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GPA7 min read·Updated April 22, 2026

How AADSAS Calculates Your GPA for Dental School

AADSAS reports overall, science, total science, and biology-chemistry GPAs. Here is exactly how each is computed and which dental schools weight most heavily.

ByElias Woodbury·
Key Takeaways
  • AADSAS reports Overall, Total Science, Biology-Chemistry, and several sub-GPAs.
  • Dental adcoms weight Total Science (BCP + math) heavily — often more than overall GPA.
  • AADSAS counts every attempt of every course (since well before the AACOMAS change).

How AADSAS Calculates GPA

AADSAS recalculates your GPA using its own rules, applied to transcripts from every post-secondary institution you attended. AADSAS uses semester-hour credit conversion and its own letter-grade-to-4.0 scale.

The result is your verified AADSAS GPA, which is what dental schools use to evaluate applications. It often differs from the GPA on your final transcript.

AADSAS GPA Categories

  • Overall GPA: All coursework you have ever taken
  • Total Science GPA: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Math (BCPM equivalent)
  • Biology-Chemistry GPA: Biology and Chemistry combined — dental schools often weight this most heavily
  • By Year: Sub-GPAs broken out by academic year

Most dental admissions committees weight Total Science most heavily because it predicts performance in dental school basic sciences. Some programs publish Biology-Chemistry GPA ranges separately.

AADSAS Science Categories

AADSAS classifies courses into:

  • Biology: General biology, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, biochemistry (often), genetics, cell biology, neuroscience
  • Chemistry: General chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry (sometimes), analytical chemistry, physical chemistry
  • Physics: General physics, engineering physics
  • Math: Calculus, statistics, discrete math, linear algebra

Course classification follows AADSAS rules, not your school\'s department. Biochemistry classification (biology vs. chemistry) varies — AADSAS staff will determine based on content. Verify classifications after submission.

Repeats and Special Cases

AADSAS counts every attempt of every course. There is no grade replacement.

  • Withdrawal (W): Does not affect GPA but appears on your transcript
  • WF (Withdraw Failing): Counts as F
  • Pass/Fail: Pass does not affect GPA; fail counts as 0.0
  • AP/IB without letter grade: Does not factor into GPA
  • Audit: Does not count

Frequently Asked Questions

AADSAS reports Overall GPA, Total Science GPA, Biology-Chemistry GPA (combined), and sub-GPAs by year. Some programs reference additional combinations during file review.

Total Science includes Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics coursework. AADSAS classifies courses by AADSAS subject categories — not by your school’s department.

No. AADSAS has always counted every attempt of a repeated course. There is no grade replacement policy.

AP credits without letter grades do not factor into AADSAS GPA. They count toward total credits earned, but most dental schools require you to take higher-level coursework if you used AP for a prerequisite.

Yes for most dental schools. Dental adcoms generally weight Total Science GPA more heavily than cumulative because it predicts performance in dental school basic sciences.

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Admissions statistics, tuition and prerequisites, taken from each school's own published materials.

Dental schools

About the Author

Elias Woodbury
Elias Woodbury

Co-Founder · Dental School Applicant

B.S. BiochemistryAADSAS Applicant 2026Co-Founder, White Coat World

Elias went through the AADSAS process in 2026 and built White Coat World to give every pre-health student the guidance he had to piece together himself. He writes about the tactical side of applications: hours, GPA, and what schools actually care about.

Educational Disclaimer: White Coat World provides educational resources for pre-health students. Admissions requirements vary by institution and change each cycle. Always verify shadowing hour requirements, GPA cutoffs, and application deadlines directly with your target schools. This content is not licensed advising.