How is GPA determined

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by johnp, Aug 22, 2010.

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  1. johnp

    johnp New Member

    Hey everyone,

    Iam trying to figure out how TESC determines GPA. I have 19 b&m credits with a gpa of 3.92, I will have 48 total when I go in the Army and plan on testing out of everything except sciences. I have an interest in going to med school when I get out so I am going to b&m the sciences, but test out of everything else. How do credit by examinations effect GPA? Do you get a letter grade and gpa from clep,dsst,etc?

    Any help is much appreciated.

    Thanks, John
     
  2. rcreighton

    rcreighton New Member

    I can only speak for CLEP as they are the exams that I have taken. CLEP exams are pass/fail types with no letter grade given so there is no effect on your existing GPA.
     
  3. johnp

    johnp New Member

    thank you RC, anyone else know if dsst,ece,tesce are the same way pass/fail?

    If one tests out of all courses do they not have a gpa?
     
  4. b4cz28

    b4cz28 Active Member

    I think some schools issue a grade based off of your exam scores, i.e. EC, but I don't know if TESC does this.
     
  5. SurfDoctor

    SurfDoctor Moderator

    I have never taken a CLEP, so I don't actually know, but isn't it just a pass or fail type of test with no actual GPA attached?
     
  6. peejcj8

    peejcj8 New Member

    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 23, 2010
  7. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef


    John, what you are asking is actually 2 questions. First, how TESC calculates GPA and second, what your actual cumulative GPA is. These are not the same, because it is typical when you transfer into a college (TESC or other) that you don't get grades for transfer credit. There are exceptions, but TESC will not award you quality points for your 3.92 as part of your TESC degree...but all is not lost.

    For your med school ap and any other reason that GPA is calculated, you will calculate ALL credits/grades earned. As mentioned, exams are credit only, so that's not an issue. But, everything else counts. EVERYTHING.

    So, when you attend TESC, only your NEW CREDIT earned IN HOUSE will be your TESC GPA. However, your cumulative will be all prior credit. These are different numbers, but it doesn't matter to anyone except you probably lol. Your med school application will not have a degree GPA, they won't know or care what TESC says your GPA is.

    MD schools and DO schools will calculate grades slightly different - for instance DO schools will take only the highest grade in a subject (allowing a re-do), while MD schools even record withdrawals. Specific science subjects are also included/excluded based on which application you complete. MD apps don't count +/- grades while DO apps do. Anyway, my point of telling you this, is that you can go in right now and open a file. I have an AACOMAS application open. You can enter your grades/credits as you go, and you'll be able to see your med school cGPA and sGPA - update as you go. This is the best way.

    Do you mind sharing your progress as you go? So far, I only know of 1 person with a degree from TESC who went to med school, and 2 from Excelsior. I'm taking the MCAT in 11 months!

    *EDIT*
    if you use CLEP/DSST/TECEP exams combined with your B&M sciences transferred back into TESC to complete your degree, your GPA will be 0.00
    I'm also curious which degree you found to best utilize the premed sequence. I know you can't do natural science, and they denied my request to do the learner designed area of study. Bio would add a bunch of other crap you don't need. Are you thinking liberal arts?
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 23, 2010
  8. OpalMoon34

    OpalMoon34 member

    Hi Cook,

    What about the honors like Cum Laude, etc.? If, say, all one needs to take is a dozen courses, and all the rest were transfer credits, the transfer credits are just average grades but s/he has managed to ace all the TESC courses (4.0) will they decide based on the cumulative average of all the 120 or so credits or just the ones s/he took from TESC?
     
  9. johnp

    johnp New Member

    Hey cook thanks for all the info. thats pretty much what I was trying to figure out.

    You have any info. on those 3 people who went to med school after graduating from tesc, and excelsior? GPA, MCAT score. Are they on this forum?

    I'll defiently update on my progress but youll probably graduate med school before I even apply lol. I go to basic in november, and then have a 4 year commitment.

    As of now I've always wanted to major in Psych, Ive always found that interesting so I plan to have the army pay for my ba in psych. During which I will take all the required sciences med schools require bio,chem,physics, and any other sciences if I have time at a b&m, if they fit into my degree plan great if not, idc they are requirements for med school. Depending on time, I might persue a masters in psych but idk yet.

    Care to share your plan cook?
     
  10. Maniac Craniac

    Maniac Craniac Moderator Staff Member

    CLEP, yes, is just pass/fail. ECE's, however, are scored with a letter grade and DSST exams have a recommended grading scale that is based upon your score. However, many schools, such as Columbia College, don't count transfer grades toward your GPA, so the net effect is that all of the exams (and all previous courses taken, by the way) are just pass/fail anyway.
     
  11. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef


    TESC doesn't award Latin honors, so it doesn't matter. They do have other awards, however I think there is a minimum in order to qualify- I'm not up on these. I earned 2 awards while there, the Arnold Fletcher Award and the National Honor Society. I took 32 credits of TESC courses (graded) and they awarded me 27 for prior learning (credit). I believe, at the time, I had "just" made the cut of minimum.

    However, you are correct. Even with only 1 TESC course, your TESC GPA would be whatever that grade was. This, IMO, is precisely the reason graduation GPA doesn't matter.

    If it were me, I'd test out of every gen ed (60 cr) and take in-house classes for my major (33cr). I'd take B&M science credits for premeds and transfer them back (~32). This is how I'd build my first degree if I were to do it all over again. I'm doing the premeds now, after the fact, and so it's an added cost.
     
  12. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    I found those names on MedApps- so, I have no idea if they ever visited this forum. I doubt it, unless it was prior to 2006 or unless they didn't post much. TESC sent out a little postcard boasting about an alum who is now a doc. She's in her white coat and all :) I spent a few hours finding about her path, and I assure you she got into med school despite her attending TESC not because of it. She also completed a formal postbac at Mayo, which comes with letters of rec (she worked there). She also hired a formal application consultant. Apparently, her getting in was SUCH a long shot, that she ALSO made the consultant's web page as "applicant of the month." LOL Take that to heart, you will be an underdog applicant.

    My plan?
    This past year I took: Intro Bio w/lab, Intro Chem w/lab, Anatomy Physiology 1 w/lab, Anatomy Physiology II w/lab, and Microbiology w/lab. *all 5 online. I also completed the CNA course and got my Health care Worker CPR *on campus. NONE of those were premeds. They were my litmus test classes. I wanted to prep myself for the premeds which I start in a few weeks.

    This year I am taking: General Chem 1 and 2 with lab, General Biology 1 and 2 with lab, Physics 1 with lab, Organic 1 with lab. *all 6 online. I volunteer at the Good Samaritan Free Clinic doing whatever and plan to Shadow 4-5 of our docs away from the clinic in their practices. I also hope to pull my letters from them since I won't have a committee letter. My microbiology teacher, however, offered to write me a letter, so I'm holding onto his promise :) As you may/mayn't know, you need at least 1 science professor LOR.

    Fall next year- Physics 2 w/lab, Biochemistry, Organic 2 w/lab *all online. followed by MCAT study/test.

    I'm applying to ~25 DO schools and 1 MD school (my instate school). If get rejections from all, I have a list of 4 Caribbean (MD) that I'll apply for. My top 5 wish list schools (not in order) are:
    1. A.T. Still Kirksville (DO) Missouri
    2. Des Moines University (DO) Iowa
    3. Southern Illinois University (MD) Illinois
    4. Lake Erie College of Medicine (DO) Pennsylvania
    5. University of New England College of Medicine (DO) Maine

    I have an email from UNE-COM stating that in no way does online/vs on campus have any bearing on the application, they don't take many out of state though, so it's a long shot but for sure on my list.
     
  13. johnp

    johnp New Member

    Sounds like a good plan, Iam hoping to get a few of my b&m teachers to give lor, also some high ranking army officers if I can pull that off somehow. I was thinking about how they really like to see voluteer hours at a clinic and such. Iam hoping if that were to come up, they'll take into account my time in the service and kind of see it in the same light if you catch my drift.

    A few of the med schools requirements I was looking into required a year of physics, and a year of english. Just so ya know.

    Any reason your mostly looking at DOs and not so much MDs? Do you feel it would be easier to get accepted?

    ~John
     
  14. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    I have physics in the plan and already finished w/ English. I'm looking at DOs for a few reasons. I have a good reference who is a DO. His wife was a doula client of mine twice. A DO is (generally) a little more holistic in their approach, which I feel is a better fit for me. That said, I'm not opposed to MD, I think there are very few actual differences, but the subtleties are there if you embrace them. I'm in the midwest, where DOs are very well regarded, and when the time comes, the type of practice I'd like to have is consistent with the type of patient who would seek out a DO. My dream practice would be an OB-GYN office, and 2 of my shadow experiences will be with DO OBs. I think pregnancy is an excellent time to make use of OMM skills.
     
  15. johnp

    johnp New Member

    very good cook,

    Good Luck
     

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