Everyone knows GPA is a critical part of getting into medical school. While some schools may accept a GPA as low as 3.5, most competitive programs expect higher. You’ll also need to calculate your GPA using one of three centralized application systems: AMCAS, AACOMAS, or TMDSAS. Each has different GPA rules and GPA calculators.
AMCAS GPA Calculator
AMCAS stands for the American Medical College Application Service. It is the primary application system for MD (allopathic) programs in the U.S.
How AMCAS GPA Calculation Works:
Collect official transcripts from every college you’ve attended.
Input all course grades into the AMCAS GPA calculator.
This includes withdrawn, repeated, or incomplete classes. Expunged grades must be included.
Repeated courses are averaged together.
Highlight BCPM courses (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math) for calculating your Science GPA.
Types of GPAs AMCAS Calculates:
Cumulative GPA: All coursework combined.
Science GPA (BCPM): All Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Math coursework.
AACOMAS GPA Calculator
AACOMAS stands for the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service. This is the system used for DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) schools.
If you are applying to both MD and DO programs, you must complete both AMCAS and AACOMAS.
How AACOMAS GPA Calculation Works:
Request official transcripts from every school attended.
Input every grade from all attempted courses, including repeated and expunged grades.
Separate science courses from non-science courses.
Math courses are not included in the AACOMAS Science GPA.
Input your data into the AACOMAS GPA calculator.
AACOMAS GPA Categories:
GPA by school and academic year.
Cumulative undergraduate GPA (with or without post-baccalaureate courses).
Overall GPA across all coursework.
Separate science and non-science GPAs.
GPA by subject area (e.g., science, humanities).
Note: Post-baccalaureate courses refer to any college-level courses taken after earning your bachelor’s degree but before entering graduate school.
TMDSAS GPA Calculator
TMDSAS stands for Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service. It’s used for all Texas public medical, dental, and veterinary schools.
Texas is the only U.S. state with its own medical application system.
How TMDSAS GPA Calculation Works:
Obtain all college transcripts.
Enter every course and grade.
Separate science and non-science courses for GPA purposes.
Enter your data into the TMDSAS GPA calculator.
TMDSAS GPA Categories:
Overall GPA
Overall Science GPA
Undergraduate Science and Non-Science GPA
Graduate Science and Non-Science GPA
Important Distinction:
TMDSAS does not accept weighted GPAs. If your school uses +/- grading and you earned a C-, TMDSAS will convert it to a plain C.
What Is the Fresh Start Program?
TMDSAS offers a Fresh Start Program. If more than ten years have passed since your last college course, this program may allow you to exclude old grades from GPA calculations.
This can result in a significantly higher GPA on your TMDSAS application. However, this exception only applies to TMDSAS applicants who qualify for and are accepted into the Fresh Start Program.
If you’re also applying through AMCAS or AACOMAS, you must still include those older courses.
Summary: Key GPA Rules
Application Service | Old Grades Required? | Grade Replacement? | Science GPA Includes Math? | Fresh Start Option |
AMCAS | Yes | No | Yes | No |
AACOMAS | Yes | No (since 2017) | No | No |
TMDSAS | Yes | No | Yes | Yes (Fresh Start) |
Planning Tip:
Calculate your GPA early and double-check the rules for each system before submitting your application. If you have borderline grades or an old academic record, TMDSAS might work in your favor.