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What a dental school GPA calculator does and when to use it
Dental school applicants use this calculator to preview the GPAs ADEA AADSAS puts on their application: BCP, science, non-science and total. It applies the AADSAS grade values to each course you enter.
Definition
ADEA AADSAS is the application service for dental schools, run by the American Dental Education Association. It verifies your transcripts and works out the GPAs schools see.
Run it before you list your coursework in the application, and again when you pick upper-level electives. AADSAS reports two science figures: BCP keeps to biology, chemistry and physics, while the science GPA also takes math and other sciences.
How to use the dental school GPA calculator
List the year’s courses
Put each class in its own row with the Grade and Credits printed on your transcript. Course (optional) is only a label for you.
Tag each subject
Choose Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry or Physics for BCP courses. Math & stats and Other science count in science but not in BCP.
Add every year
Switch the year picker to the right year, then open Options and press Add year for the next. Results update after each grade.
How AADSAS calculates your BCP and science GPAs
Science GPA = BCP plus math and other science quality points ÷ their credits
B, C, P
Biology, chemistry (biochemistry included) and physics.
Science
BCP plus math, statistics and other sciences such as environmental science.
Non-science
Everything else: English, psychology, the arts.
Say your junior year has three BCP courses, two more science courses and one non-science course.
| Course and subject | Grade · value × credits | Quality points |
|---|---|---|
| BCHM 401 Biochemistry Biochemistry (BCP) | A− · 3.7 × 3 | 11.1 |
| PHYS 202 Physics II Physics (BCP) | C · 2.0 × 4 | 8.0 |
| BIOL 330 Human Physiology Biology (BCP) | B+ · 3.3 × 4 | 13.2 |
| STAT 301 Statistics Math (science) | A · 4.0 × 3 | 12.0 |
| ENVS 210 Environmental Science Other science (science) | A · 4.0 × 3 | 12.0 |
| ENG 310 Technical Writing Non-science | A− · 3.7 × 3 | 11.1 |
BCP: 11.1 + 8.0 + 13.2 = 32.3 quality points ÷ 11 credits = 2.936, shown as 2.94.
Science adds statistics and environmental science: 56.3 ÷ 17 = 3.312. Non-science: 11.1 ÷ 3 = 3.70. Total: 67.4 ÷ 20 credits = 3.37.
The calculator shows Undergraduate GPA (AADSAS) 3.37, Science GPA 3.31, BCP GPA 2.94 and Non-science GPA 3.70.
How to read your AADSAS GPA result
The main result is your total undergraduate GPA with a letter badge: 3.37 reads as a solid B+ average. Science GPA, BCP GPA and Non-science GPA sit below it, beside GPA credits.
Read the BCP figure on its own. In the example, a total near 3.4 hides a BCP GPA under 3.0, because the A grades came from statistics, environmental science and writing.
Tip
When BCP GPA trails, aim the GPA planner at BCP GPA rather than the total. Statistics and other science electives lift your science GPA but leave BCP where it is.
Dental schools share the GPAs of the students they accept, so set your BCP and total next to the figures for each school you’re weighing.
What changes your AADSAS science GPA
Statistics and environmental science help science, not BCP. AADSAS files math under other science, so good grades in math or other sciences lift your science and total GPAs but leave BCP alone.
Biochemistry counts as science. It sits inside BCP here, so a strong biochemistry grade raises your science figure directly.
Big lab courses weigh more. A C in a 4-credit course costs 8 quality points below an A, twice what a C in a 2-credit course costs.
Retakes add a row. AADSAS keeps every attempt, so retaking Physics II for a B adds a second 4-credit course rather than erasing the C. With both attempts, Physics II averages 2.5 over 8 credits.
Withdrawals and pass/fail. A pass, a fail in a pass/fail course or a plain withdrawal adds no credits to your AADSAS GPA, and a withdrawal while failing (WF) is counted as a zero.
Quarter calendars. AADSAS turns quarter hours into semester hours at 0.667 each; tick My school uses quarter credits in Options and the calculator does the same.
Frequently asked questions
What is BCP GPA for dental school?
BCP GPA is the GPA of your biology, chemistry and physics courses, biochemistry included. AADSAS reports it beside a broader science GPA, a non-science GPA and your total.
Does math count in the AADSAS science GPA?
Yes, AADSAS files math courses under other science, so they count in your science GPA. They stay out of BCP, which keeps to biology, chemistry and physics.
Does AADSAS count repeated courses?
Yes, every attempt counts. AADSAS does not swap an earlier grade for a retake, even if your college does.
How is AADSAS GPA different from my college GPA?
AADSAS uses its own grade values, caps A+ at 4.0 and keeps every repeated attempt. It also splits your courses into BCP, science and non-science groups.
Does organic chemistry count as BCP?
Yes, organic chemistry is a chemistry course, so it counts in BCP. Biochemistry does too.
Sources
- ADEA AADSAS: Calculating Your GPAsADEA AADSAS Applicant Help Center
- ADEA AADSAS: Grade ValuesADEA AADSAS Applicant Help Center
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