Science GPA (BCPM) Calculator for Pre-Med & PA School
Applying to medical school, PA school, or another health profession program? Your science GPA is one of the most important metrics on your application. Use our BCPM calculator to determine your science GPA based on your Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Math courses.
Calculate Your BCPM GPA
Enter your science and math courses below:
What is a BCPM GPA?
BCPM stands for Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Math. The BCPM GPA is a separate GPA calculation that medical and other health professional schools use to evaluate an applicant’s performance specifically in core science and math coursework. It is often considered alongside your overall cumulative GPA.
Which Courses Count Towards BCPM?
The courses included in your BCPM GPA are determined by the application service you use (like AMCAS for MD programs or CASPA for PA programs). As a general rule, all courses taken in those four departments will count. It’s important to classify them correctly on your application.
| Category | Example Courses |
|---|---|
| Biology | General Biology, Genetics, Microbiology, Anatomy & Physiology, Ecology, Cell Biology, Neuroscience |
| Chemistry | General Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physical Chemistry |
| Physics | General Physics (calculus or algebra-based), Modern Physics |
| Math | Calculus I & II, Statistics, Biostatistics, Applied Math |
Why is the BCPM GPA So Important?
Admissions committees for medical-related programs look at the BCPM GPA as a key indicator of whether a student can handle the rigorous science curriculum of their program. A strong BCPM GPA demonstrates a solid foundation in the subjects that are fundamental to the study of medicine and health sciences. It often carries more weight in the admissions process than your GPA in non-science courses.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is a good BCPM GPA for medical school?
This is highly competitive. While the average can fluctuate, a competitive BCPM GPA for allopathic (MD) medical schools is often around 3.7 or higher. For osteopathic (DO) schools, it may be slightly lower, around 3.5. However, these are just averages and many factors are considered. It is a good idea to research the average stats for the specific schools you are interested in.
Do I use a weighted or unweighted scale for BCPM?
Application services like AMCAS and AACOMAS do not use weighted grades from your undergraduate institution. They will recalculate your GPA based on their own standardized 4.0 scale. An A is always a 4.0, regardless of whether your school called it an “A+” or if it was in an honors-level course. Therefore, you should use an unweighted scale for this calculation, just like our standard GPA calculator.
Do grades from community college or post-baccalaureate programs count?
Yes. All undergraduate, post-bacc, and graduate-level courses in the BCPM subjects are typically included in this calculation by the application services. It is a comprehensive look at all of your academic work in the core sciences.