Quick Answers Students Search For
What is the AADSAS numeric grade for A- — 3.7 or 3.67? A- = 3.67 on ADEA AADSAS (not 3.7). Schools may round displays, but the conversion AADSAS uses for quality points is 3.67.
Does AADSAS Science GPA include math / statistics? Yes. Math and statistics usually count toward Science GPA (or Other Science). They do not count toward the narrower BCP GPA.
What is AADSAS BCP GPA? Your average from courses classified as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Biochemistry — not overall GPA, and not math.
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| A- on AADSAS? | 3.67 |
| Math in BCP GPA? | No |
| Math in Science GPA? | Usually yes |
| BCP vs Science GPA? | BCP is narrower (Bio/Chem/Physics/Biochem only) |
For the threshold question — what GPA do I need? / can I get in with a 3.0? — use dental school GPA requirements. This page is the calculation / definition companion.
What Is BCP GPA (and How It Differs From Overall/Cumulative GPA)
AADSAS does not report one single GPA. After verification, your Academic Audit typically shows several:
| GPA type | What it includes | Why adcoms care |
|---|---|---|
| Overall / Total GPA | All graded coursework | Broad academic signal |
| BCP GPA | Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Biochemistry | Core science readiness for dental school |
| Science GPA | BCP + Other Science (often includes Math and related sciences) | Broader science performance |
| Non-Science GPA | Everything not in Science | Breadth and consistency |
Overall GPA answers: “How did you do in college overall?” BCP GPA answers: “How did you do in the hard sciences dental school is built on?”
That is why a 3.7 overall with a 3.1 BCP raises more concern than a 3.4 overall with a 3.6 BCP. Committees read both numbers.
Which Courses Count Toward BCP GPA
Under ADEA AADSAS subject classification, BCP includes courses that fall into:
- Biology (e.g., general biology, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, genetics, cell bio — when classified as Biology)
- Chemistry (general chemistry, organic chemistry, and related chemistry coursework)
- Physics (algebra- or calculus-based physics sequences and labs when classified as Physics)
- Biochemistry (often listed with BCP in AADSAS reporting)
What usually does *not* count toward BCP
- Math / statistics / calculus — these typically sit in Science (or Other Science), not BCP
- English, psychology, sociology, history, and most non-science electives
- Pure “Other Science” courses that AADSAS does not map into Bio/Chem/Physics/Biochem
Practical rule: when you enter coursework in AADSAS, the subject category you assign (and that verification may correct) decides which GPA bucket the course feeds. Title alone is not enough — department + AADSAS subject list matter.
If a course title is ambiguous, follow AADSAS instructions: categorize by the course subject list / department guidance, then expect verification to reclassify mistakes.
Does AADSAS Science GPA Include Math and Statistics?
This is the most common AADSAS GPA confusion:
| Course type | BCP GPA? | Science GPA? |
|---|---|---|
| Biology / Chemistry / Physics / Biochemistry | Yes | Yes |
| Math / Statistics / Calculus | No | Usually yes |
| Other Science (as classified by AADSAS) | No | Yes |
| English / social sciences / humanities | No | No (Non-Science) |
So if someone says “AADSAS science GPA includes math statistics,” they are talking about the broader Science GPA, not BCP. Your Academic Audit shows both — read the correct column.
AADSAS Numeric Grade Values (A- = 3.67)
ADEA AADSAS converts letter grades to fixed numeric values before calculating quality points. Common conversions:
| Letter grade | AADSAS value |
|---|---|
| A | 4.00 |
| A- | 3.67 |
| B+ | 3.33 |
| B | 3.00 |
| B- | 2.67 |
| C+ | 2.33 |
| C | 2.00 |
| C- | 1.67 |
| D+ | 1.33 |
| D | 1.00 |
| D- | 0.67 |
| F | 0.00 |
A- is 3.67, not 3.7. Some campus portals round displays to one decimal; AADSAS quality-point math uses the published conversion (3.67 for A-). Always trust the verified Academic Audit over a hand spreadsheet that used 3.7.
How AADSAS Calculates Your BCP GPA (Step-by-Step)
AADSAS uses the same core formula for every GPA bucket:
- 1Convert each letter grade to an AADSAS grade value (quality points per credit)
- 2Multiply grade value × semester credit hours = quality points for that course
- 3Sum quality points for all courses in the bucket
- 4Divide by total attempted semester hours in that bucket
BCP GPA = Total BCP Quality Points ÷ Total BCP Attempted Hours
Key AADSAS rules that surprise people
- All graded attempts count. Retakes are not grade-replaced. Original C and retake A both stay in the calculation.
- Quarter hours convert to semester hours (commonly × 0.667).
- Pass / Satisfactory / AP credit without a letter grade usually does not enter GPA math.
- WF is generally treated like an F.
- Verification can reclassify courses — your self-entered categories are not final until verified.
Worked example (BCP only)
| Course | Grade | AADSAS value | Credits | Quality points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology 101 | A | 4.00 | 4 | 16.00 |
| Chem 101 | B+ | 3.33 | 4 | 13.32 |
| Chem 102 | A- | 3.67 | 4 | 14.68 |
| Physics 1 | B | 3.00 | 4 | 12.00 |
| Biochemistry | A | 4.00 | 3 | 12.00 |
| BCP totals | 19 | 68.00 |
BCP GPA = 68.00 ÷ 19 ≈ 3.58
Now add Calculus I (A, 4 credits). That course may raise your Science GPA, but it should not move your BCP GPA if it is classified as Math — which is exactly why students get confused by “biology chemistry physics only” search language.
BCP GPA vs BCPM GPA: What's the Difference
| Term | Where you see it | Includes Math? |
|---|---|---|
| BCP (AADSAS / dental) | Dental school applications | No — Bio, Chem, Physics (+ Biochem in AADSAS BCP reporting) |
| BCPM (often med / AMCAS-style language) | Medical school conversations | Yes — Bio, Chem, Physics, Math |
| Science GPA (AADSAS) | Dental applications | Broader than BCP; often includes Math + Other Science |
If a forum post says “BCPM,” do not assume AADSAS uses the same bucket. For dental school, learn BCP and Science GPA as AADSAS defines them.
Common BCP GPA Calculation Mistakes
- 1Assuming your university GPA = AADSAS GPA — different grade scales, plus AADSAS recalculates after verification.
- 2Putting math into BCP — Calculus/stats usually help Science GPA, not BCP.
- 3Thinking a retake erases the first grade — both attempts remain.
- 4Ignoring labs / credit-hour weighting — a 1-credit lab still matters; a 5-credit orgo hits harder than a 3-credit elective.
- 5Mis-categorizing courses — wrong subject tags warp every science bucket until verification fixes them.
- 6Using only overall GPA to judge competitiveness — adcoms read BCP separately. See GPA requirements by school tier.
What's a Competitive BCP GPA for Dental School
National accepted-applicant averages sit roughly around ~3.5 overall and ~3.4–3.5 science/BCP (exact ADEA figures shift by cycle). Use ranges, not myths:
| Competitiveness | Rough BCP / science range |
|---|---|
| Highly selective programs | Often ~3.6–3.85+ |
| Broad competitive range | Often ~3.2–3.55 |
| Access / broader-mission programs | Wider; stronger DAT + story matter more |
A below-average BCP is not an automatic rejection — but it raises the bar on DAT performance, upward grade trends, and school-list strategy. If your BCP is the weak number, fix the signal with post-bacc / SMP coursework and a realistic list — not hope alone.
FAQ
What does BCP stand for on AADSAS? Biology, Chemistry, and Physics — with Biochemistry included in AADSAS BCP reporting.
Does AADSAS Science GPA include math and statistics? Usually yes. Math/statistics typically count toward Science GPA, not the narrower BCP GPA.
Does math count toward AADSAS BCP GPA? Usually no. Math typically falls under Science / Other Science, not BCP.
What is the AADSAS numeric grade value for A-? 3.67. Do not use 3.7 in hand calculations if you want to match AADSAS quality points.
Is BCP GPA the same as science GPA? No. Science GPA is broader. BCP is the narrower core-science bucket adcoms watch closely.
Do repeated courses replace the old grade in BCP? No. AADSAS keeps both graded attempts in the calculation.
Where do I see my official BCP GPA? On your AADSAS Academic Audit after verification — not only on your college transcript GPA.
Sources & last reviewed
- ADEA AADSAS applicant help: GPA calculation / quality points methodology
- ADEA AADSAS GPA guides describing BCP (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Biochemistry) vs Science GPA
Last reviewed: August 2026. Always confirm current subject lists and grade conversions inside the official AADSAS instructions for your cycle.
If you want help reading your transcript the way adcoms will — BCP vs Science vs overall — schedule a free call and we will map your numbers to a realistic school list.
Written By

Dr. Alexander Takshyn
DMD, Admissions Consultant & Founder

