The Pre-Med's Official Guide to AMCAS BCPM GPA
A comprehensive breakdown of Science GPA classifications for the 2026 application cycle.
1. What is the BCPM GPA?
The BCPM GPA is your "Science GPA" as calculated by the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). It stands for Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics.
| Category | Official Included Subjects |
|---|---|
| Biology (BIOL) | Anatomy, Biology, Biophysics, Biotechnology, Botany, Cell Biology, Ecology, Entomology, Genetics, Histology, Human Anatomy, Immunology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Neuroscience, Physiology, Zoology. |
| Chemistry (CHEM) | Biochemistry, Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Thermodynamics, Toxicology. |
| Physics (PHYS) | Astronomy, Physics. |
| Math (MATH) | Algebra, Applied Mathematics, Biostatistics, Calculus, Geometry, Mathematics, Statistics. |
2. Commonly Misclassified Courses
| Course Title | Classification | Count as Science (BCPM)? |
|---|---|---|
| Neuroscience | Biology | Yes |
| Genetics | Biology | Yes |
| Statistics | Mathematics | Yes |
| Psychology | Behavioral and Social Sciences | No |
| Sociology | Behavioral and Social Sciences | No |
| Nursing | Health Sciences | No |
| Nutrition | Health Sciences | No |
| Medical Terminology | Health Sciences | No |
3. The "Course Content" Rule
AMCAS classifies courses based on the primary content of the course rather than the department offering it. If at least 50% of a course's syllabus covers the BCPM subjects listed above, it should be classified as BCPM.
Example: A "Psychological Statistics" course taught by the Psychology department should still be classified as Math because its primary content is Statistics.
4. Retakes, Withdrawals, and Weighting
Accuracy in entering your coursework is vital. Remember these three 2026 AMCAS rules:
- No Grade Replacement: Unlike some undergraduate institutions, AMCAS averages all attempts of a course. Both the original grade and the retake grade will count toward your GPA.
- Standardized 4.0 Scale: AMCAS converts all grades to a standard 4.0 scale. An 'A+' is weighted as a 4.0 (AAMC does not award 4.3 for A+), and an 'A-' is a 3.7.
- Withdrawals (W): "W" grades do not affect your GPA but must be entered in your application exactly as they appear on your transcript.
5. What if a course is misclassified?
If AMCAS disagrees with your classification, they will change it during the verification process. While this usually doesn't delay your application significantly, it can change your final BCPM GPA. Always keep your syllabi handy in case you need to submit an Academic Change Request to appeal a classification.