Application Service GPA Modes: LSAC, AMCAS & CASPA
If you're applying to law school, medical school, or PA school, the application service will recalculate your GPA using their own rules — which often differ from your transcript. Here's how each one works.
🧮 Try it: Use our GPA Calculator with policy mode selection, or the Retake Calculator to compare policies side by side.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | Your School (Typical) | LSAC (Law) | AMCAS (Medical) | CASPA (PA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Repeat Handling | Grade replacement | Count ALL attempts | Count ALL attempts | Count ALL attempts |
| A+ Value | 4.0 (usually) | 4.33 * | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Pass (P) Grade | Excluded from GPA | Excluded | Excluded | = C (2.0) |
| NP/Fail in P/F | Excluded | Excluded | Excluded | = F (0.0) |
| WF | Usually = F | = F (0.0) | = F (0.0) | = F (0.0) |
| W (Withdrawal) | Excluded | Excluded | Excluded | Excluded |
| Graduate Courses | Included | Excluded | Separate GPA | Separate GPA |
* LSAC uses A+ = 4.33 only if your school awards A+ grades.
LSAC (Law School Admission Council)
LSAC calculates a separate GPA for law school applications (CAS GPA). Key rules:
- All undergraduate coursework from ABA-approved schools is included
- All repeats counted: If you took a class twice, both grades count
- A+ = 4.33: If your school awards A+ grades, LSAC gives them more than A
- No graduate courses: Only undergraduate work is included
- Study abroad: Included only if grades appear on your home transcript
Impact Example
You took Chem 101: D (1.0), then retook → A (4.0), 3 credits each.
- Your school (replacement): Only A counts → 4.0 × 3 = 12 QP / 3 credits
- LSAC (count all): Both count → (1.0×3 + 4.0×3) = 15 QP / 6 credits = 2.50 GPA
That's a 1.5-point difference for this course alone!
AMCAS (Medical School — AAMC)
AMCAS is used for MD program applications. Key differences from LSAC:
- A+ = A = 4.0: No 4.33 bonus — AMCAS doesn't distinguish A+ from A
- All repeats counted: Same as LSAC
- BCPM GPA: Calculates a separate science GPA (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math) that med schools heavily weigh
- Post-baccalaureate courses: Included and highlighted separately
CASPA (PA School — CASPA/AACOMAS)
CASPA has the strictest rules — important if you're applying to physician assistant programs:
- All repeats counted
- Pass = C (2.0): Unlike other services, CASPA converts Pass grades to C
- NP/NC = F (0.0): No-Pass becomes a failing grade
- WF = F: Withdrawal Failing counts as 0.0
- Calculates science and non-science GPAs separately
⚠CASPA warning: If you took courses P/F thinking they wouldn't affect your GPA, be aware that CASPA will convert P→C and NP→F. This can significantly lower your CASPA GPA compared to your transcript.
Tips for Pre-Professional Students
- Calculate your service-specific GPA early — don't wait until application time to discover discrepancies.
- Avoid P/F for science courses if applying to PA school (CASPA P→C is harsh).
- Retakes still help even with count-all policies — the new grade raises the average.
- Consider post-bacc programs — additional strong grades dilute the impact of earlier poor ones.
- Use our tools to model different scenarios before making decisions.
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