<p>Being premed this fall, i do not want to limit myself to only taking the premed reqs/classes I have to take like math, chem, bio. If once in a while I take something that interests me like philosophy (possibly bioethics), cognitive science, psychology, ethnic studies...would that be okay or would it be a waste of time. I also plan on studying abroad for a quarter too. </p>
<p>Also, do med schools just use BPCM classes for gpa, or do they also look at the whole gpa I had in college + community college courses too. would cogsci be included in the science gpa? thanks</p>
<p>Yes, you will need to fulfill GE requirements, too. Look, you need a year of English, a year of physics, two years of chem, a year of bio, and enough math to make everything else work - let's say a year.</p>
<p>That leaves you four semesters over two years, and that's IF you want to fit EVERYTHING in during your first two years. Even fill in a couple extra bios, and that's still a couple spots that are totally empty, and that's even assuming that you only take four classes a semester (at Penn, standard is five).</p>
<p>Your cumulative GPA matters. It's generally held to matter a little bit less than your BCPM GPA. Cogsci would probably not count, if I understand the subject correctly, but it might, depending on what department is offering it.</p>
<p>Community colleges are included by AMCAS into your AMCAS GPA, but there is reason to believe that some medical schools will refuse to accept prerequisite classes taken there, indicating that they may not take such classes seriously. It is hard, however, for me to imagine medical schools going to the (relatively small) effort of recalculating GPAs.</p>
<p>BDM, just curious - my brother works at Northwestern Medical School, and he sent me the stats of the incoming class. Their average BCPM is lower than the average cum GPA. Is this typical for med school applicants? Are we somewhat expected to have a lower science GPA because the courses are usually harder?</p>
<p>Also, do med schools take a look at ALL your grades or just the overall GPA number? Like, say you get almost all As and then a B in something like art where talent is more important than hard work (sometimes). Do they care what grades you get in art, or phys. ed., or philosophy as much as they care about the grades from history, psychology, or foreign language?</p>
<p>so if a course is not BCP, it wont fall into the "science" gpa? so..neuroscience or cogsci course gpas wont be recalculated, but instead just added to the overall gpa?</p>
<p>Okay, BCPM is your BCPM GPA. Classes outside of that do not fall into that.</p>
<p>You have three GPA's reported to medical schools: BCPM, AO ("all other"), and total.</p>
<p>I have no idea what Atlantiz's question is, and that's the best answer I can offer.</p>
<p>VO: Yes, BCPM GPAs are almost universally lower than normal GPA's. And generally it's held that your GPA (whether overall or BCPM) is more important than your performance in any given class for "search cost" reasons. Dramatic departures - i.e. a D, or in some cases a C - will usually demand explanation.</p>
<p>hahaha sorry BDM..actually u pretty much answered my question so its all good. thanks. so basically if i take classes for interest..the medical schools will prob be indifferent right?</p>
<p>another question, my dad tells me i should double major and add Economics. he is worried that if med school doesnt work out I will not have anywhere to go for jobs (human bio major). With a Econ degree, he thinks I can at least get an MBA or whatnot later. Basically its like a safety issue. should I do this? or should I just REALLY focus on doing well in school as just my bio major.</p>
<p>Econ by itself will not get you a job in the market. You would need a summer internship to supplement it, which premeds should not do (as you need a diff't kind of summer internship as a premed). The only way this would be a good backup is if you decide to "deploy it" before Sept. of your junior year.</p>
<p>Your total GPA DOES matter. It matters a lot. It's generally held to matter somewhat less than your BCPM GPA, which will comprise part of your total GPA anyway.</p>
<p>I do think Econ is a helpful degree in general, as it's something everybody should know, and it comes in very handy throughout all careers, medical ones particularly included and finance ones probably LESS included, ironically enough.</p>