<p>By the time I apply to med school, my science gpa will be 3.5 and my overall a 3.7. But the thing is, I retook orgo 2 with a no credit option because my college wouldn't allow retakes otherwise (If I went with a pass option, I'd have to take it in a partner college). According to my counselor, med school look at the no credit option as a 3 credit F. But I retook the course and got an A-. When I calculated my science gpa and overall, it's 3.5 and 3.7 respectively with an F factored in (assuming my counselor is on the money), but it could be higher (over 3.6 and 3.8ish respectively) if that's not weighed as much and it is in fact technically higher, because a no credit is after all a no credit. Anywho, say I get at least a 33 on my MCAT. What are my chances assuming the F is factored in? What about if it isn't?</p>
<p>(I do have volunteer experience, have shadowed, and have done research for over a year.)</p>
<p>To my knowledge schools don’t actually recalculate that unless AMCAS does it automatically. I would check with them. </p>
<p>Regardless, it won’t kill you with a decent MCAT score.</p>
<p>Can you list the two courses (the original and the retake) as they appear on your transcript? Did you get an F the first time in Orgo?</p>
<p>Fall 09 Semester: Orgo 2 NC
Fall 10 Semester: Orgo 2 A-
This is how it appears on my transcript. The NC (no credit) was converted to an F manually and does not adversely affect my GPA on my transcript. Thanks for your help/concern guys.</p>
<p>I think your counselor is correct that AMCAS will give you two separate grades for the Organic Chemistry class, an F for your first attempt and an A- for the second time you took it and use both in creating your transcript and GPA that it sends to the medical schools you apply to. Having a 3.5 science and 3.7 GPA is pretty good if you consider it includes 3 units of F in a science class. While it is somewhat borderline, they are GPAs that fall within the range of what most medical schools would consider acceptable. If you could also get a 33 on the MCAT it would certainly compensate for your GPA. However, getting a 33 on the MCAT is not easy and certainly can not be taken for granted. In my case, although I went to a U.S. allopathic medical school I took the GRE as well as the MCAT. My MCAT score was 31/45 while my GRE score was 1400/1600.</p>
<p>The one fly in the ointment is that despite a solid GPA and hopefully a very strong score on the MCAT you did, on your first attempt, fail a course that nearly all medical schools consider to be one of the most important prerequisites for admission. That could be something that is just beyond redemption in the world of medical school admissions. I have really no idea. Drexel School of Medicine accepted me with a C in Organic Chemistry but while a C in Organic Chemistry certainly does not enhance your chances of medical school admission, it is not the potential deal breaker that an F might be. You need to talk to some real insiders in medical school admissions and find out if that F will be overlooked if you otherwise have a very strong application or whether it is a scarlet letter that can not be overcome.</p>
<p>Thanks Lemaitre1, I appreciate your input.</p>