"W" averaged in?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

David1991

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
335
Reaction score
4
Hey guys,

Awhile back someone on here told me that, even if a class was retaken, medical schools would average the 2 grades together. Basically, because of a bad situation, I got an F in a course and then retook it and got an A. So obviously what that poster said freaked me out. After a fairly long process of talking with the Dean the F has been changed to a W which really makes more sense given the situation.

Without that F I would have a 4.0 but if it was averaged in it would bring me down to a 3.5. With the W though it's not averaged in correct? So I would still have a legit 4.0 according to medical/dental schools?

Thanks a lot
 
Hey guys,

Awhile back someone on here told me that, even if a class was retaken, medical schools would average the 2 grades together. Basically, because of a bad situation, I got an F in a course and then retook it and got an A. So obviously what that poster said freaked me out. After a fairly long process of talking with the Dean the F has been changed to a W which really makes more sense given the situation.

Without that F I would have a 4.0 but if it was averaged in it would bring me down to a 3.5. With the W though it's not averaged in correct? So I would still have a legit 4.0 according to medical/dental schools?

Thanks a lot


If it is a W on the transcript it will not be considered in your GPA.
 
OK great, huge relief after all this time 🙂

Thanks guys

Do schools look at a W negatively? It was my first freshman semester and only a Spanish course, then I retook it in the spring and got an A so I doubt it would look too bad.
 
One W will not affect you very much. It is only when a trend of W grades is seen that the red flags start showing up.
 
The W will not affect your GPA. Yes, it looks worse than not having a W. Then again, it's better than an F. And no, allopathic medical schools do not average grades for repeated courses.
If I were to retake classes, and scored higher the second time, the grades would not be averaged? Do medical schools look favorably upon this?
 
The W will not affect your GPA. Yes, it looks worse than not having a W. Then again, it's better than an F. And no, allopathic medical schools do not average grades for repeated courses.

Why do you think that? I've heard from multiple people on here that the grades are averaged, and I'm pretty sure I emailed a medical school about this and they said they average it.
 
OK great, huge relief after all this time 🙂

Thanks guys

Do schools look at a W negatively? It was my first freshman semester and only a Spanish course, then I retook it in the spring and got an A so I doubt it would look too bad.


muy bien! coming from an F to an A (and then convincing the Dean) is impressive.
 
muy bien! coming from an F to an A (and then convincing the Dean) is impressive.

Thanks 😀

Although it wasn't worth the stress, it may have been better for me from a GPA standpoint that I had to withdraw/retake it. My first teacher was crazy and had never taught a college course before, and with Spanish it's very subjective (it was a basic spanish course and she was grading as if we should have been fluent) so I would have been lucky to pull a B. Not that that's bad but obviously I prefer the A.
 
Why do you think that? I've heard from multiple people on here that the grades are averaged, and I'm pretty sure I emailed a medical school about this and they said they average it.

Where the F is the first grade earned and A is the retake grade on the same class:

For allopathic: 3 cred F + 3 cred A = 6 cred C

For osteopathic: 3 cred F + 3 cred A = 3 cred A
 
Where the F is the first grade earned and A is the retake grade on the same class:

For allopathic: 3 cred F + 3 cred A = 6 cred C

For osteopathic: 3 cred F + 3 cred A = 3 cred A

OK I thought it would just be 3 credits C but either way it's still averaging the grades. For Allopathic anyway. Any idea about dental?
 
The W will not affect your GPA. Yes, it looks worse than not having a W. Then again, it's better than an F. And no, allopathic medical schools do not average grades for repeated courses.

Yes, they do. Osteopathic schools will replace older grades with retakes. Allopathic schools do not. Thus both gpas are averaged in at an allopathic school.
 
Yes, they do. Osteopathic schools will replace older grades with retakes. Allopathic schools do not. Thus both gpas are averaged in at an allopathic school.

I know, but people seem to interpret it as "the school will see my A+F as a C." They don't...they see an A and an F mixed in with all the other grades, and they see an overall GPA.
 
Top