Enter Your Courses
Your AMCAS GPA Results
Detailed Breakdown
| Category | Total Credits | Quality Points | GPA |
|---|
Your Courses
| Course Name | Grade | Credits | Quality Points | Type |
|---|
What is AMCAS GPA?
AMCAS (American Medical College Application Service) calculates a standardized GPA that medical schools use to fairly compare applicants from different institutions. When you apply to medical school, AMCAS recalculates your GPA using their specific methodology, which often differs from your school’s calculation.
The two most important GPAs are your Overall GPA and your Science GPA (also called BCPM GPA). The Science GPA includes only Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics courses, which are critical prerequisites for medical school.
How Does the Calculation Work?
Let me walk you through the math behind your GPA. It’s actually pretty straightforward once you see how it works.
First, each letter grade gets converted to a grade point value. An A equals 4.0, an A- is 3.7, a B+ is 3.3, and so on. AMCAS uses a standard scale that all medical schools recognize.
Next, you multiply each grade point by the number of credits for that course. This gives you “quality points.” For example, if you got an A (4.0) in a 3-credit Biology class, that’s 4.0 × 3 = 12 quality points.
Finally, you add up all your quality points and divide by your total credits. That’s your GPA! The same process applies separately for BCPM courses to get your Science GPA.
AMCAS Grade Scale
| Letter Grade | Grade Points |
|---|---|
| A | 4.0 |
| A- | 3.7 |
| B+ | 3.3 |
| B | 3.0 |
| B- | 2.7 |
| C+ | 2.3 |
| C | 2.0 |
| C- | 1.7 |
| D+ | 1.3 |
| D | 1.0 |
| D- | 0.7 |
| F | 0.0 |
What Counts as BCPM?
Your BCPM (or Science) GPA includes courses in four main categories: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Math. Here’s what typically falls under each category:
Biology: General biology, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, molecular biology, genetics, cell biology, ecology, zoology, and similar life sciences courses.
Chemistry: General chemistry, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, biochemistry, analytical chemistry, and physical chemistry.
Physics: General physics, mechanics, electricity and magnetism, quantum mechanics, thermodynamics, and astronomy courses with significant physics content.
Mathematics: Calculus, statistics, linear algebra, differential equations, and other formal mathematics courses. Note that AACOMAS (for osteopathic schools) doesn’t include math in their science GPA, but AMCAS does.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Gather Your Transcripts
Pull out all your college transcripts. You’ll need every single course you’ve taken, including community college classes, summer courses, and even classes you withdrew from or failed.
Step 2: Enter Each Course
Add each course into the calculator above. Include the course name (so you remember what it was), the grade you received, and how many credits it was worth.
Step 3: Mark Your Science Courses
For each Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Math course, check the BCPM box. This tells the calculator to include it in your Science GPA.
Step 4: Calculate and Review
Hit the calculate button and review your results. You’ll see both your overall GPA and your Science GPA, along with a detailed breakdown.
Step 5: Check Your Work
Look over the course list in the results to make sure everything is categorized correctly. Science courses should be marked as BCPM, and all your grades and credits should be accurate.
Common Questions
AMCAS vs. Other Application Services
If you’re applying to different types of medical schools, you might encounter other application services. Here’s how they differ:
AMCAS (Allopathic MD Programs): Uses BCPM for science GPA, includes Math in the science calculation, and counts all attempts of repeated courses.
AACOMAS (Osteopathic DO Programs): Uses BCP instead of BCPM (excludes Math from science GPA), calculates separate GPAs for each year and each institution attended.
TMDSAS (Texas Medical Schools): Does not recognize plus or minus grades (converts B+ and B- both to B), calculates eight different GPAs including separate undergraduate and graduate categories.
Tips for Improving Your GPA
If your GPA isn’t where you want it to be, don’t panic. Here are some strategies that can help:
Take Additional Science Courses: If your Science GPA is lower than your overall GPA, consider taking additional upper-level science courses or enrolling in a post-baccalaureate program. Strong performance in these courses shows medical schools you can handle rigorous science coursework.
Consider a Special Master’s Program: Some universities offer Special Master’s Programs (SMPs) specifically designed for pre-med students. These programs can demonstrate your readiness for medical school-level work.
Retake Critical Courses: While AMCAS counts both attempts, retaking courses where you performed poorly and earning higher grades shows improvement and dedication. Medical schools will see both grades but also note the upward trend.
Address It in Your Application: If there are specific circumstances that affected your grades (illness, family issues, working full-time), you can address these in your personal statement or in the disadvantaged status section of your application.