AMCAS Retake & Withdrawal Policy: Protecting Your BCPM GPA
A technical guide to the 2026 AAMC standards for repeated courses and withdrawals.
For many pre-medical students, a difficult semester leads to a high-stakes decision: Is it better to withdraw (W) from a science course or take a mediocre grade and retake it later?
Using the official 2026 AMCAS® Applicant Guide, this resource breaks down how the medical school application service handles these scenarios mathematically.
1. The Withdrawal (W) Policy
According to AMCAS standards, a "Withdrawal" refers to any course you officially drop after the initial add/drop period, regardless of whether you were passing or failing at the time.
The GPA Advantage
Official withdrawals (marked with a "W" symbol) have no value or weight in your AMCAS GPA calculations. They do not lower your average, nor do they count as attempted hours.
The Strategic Pivot: If you are trending toward a "D" or "F" in a core BCPM course, a "W" acts as a shield. It prevents a low grade from permanently anchoring your science GPA, giving you a clean slate to master the material in a future term.
2. The "Repeat" (R) Policy: No Grade Replacement
This is the most common area of confusion. Many universities have "Grade Replacement" policies where a retake erases the original grade. AMCAS does not recognize grade replacement.
- All Attempts Count: AMCAS requires you to list every attempt of a repeated course.
- The Averaging Effect: If you earn a 1.0 (D) in Chemistry and retake it for a 4.0 (A), AMCAS will include both in your GPA.
Attempt 1: General Chem (4 credits) - Grade: D (1.0)
Attempt 2: General Chem (4 credits) - Grade: A (4.0)
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Total Grade Points: $(4 \times 1.0) + (4 \times 4.0) = 20$
Total Credit Hours: $8$
AMCAS Effective GPA: 2.50 (C+)
Note: You must enter the original grade even if it is no longer on your transcript. Failure to do so will result in your application being returned, delaying your verification by weeks.
3. Decision Matrix: Take the "W" or the Grade?
Before deciding, plug your current projected grade into our calculator to see the mathematical impact. Generally, for the 2026 cycle:
| Projected Grade | Recommended Action |
|---|---|
| D or F | Withdraw. An F is mathematically devastating. A "W" is significantly easier to explain than a 0.0 in your BCPM GPA. |
| C- or C | Stay (Usually). A "C" is a passing grade. If your overall Science GPA is strong, one "C" will not disqualify you. Only withdraw if you are certain you can turn it into an "A" later. |
| B- or Higher | Stay. A B-minus in a rigorous course like Organic Chemistry is respectable and almost never worth a withdrawal. |
4. 2026 Technical Nuances
- Administrative Withdrawals: If you "walk away" from a class without filing for a W, and your school gives you a "WF" or "U," AMCAS calculates this as a 0.0 (F).
- The "W" Pattern: One or two Ws are fine. However, 3+ Ws—especially in science courses—start to look like a "pattern of avoidance" to AdComs. They may question your ability to handle a heavy medical school load.
- Retaking for an A+: AMCAS caps all A grades at 4.0. Retaking a B+ to get an A+ provides a minimal boost because you don't get 4.33 points.
Ready to see the impact?
Don't guess. Use our precision calculator to model your BCPM GPA with different grade scenarios.
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