Directions for GPA Calculator

1)    Open unofficial transcript in Student Link.

2)    Choose the appropriate excel spreadsheet from the bottom tabs based on the GPA you want to calculate:

a)     AACOMAS: Osteopathic medical school central application service

b)    AADSAS: Dental school central application service

c)     AMCAS: Allopathic medical school central application service

d)    CASPA: Physician assistant program central application service

e)    PharmCAS: Pharmacy school central application service

f)      PTCAS: Physical therapy program central application service

g)     VMCAS: Veterinary medical colleges central application service

3)    In column A, enter the course number. Keep in mind it is not case sensitive.

4)    In column B, enter the course title.

5)    In column C, select what your class year was when you took the class from the dropdown menu.

6)    In column D, enter the final grade you received exactly as it appears on your transcript.

Be sure to enter "+" or "-" if it is listed on your transcript.

a)     EXCEPT AP courses, do not enter grade.

7)    In column E, enter the number of credit hours the class was worth.

a)     Leave blank if you entered "W" or "P" in column D.

b)    Leave blank if an AP class course.

8)    In column F, select "yes" if the class should be incorporated into a Science specific GPA. Follow the links below to determine which courses each central application service will include in your Science specific GPA.

a)     AACOMAS

b)    AADSAS

c)     AMCAS

d)    CASPA 

i.         Alternatively, you can use this column to select school specific prerequisite classes to calculate your prerequisite GPA for each school

e)    PharmCAS 

i.         Alternatively, you can use this column to select school specific prerequisite classes to calculate your prerequisite GPA for each school

f)      PTCAS 

i.         Alternatively, you can use this column to select school specific prerequisite classes to calculate your prerequisite GPA for each school

g)     VMCAS

9)    In column G, select "yes" if the class was based on a quarter system (uncommon). If the class was taken at BU, it was not based on a quarter system.

For example:

10) You do not need to edit any cell that is grayed out.

11) The GPA chart to the right and the associated trends worksheets will update automatically with each entry. Note that these are an approximation of your GPA as calculated by these central application services.

Tips for using the calculator:

• Use Student Link to access unofficial transcript to enter grades into the GPA calculator.
• We recommend that you input all college level courses you have taken (e.g. dual enrollment, summer classes, transfer courses, etc.).
• Determining which classes are to be classified as a science course can be tricky. When in doubt, calculate your GPA with (“yes” in column F) and without this class designated as a science course. Our office does not have a comprehensive list of BU courses that are designated as science by each central application service.
• Use the calculator to determine how future courses will affect your science GPA. We recommend testing best and worst case scenarios.