So, I think I might have made a mistake in calculating my gpa

[Bevo]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I was thinking it over in bed and finally got up to do some math work. Ive been calculating my science gpa using the courses I have retaken and didn't compute them into that average. But I didn't do that for my undergraduate gpa.

So looking at my undergrad transcript I have

EHRS QHRS QPTS GPA
130 126 311.96 2.476

The gpa comes from dividing the 312 by 126. But I have retaken general chemistry and physics since leaving the school. I took gen chem twice there. So its a total of 12 hours of credit I should subtract from the 126 QHRS so it is now 114. And for the QPTS I had a D, D- and a B in those classes so I subtract 21.2 from that number as well so now it looks more like this.

EHRS QHRS QPTS GPA
118 114 290.76 2.550

Am I correct so far?

Now adding my post bacc working it should look like ...

QHRS QPTS GPA
114 290.76 2.550 -undergrad
70 227 3.243 - postbacc
--------------------------------------------
184 517.76 2.8139
(171 469.76 2.747 - before fall semester)

which is different from what I had calculated earlier and submitted to AMCAS.

and if I go along with my plans to retake my physics I and gen chem I lab over again and assuming I make As like I did in the 2nd half of the labs for each subject. Then my gpa begins to look like this

QHRS QPTS GPA
110 283.36 2.576
72 235 3.264
----------------------------------
182 518.36 2.848

and then I would still have to figure in the grade I would get for genetics, no less than a B (A= 2.873, B= 2.851). And I believe I will get a grade for the couse I am TA'ing for this semester as well which if I did would most likely be an A as well.

so assuming grades (both As) for both

it could look like this
QHRS QPTS GPA
110 283.36 2.576
79 263 3.329
---------------------------------
189 546.36 2.8907

(this grade is assuming I take 9 credit hours this semester and receive a maximum score of 36 QPTS)

So am I thinking right and avoiding fuzzy math? Or am I stretching a bit too far? I guess Im more thinking outloud than anything else at this point. But I guess I need some reassurance that Im thinking along the correct lines.

assuming that is correct, then I could retake calc II over the summer and at a different college, community college? Calc I and II at this school is accelerated and a nightmare.
if I could get an A at a community college, it would replace the C- I got in that and raise my cum to a 2.9394 which is very close to the 3.0 mark.
And the other class that might be bringing me down a lot is an Accounting course I took for which I made a D in.
and I guess retake 2 other classes in which I received a C- or C in. I might be able to get a cum gpa of 3.0X ?

Does that sound like a feasable plan ?

Im really not sure about much of anything at the moment.

 

[Dr JPH]

Whoa...my eyes hurt.

I guess your plan is feasible...not really sure what your goal is...I think it's to replace all of your bad grades by retaking a bunch of classes.

I would, instead, try to highlight your post-bacc work, as that was your better GPA.

Good luck.

 

[Bevo]

Thats what Ive been trying todo, not sure how successfully though. But from the rejections Ive received and been told why I was rejected the only common theme has been my cum gpa, it was too low for them.

 

[maysqrd]

I got totally confused by your explaination of your gpa but I guess what you want to know is that when calculating your gpa DO NOT use the credits OR the grade for any class that you repeated. They should not appear in any future calculation. This means use the units from the repeated course only and figure out the grade points for the repeated course with the new grade only.

For example:

Class Grade Units
Calc II D- 4
Eng A 3
Calc II B+ 4

Your total units for calculating your gpa would be 7 NOT 11 and your grade points would be 25.2

Now divide 25.2 by total units of 7 and gpa = 3.6
The first Calc II attempt is removed from both units and grade points. If it helps, use an excel spreadsheet or something. That is what I did and my gpa worked out exactly as AACOM calculated.

AACOM will automatically configure this for you as long as you put in the code for each of the repeated courses in the appropriate boxes.

I know that many of you don't understand why Imbebo is talking about retaking class but let me assure you. I was in his shoes three years ago. By repeating three classes, I was able to raise my cumulative gpa from a 2.67 to over a 3.0. Yes, my post-bacc work was important because I have gotten all A's and B's and the Adcom did recognize my effort but they also recognize that if someone is truely committed to going to medical school, they will do WHATEVER possible to improve their chances and if that means raising the overall gpa by going back and taking a class over, then take the class over.

 

[DrZippy2b]

I did the same thing, but was sort forced into it... I took my gen chem my freshman year moons ago. First semester was fine, but the second semester, I didn't get along well with my lab instructor and decided to just stop going (stupid 18 year-old mistake) and wound up with my only D in college. I actually had to petition to my dean to be able to graduate since I was technically shy 1 credit for my chem lab (the course and lab were graded separately).

Fast forward a few years and I was looking at applying to school. I retook the course in order to have all my pre-reqs. I retook both semesters. When AACOMAS calculated my GPA, they replaced the freshman gen chem with my post-bacc gen chem course.

This is a great way for folks to increase their overall GPA. But two things ought to be considered 1)you should be able to explain your "original" grades, because the adcoms will likely ask and 2)you shouldn't retake ALL your courses (because if you systematically retake them one at a time, you'll have a great GPA, but the adcom might conclude that while you can learn the information, you might not be able to handle the volume of the courseload).

My 2 cents, anyway.

Good luck with your endeavors,
Zippy