How to Calculate Science GPA for Medical School

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Your science GPA is an integral part of your medical school application. It is separate from your overall GPA, which averages the grades from all of your undergraduate courses; your science GPA, in contrast, only averages the grades from your science courses, such as biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, physiology and biochemistry. By calculating your science GPA, you can get a better idea of how medical school admissions committees will view your application.

1 Make a list

Make a list of all the science courses you took as an undergraduate student..

2 Convert the grades

Convert the grades you received in your science courses into their numerical equivalents, which are as follows: A = 4.0, A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0, B- = 2.7, C+ = 2.3, C = 2.0, C- = 1.7, D+ = 1.3, D = 1.0, D- = 0.7 and F = 0.

3 Determine the number

Determine the number of credit hours for each of your sciences courses. Check your college transcript to find the hours.

4 Calculate your science GPA

Calculate your science GPA. Multiply each science course's numerical grade-equivalent by its respective number of credit hours. Add up all the results and then divide their sum by the total number of semester hours for all of your science courses. For example, assume the only science courses you took were biology and chemistry, which were four credit hours each (totaling eight credit hours), and assume you received a B+ (3.3) and a C+ (2.3) in them; to calculate your science GPA, you would perform the following calculation: (3.3 x 4) + (2.3 x 4) / 8 = 2.8.

  • You can also use an online GPA calculator (see Resources) to calculate your science GPA. Enter your letter grades and credit hours into the appropriate fields and then click "compute" to find out your science GPA.

Justin Nicholas has been a freelance writer since 2010. While shadowing health professionals in both medicine and dentistry, he has observed numerous procedures on how to diagnose and treat patients. His writing interests include the health field, athletic training and travel. Nicholas graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University at Buffalo and has ambitions of attending dental school.

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