habala55

I am entering my senior year in college, and I need help in choosing a class. I need to significantly bring up my gpa this year to have a shot at med school. So far my classes for the fall are molecular bio, immunology, genetics lab, another 400 level bio class, and a random fluff class. To boost my science gpa (if i do well) i am considering swapping the easy non-science class for microbio. Should i focus on building my science gpa up by taking another science class or just take the easy class that will bring up my cumulative gpa? Thanks.

WayOutWestMom

What's your BCPM GPA? Your cumulative GPA?

habala55

3.1 cumulative and 2.9 science

kristin5792

Well, you probably can't bring your GPA up significantly at this point. If you're going for the standard 120 hours/credits/units/whatever (15/semester, 2 semesters/yr, 4 yrs), right now you have around 90 hours/credits/units/whatever at 3.1. That means that even if you get a 4.0 both semesters of senior year, you'll end up with just above a 3.3. While that is definitely better than a 3.1, you'll probably have a tough time getting into med school with a 3.3 unless you have outstanding other stuff (eg a classmate with a 3.3 also had stratosphere MCAT score, started his own business, published a research paper, and logged thousands of hours volunteering).

Plus, that's working off the assumption that you'll get a 4.0 both semesters next year--do you think that's reasonable?

I think loading on a lot of science classes is a gamble, but at this point, it may be your best bet. Should you do well in each of those classes and also do well in the spring, you really could improve your science GPA and can get your overall GPA as close to 3.3 as possible. Good luck!

habala55

^^ I transferred to this school last year, so my senior year is half of my time here. So if I do get close to a 4.0 my gpa would be closer to a 3.5 (cumulative). I had a 3.6 at the community college I transferred from.

plumazul

When someone mentions "GPA", we probably mean the way the AMCAS calculates GPA. This is your GPA for all classes at all colleges you've attended (including any classes retaken)and possibly adjustments made for +/- grades. So you will need to calculate your GPA in this manner.

habala55

my science gpa represents both schools. cumulative would then be between 3.5 and 3.6

kristin5792

OK cool. So you had a 3.6 after 2yr in community college, had a 3.1 your first year at your new school (your 3rd overall year in school), and now have one year left. That's a much better story than 3yrs at 3.1!

I think that makes your current cumulative GPA around 3.4, so if your final 30 hours/units/credits are at 4.0, that would make you overall around 3.5--which is what you estimated in #7. Not an ideal GPA, but definitely better than 3.3.

Have you calculated your science GPA taking into account all science (bio, physics, chem, math) classes--including at community college--that you've taken? That would be another important number to know. Good luck!

habala55

yes my science gpa (2.9) includes coursework from all 3 years. That is why I am asking if I should have as many science classes my senior year to boost my science gpa, or focus more on my cumulative?

kristin5792

When you calculate your cumulative GPA, are you including your science courses in that calculation? Your cumulative GPA should be every single class you've ever gotten college credit for, and your science GPA should be every single science class you've ever gotten college credit for.

I think it would be a good idea to try to improve your science GPA by taking more science classes, but ONLY if you can be very certain that you will be able to do very well in each of those classes. Doing well in those classes will improve both your science and your cumulative GPAs; doing well in classes that aren't science, as you know, would only improve your cumulative GPA. Since time is a concern, improving both at the same time would probably be your best bet.