you have to list the first time you took the class as R01 which indicates you retook it later, but for the grade from when you retook it, you list as L01, for last re-take of that particular class. and only the one designated L, last repeat is the one that counts, so technically you can take the same class 10 times and only the last one will count. their system automatically just counts the latest re-take and factors out the old ones without any reference to the grade.

So, let me get this straight. I should not count this physics as a retake, I should just count it once? I am a bit confused? But, won't it be seen in the transcript.

I am really interested in attending DO school, and not because I feel that I cannot make it in the allo schools. I actually really believe that the DO route is a better medical alternative when it comes to treating the patient and not the disease. I come from a wellness/exercise background, having an MA in Exercise Physiology and being the founder of a wellness company and I believe that looking at the whole person is the only way to diagnose an ailment. With this being said, I really want to make myself the best candidate for DO schools and now I feel like I totally ruined my chances. The fact that I retook physics I and ended up with a C+ the second time, as opposed to a B the first time really looks bad? Doesn't it? Anyway, can you expand on how this whole replacing grades works? Thanks.

 

[Nate]

You will list all grades on the AACOMAS application in chronological order; you will signify which classes were retaken. AACOMAS will then confirm all of your grades from your official college transcripts and calculate your overall and science GPAs for you after you submit the whole application. For retaken classes only one of the grades will actually factor in to the GPA, as PE has explained it is the more recent grade so for you the B will drop out and only the C+ will factor in. However, all grades will still appear in the AACOMAS application and will be seen by the schools you apply to. I think you have nothing to worry about though. Retaking a B was silly to begin with but you have not ruined your chances by any means so chill out and give it your best shot when it is time for you to apply. Good luck
~Nate

 

[jules0328]

Thanks.

 

[PublicEnemy]

don't worry, you'll be fine. trust me, 1 grade will not hurt you. and a C+ isn't even worth sweating about. just continue to do well in your other classes, and you'll get in.

i don't know if you've taken a look at the aacomas aaplication itself, but when you go to enter your coursework, you'll see what im talking about, there's a place to indicate whether a class has been repeated, and whether its the first time you took it or the last time. the instructions for filling out the aacomas app are pretty thorough, so you should check those out first, let me know if you have any q's.

but seriously, 1 grade and a c+, come on, hardly worth crying about. and in physics too. anyone on here will agree with me about this.

 

[Nate]

I have a C+ in both Orgo 1 and 2; another thing to consider is which undergrad you took it in. Some schools are notoriously tough in certain subjects (especially pre-med 'weed-out' subjects). Admissions committees are fully aware of which schools are which (at UMDNJ they even told us this). Again, do not sweat a C+ if it is the exception and not the norm.

 

[jules0328]

Thank you to you both, PE and Nate. Much love from my side!

Funny, I just calculated my AACOMAS and AAMCAS gpa's, boy big difference between the two. For AACOMAS I have apprx. 3.4 and for AACOMAS 2.83 due to my awful math grades from 7 years ago.

Question, for te AACOMAS gpa cumm, what must I include and not include? Is there somewhere that I can look this up? I have gone to SDN and done a search but nothing really came up, and as for the AACOMAS website, I really didnt see anything.

Thanks guys.

 

[Nate]

You are required to report and submit transcripts for any post-secondary course at any U.S. college or university that you have ever taken.

As for discrepancy between AACOMAS and AMCAS GPAs, I know all about it. I went through a divorce senior year and became a single dad. All that I wanted to do was graduate and be able to concentrate on working and taking care of my kids. That year was a disaster.
Anyway, to make a long story short, I retook two of the classes that I failed and aced them so my AACOMAS GPA is repaired but AMCAS still thinks I am a loser. Que sera, sera my friend. We will get a good medical education anyway and it may have been for the better. I think some of the best potential doctors come from interesting circumstances and interesting circumstances often equals lower GPAs. It is a shame for the MD world that so many of their schools and applicants are hell-bent on numbers.

 

[jules0328]

Nate,

Thank you for your support and advice. I really, really appreciate your kind words and you have really made me feel a lot better as the day has progressed. Thank you again ! 😀