BCPM stands for “Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Math,” the core subjects medical schools most closely scrutinize. Admissions committees consider BCPM GPA (sometimes called science GPA) separately from AO GPA (“all others” besides science) or overall GPA (combining BCPM and AO).
For most primary medical school applications, you need to categorize all of your courses as BCPM or non-BCPM, and I’ll help with that below.
Understanding how to calculate your BCPM GPA is essential for pre-med students, as it showcases your proficiency in these critical areas. This guide will explain everything you need to know about calculating your BCPM GPA and the courses that count towards it.
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To accurately calculate your BCPM GPA, you first need to know which courses AMCAS classifies as biology, chemistry, physics, or mathematics. Course classification is based primarily on the subject matter of the course, so the department offering it doesn’t always determine whether it counts toward your BCPM GPA.
Common mistake: I’ve seen many pre-med students mistakenly count Psychology as a biology course and be disappointed when they realized the grade didn’t count towards their BCPM GPA.
There’s no need for you to be caught off guard. Below, I break down college courses by subject based on AAMC guidelines so you can keep accurate track of your BCPM GPA.
Courses in this category include many biological sciences that count towards your BCPM GPA:
This category encompasses both basic and advanced chemistry courses:
Physics courses, including those with an astronomical focus, are counted in your BCPM GPA:
Courses here cover various mathematical and statistical fields:
Note: Keep in mind that application services differ in how they classify math coursework:
AO (“all other”) coursework includes courses that AMCAS classifies outside of biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Some subjects may sound science-related but still do not contribute to your BCPM GPA. For example, health sciences and natural and physical sciences are separate AMCAS classifications and are included in your AO GPA rather than BCPM GPA.
If it’s unclear whether a course falls under the BCPM category, the general rule is that if the course content is 50% or more biology, chemistry, physics, or math, it is BCPM. Look at the course description and syllabus or consult your pre-health advisor to make the best judgment.
The AAMC and AACOM technically have the ability to remove or add courses to your BCPM GPA calculation on your application. This rarely happens, but be ready to defend your classifications. You may appeal changes the AAMC makes during the application verification process.
Here are some commonly mistaken courses that do not count toward your BCPM GPA:
When you fill out your AMCAS application, you’ll classify each course based on what you actually studied, not necessarily the department that offered it. For example, a course offered by the psychology department may still count as biology if most of the course content focuses on biological science.
If you’re unsure how to classify a course, review the course description on your school’s website and compare its content with the categories in the AAMC Course Classification Guide. You can also consult your prehealth advisor for guidance.
AMCAS reviews your coursework during the verification process and may change a classification if the one you selected doesn’t appear to apply. If AMCAS changes a course classification and you believe the change is incorrect, you can request a review through an Academic Change Request.
AMCAS calculates your BCPM GPA during the verification process, but you can estimate it yourself before you apply. To do that, you’ll need the grades and credit hours for all courses you classified as biology, chemistry, physics, or mathematics.
How different grading scales impact GPA: AAMC does not adjust for differences in grading scales (i.e., A is 93-100 vs. A is 90-100). All they care about is the letter grade. You may mention your school’s tougher grading in secondaries under the “Additional Information” section.
How withdrawals impact GPA: A “W” (withdrawal) on your transcript typically doesn’t affect BCPM GPA. It is considered a neutral grade and doesn’t earn credit or grade points, positively or negatively. 3+ withdrawals may harm your application, so be cautious about withdrawing too often.
How retakes impact GPA: Failing and retaking a class will show as two grades on your transcript, both of which count towards your GPA. Retaking a class that you completed (even if you failed) does not erase the initial grade.
Below, I’ve put together a step-by-step guide to help you calculate your BCPM GPA.
Start by creating a list of all your courses that fall under Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Math. Refer to the course categories I outlined earlier to ensure you include the right ones.
Collect the grades and credit hours you received for each of these courses. Make sure you have the most accurate and up-to-date grades.
Each grade corresponds to a specific number of quality points. There are multiple tables based on your school’s grading scale, but you can use the following common scale:
For each course, multiply the credit hours it was worth by the quality points earned. This gives you the total quality points for each course.
Add the total quality points for all your BCPM courses to get one total. Then, add the total credit hours for all your BCPM courses to get a separate total.
To find your BCPM GPA, divide the total quality points by the total credit hours. This will determine your GPA for your Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Math courses.
Let’s go through a quick example. Imagine you took the following courses:
Let’s say you’ve completed four BCPM courses:
| Course | Credit hours | Grade | Grade points | Quality points |
| General Biology | 4 | A | 4.0 | 16.0 |
| Organic Chemistry | 3 | B | 3.0 | 9.0 |
| Calculus | 4 | B+ | 3.3 | 13.2 |
| Physics | 4 | A- | 3.7 | 14.8 |
| Total | 15 | 53.0 |
Quality points are calculated by multiplying the grade-point value for each course by the number of credit hours. For example, earning an A in a 4-credit biology course gives you 16 quality points (4.0 x 4).
To calculate your BCPM GPA, divide your total quality points by your total credit hours:
53 quality points ÷ 15 credit hours = 3.53 BCPM GPA
A BCPM GPA of 3.53 is okay, but I recommend aiming for at least a 3.7 BCPM GPA to be competitive.
Read Next: What Are My Chances of Getting Into Med School?
There isn’t one good BCPM GPA that guarantees admission to med school, but broadly speaking, a science GPA of 3.7 or higher is considered competitive for most medical schools.
Your target will depend on the schools you’re applying to, your MCAT score, your academic trend, and the strength of the rest of your application.
Still, looking at recent applicant and matriculant averages can help you understand how your BCPM GPA compares and give you a useful benchmark as you build your school list.
Below is a more detailed breakdown:
| Applicant group | Average science/BCPM GPA |
| MD applicants | 3.57 |
| MD matriculants | 3.75 |
| DO applicants | 3.47 |
| DO matriculants | 3.52 |
Highly competitive and prestigious medical schools, including (but not limited to) those in the Ivy League, usually prefer to see a BCPM GPA of 3.9+.
For high school students considering BS/MD programs or undergrads aiming for early decision programs, it’s important to maintain a higher-than-average GPA throughout your educational journey.
Learn More: How to Improve Your GPA with a Post-Bacc
Maintaining a strong BCPM GPA is critical for pre-med students. This GPA reflects your ability to handle the rigorous scientific work required in medical education and health professions, which is why AdComs place so much weight on it.
From my first-hand experience, upper-division science classes can sometimes be easier to get a good grade in than required early pre-med courses. Maybe it’s because of your momentum.
Strategically plan your coursework to boost your science GPA. If you had a lower BCPM GPA during your first 2 years, take more upper-division science classes in your 3rd year. If you haven’t already, I recommend switching to a life sciences major to align with your coursework needs.
Some AdComs use the 32-hour rule, which means they factor your most recent 32 credit hours separately from your overall BCPM GPA. There are only a few schools that use it officially, but others may unofficially consider your most recent year of coursework with more weight.
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