While both of these application services request that applicants enter in the coursework to create a standardized approach and final calculation, each individual medical school has its own way of reviewing academic records. The individual schools may rely only on the official transcripts, the data entered and/or some combination of both or only a section of either. For example, some osteopathic medical schools only review the last 60 hours of coursework. Each school as well as each individual selection committee member has their own approach.
Here is the most important information that you need to know:
AACOMAS forgives:
• They do not factor in the first grade or any subsequent grades (other than the final one) so that you can take the class multiple times.
• Only the final grade you receive will be calculated into your GPA.
• It does not matter where you took the class or retook it as long as you designate it as an equivalent course.
• Withdrawals cannot be considered repeats.
• Classes that are designed to be retaken repeatedly, like PE classes, should not be listed as repeats.
• You can list classes as “repeats,” even if you did not receive a failing grade in them, if you are allowed to take the class for credit again by your undergraduate institution.
• Some DO medical schools use this GPA calculation, others rely on official transcripts and still others may only review only the last 60 hours of coursework.
AMCAS does not:
• All attempts at repeating the failed course must be recorded with the correct units and grades earned each time because they are calculated into the GPA.
• AMCAS relies on the institution’s guidelines in allowing a student to retake a class (often this is only allowed for classes in which students have received failing grades, which is defined by each individual institution. AMCAS does not have a definition.).
• Any classes that are repeated without receiving credit should be listed as “Exempt” courses and will not have any impact on your GPA totals.
• Withdrawals and incompletes should not be included as repeat courses.
• AMCAS will not consider courses retaken on other campuses as “repeats.”
The most important information that you can take away from this blog is that if you do need to retake a class, if at all possible, it is best to retake it at the same institution so that whether you apply to osteopathic or allopathic schools, it will be considered a repeat course and demonstrate your improvement. Before deciding to repeat a course, you will need to research your undergraduate institution’s policies on what they define as a failing grade and whether they have any rules about retaking classes or the number of times you can retake a class. Taking classes for which you will not receive any credit will not help you in any way. Be strategic in your approach. Many students who have had to repeat classes have gotten accepted into medical school-- it’s a matter of how quickly you can bounce back.
For more assistance, you are welcome to contact me or one of my colleagues at Accepted.
Related Resources:
• Ace Your AMCAS Essay
• GPA Issues When Applying to Med School: What to do With a “W”
• Med School Kicks Off: Ten Tips to Get You Through The Season
This article originally appeared on blog.accepted.com.
Applying to medical school? The talented folks at Accepted have helped hundreds of applicants like you get accepted to their dream programs. Whether you are figuring out where apply, working on your AMCAS application, working on secondary essays, or prepping for your interviews, we are just a call (or click) away.
Contact us, and get matched up with the consultant who will help you get accepted!
