HS Transcript, Med Schools, and Covered Grades?

<p>When applying to med schools, is there the slightest possibility of the medical school seeing my high school transcript as a basis for admission? I ask this because I took AP Calculus AB during senior year, and I am trying to decide whether to take Calc I or Calc II at JHU next fall as a pre-med. I want to take the easier of the two, Calc I, just because I have a better chance of getting an A, but then again JHU has covered grades during first semester. BTW, are covered grades ever seen by medical schools? Please help this confused, first-generation pre-med JHU undergrad!! Thanks!</p>

<p>No one outside their offices ever sees the covered grades. Take Calc II because med schools will see that you didn't really challenge yourself.</p>

<p>Covered grades aren't seen by medical schools. I don't think most medical schools care about high school grades. A bunch of my friends are filling out med school applications and only one person has had to fill out a secondary that asked for high school GPA, rank and SAT scores.</p>

<p>So will medical schools be able to see that I'm not challenging myself if I decide to not take Calc II, or will it look more favorably upon if I do take Calc II my first semester? I'm aiming for a top 5 med school BTW. Please give me some more definite answers please..Thanks! Also, are the "covered grades" accounted for in my GPA?</p>

<p>I think they see your cirriculum. If you want a top 5 like Harvard, Hopkins..., you should challenge yourself. And covered grades don't count towards your GPA.</p>

<p>I seriously doubt med schools would care if you started with Calc I or II. They don't know if your high school even offered AP Calculus. If you think you got the Calc I material down, then take Calc II; otherwise, take Calc I. Simple as that. Don't worry about what med schools will think about it (at least for this)</p>

<p>Yeah, tanman is absolutely right. You don't need to be over-analyzing your schedule at this point. You shouldn't be making every class decision based on what med schools will 'think' of you, you should be making decisions based on what your abilities are.</p>

<p>How difficult are the Calc 1 and 2 classes, like is success possible in Calc 2(like an A), alongside classes of Gen Bio+lab and Gen Chem+lab and a Writing intensive class on Energy and Environment in US History? Whadya think? Thanks..I just want to not have an overload first semester, but then again I want to fully prepare myself to be a competitive applicant for a top 5 med school...More advice please..!</p>

<p>It's possible but extremely difficult. If you can, go onto old Calc I and II websites at Hopkins and look at old exams. Don't expect As in College Math just because you did well in high school. Learning math (even low level classes like Calc I and II) is completely different in college (with the exception of a professor or two).</p>

<p>First, I strongly recommend you listen to what tanman and shelly147 are saying ... don't make every single academic decision based on what you predict medical schools will think. Have confidence in your academic decisions, and choose the path that will challenge you but also allow you to succeed -- whether that be about choosing what Calc class to take, or what major to pursue, or what research to do ... etc. etc. etc. </p>

<p>As far as the official covered grade policy...
"They are covered grades, not pass/fail grades. They are NOT uncovered for grad schools, medical schools, law schools, etc. The ONLY time first-semester grades are uncovered is if a freshman is transferring out of JHU to another instituion. The reason for this is that the student has no other grades to show at the point of applying as a transfer student."</p>

<p>And finally, listen to your advisors ... whether it be your academic advisor or a pre-professional advisor ... they will guide you based on years of experience. Less reliance on college confidential would be the first piece of advice.</p>

<p>lol if its covered, you might as well take Calc II while its covered if you're unsure in your math abilities. because you will have to take calc 2 eventually, so its better that you take it while its covered than when its not. IMO</p>

<p>and about getting an A.. it doesnt even matter. its covered.</p>

<p>AdmissionsDaniel,</p>

<p>I'm glad to hear your information on this. I thought that JHU med school required uncovering of first term grades for students at other colleges. Does JHU not take this stance for undergrads at JHU?</p>

<p>As for the original question. At many colleges, first semester calculus covers a lot more than the AB syllabus, so no matter how well you might have done in AB you may not be ready for calc 2.</p>

<p>If you are premed, the med schools will care about the grades you get in your graded courses. Most med schools-with the possible exception of JHU pending AD's response- will not see your covered grades. However, if you struggle in calc 2 because you are not prepared, then this could hurt your overall academic performance starting off, not a good place to be. </p>

<p>The conservative maneuver would be calc 1 first term, then calc 2. You will have a solid foundation for calc 2, and this will help in your physics and chem courses.</p>

<p>If you are REALLY worried about your math, and definitely don't want to take any more, then consider calc 2 covered grade first term, expecting a low pass, and be done with it. </p>

<p>This might not satisfy all med schools, some of which may require another semester of some math taken in college. This is a question for the premed adviser.</p>

<p>The message I posted above about the policy of not uncovering grades is taken directly from the Academic Advising Offices at Hopkins. I do not know the admissions policies of the Hopkins Medical School ... I just know that grades are not uncovered for Hopkins undergraduates when they apply to professional schools, and that includes Hopkins Medical. It would defeat the purpose behind covered grades if they were uncovered for certain reasons but not other reasons. A Hopkins undergraduate that applies to graduate / medical / law / etc. programs, applies with a 7 semester GPA.</p>