<p>When med schools calculate bio, chem, physics, and math gpa separately, do they include upper division science courses also or is it just the premed requirement courses?</p>
<p>All courses in those depts.</p>
<p>So, if you had pretty low gpa in lower division science courses, is it better to major in a science major so you can raise your gpa by taking upper division science courses?</p>
<p>Well you can take upper division science courses even if you're not a science major, can't you? Take enough to get your science GPA up to a reasonable level. If you are not doing well in lower division science, it doesn't seem to be the best idea to switch to a science major.</p>
<p>Beyond that, you're assuming that that's actually what would happen. Say you get a 2.5 in Intro Bio: on what basis should you be so sure that taking upper division bio would raise your GPA rather than kill it further?</p>
<p>Just confidence</p>
<p>And I never said I actually got a low gpa. Im just hypothesizing that I got a low gpa so I can feel more comfortable.</p>
<p>Hi sorry to open up an old thread, but I had a quick question:</p>
<p>I took a Calculus 1 at a Community College and got a C (the class was very very tough and there was no curve). However, I took it before I was a freshman at college and my school (UCI) just gave me units for the class and didn't factor it into my GPA, would it still be factored into my med science gpa even if its not from the school where I did most of my education?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure I've read on here that it will count, even if your school didn't give a grade for it.</p>
<p>AMCAS will demand that you have a transcript sent from that CC and will include the course and the grade in your GPA.</p>
<p>Thank you for the prompt responses.</p>
<p>That is kind of a bummer for me since I got a C. But speaking of the C, do you think it would totally kill a med school applicant to have a C in a math course given that it is considered a science subject and the med school admission competition is so tough?</p>
<p>Thanks again</p>
<p>No. There are very few things that can single-handedly kill a medical school application.</p>
<p>"There are very few things that can single-handedly kill a medical school application."</p>
<p>What about an F?</p>
<p>Are you planning on getting an F?</p>
<p>The answer to your question is, no. Retake the class, get an A, and it will average out to a C. Pretty much the only things that can single-handedly kill your app would be academic dishonesty, felonies, withholding transcripts, etc.</p>
<p>"Are you planning on getting an F?"</p>
<p>No, but in the future it is possible. I never hurts to know ahead of time.</p>
<p>I know what you mean. For the longest time, I thought F's were good. Then someone told me they were bad and it totally changed the way I studied.</p>
<p>"I know what you mean. For the longest time, I thought F's were good. Then someone told me they were bad and it totally changed the way I studied."</p>
<p>I'm not stupid you know, I'd figure F's look bad. But I always had the hunch that there is a certain stigma ascribed to F's. Thus making it a double negative. And of course this is the reason I asked if F's can singlehandedly kill my app. And whats wrong with my reason? I was just curious. I mean it can't hurt to know.</p>
<p>You should never have to worry about an F; If you ever make an F, it's probably a sign that there's something wrong with your study habits, which is a much larger problem in itself.</p>
<p>If you're relatively smart, work hard, and study well then I don't think you need to worry about getting an F.</p>
<p>"it's probably a sign that there's something wrong with your study habits, which is a much larger problem in itself."</p>
<p>That is probably my main problem. Recently, I haven't been able to study, let alone having bad studying habits.</p>
<p>I don't think you're alone... the majority of people I've met while in college have a hard time because they don't study effectively. This is most apparent for people that are either taking a hard major or people who try to do extremely well (regardless of major), like premeds... and when you combine the two, ineffective studying can make a pretty big difference.</p>
<p>One of my friends for example, had a very hard time last year as a freshman; barely made Bs and Cs but worked harder than anyone I know. This year, her study habits are considerably better and much improved from last year, and she's now making As and Bs in higher level courses.</p>
<p>Case in point: you need to find an effective way to study. You need to find a way that works for you that is efficient. Unfortunately I've found that this is different for everybody, so there's no magic formula, but it should be your primary focus to find out how you study best.</p>
<p>^So true. It took me the longest time to figure out how I studied best. I always thought there was a magic formula, but eventually realized there wasn't. Luckily, I fixed myself up in the last year and a half of high school, so when I came to college, I was competent in the art of studying (yes, it is an art, not a science). That being said, I am still working on becoming a better student. I am far from perfect.</p>