I have no biology experience.

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I'm a senior in high school and I want to take the PCAT, but I haven't taken any biology courses.

I want to take the PCAT in september, what biology materials would you recommend?

I think you need a lot more than biology in order to do well in pcat...

You're a senior in high school, but haven't taken biology yet? Does your school curriculum not require biology or something?

But anyways, your best bet would be the Kaplan 2012-2013 PCAT prep book AKA the "big bio book." The stuff covered is more in-depth than the PCAT itself but it's great stuff nonetheless. Besides, it's better to be over-prepared than under-prepared.

I think you're trying to take the PCAT way too early. I recommend at least a year of college completing pharmacy pre-reqs (that would be Bio 1 and 2 in the first year of school) before you attempt the PCAT for the first time.

K, well I'm going into university. I just finished high school. (going to do 1 year of university before applying to PharmSchool)

I have taken a plethora of AP/IB/SAT Subject tests and I can basically go into university with 1-2 years ahead.

My high school never required biology courses, and I never bothered to take it. I will have to take the PCAT in Sept or Jan in order to apply next year. So, best case scenario, I can only take 1 bio class before the Jan date.

You are setting yourself up for failure if you plan on taking the PCAT this year..

You need to have taken not JUST biology but Anatomy & physiology and have some knowledge on microbiology.

Plus - have you taken any chemistry courses?!

Oh no
I'm entering first year in sept, so I HAVE to take the PCAT in either Sept. or Jan. if I want to apply for next year.

Yes, and I took AP Chem, IB Chem SL, and SAT subject test in Chem with maximum scores in all.

Is it possible to cram all the bio from now to Jan? (plus, I'll be taking an intro bio before Jan.)

I'm assuming you are starting college this September and you want to apply starting July 2013. You should take your pcat either July or September of 2013 WHILE OR AFTER YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION. What's the rush? You don't get to select which pcat to submit with your app if you do bad. Schools see everything on your record.

^Yes, I am starting college Sept 2012. However, if I want to apply and hopefully get accepted to pharm school to start in Sept 2013, I need either the sept 2012 test or Jan 2013 test date to apply.

The school will NOT accept the PCAT affect or while submiting applications.

The July 2013 test dates and so on will not be accepted.

Originally Posted by nanared

K, well I'm going into university. I just finished high school. (going to do 1 year of university before applying to PharmSchool)

I have taken a plethora of AP/IB/SAT Subject tests and I can basically go into university with 1-2 years ahead.

My high school never required biology courses, and I never bothered to take it. I will have to take the PCAT in Sept or Jan in order to apply next year. So, best case scenario, I can only take 1 bio class before the Jan date.

As I missing something here? Pharmacy school has pre-req courses you need to complete that can't be done in one year. I don't see how you can get into pharm school after one year unless you were doing a 0-6 program out of high school.

I don't understand why you'd even bother to waste your $ on the PCAT exam if you have not taken several college level biology and chemistry courses.

Well, I have a lot (and I mean a lot) of credits. I am basically finishing all my prereqs through credit and the courses I will take in first year.

Again, I'm not worried about chem. I only need biology help.

Definitely complete an A&P sequence prior to taking the PCAT. It comprised a large section of biology, as I remember.

You will likely do poorly without the adequate preparation. What's the rush? Take at least one semester of college classes (relevant to pharm school), then take the PCAT.

Originally Posted by nanared

Well, I have a lot (and I mean a lot) of credits. I am basically finishing all my prereqs through credit and the courses I will take in first year.

Again, I'm not worried about chem. I only need biology help.

I get what you're saying and I would sign up for a January PCAT date. This will give you time to digest some biology. Take Biology 1 in the fall. While taking this course, talk with your professor and ask for a departmental bio 2 syllabus. Buy that book, use http://www.khanacademy.org/, whatever you need to do to study that course as well (at the same time). It will be a lot of info, but this is your only bet here before Jan.

However, people accepted after two years of college or less are rare and must stand out to adcoms to even get an interview. You sound like you stand out, but you have to remember there's a lot the adcoms will be thinking about....Are you ready for graduate school after only a year in college? Are you mature enough at such a young age? (professional, they'll sense this in the interview) etc. For example, at one of my interviews, I heard an interviewer telling a applicant that she should finish college (she applied after 2 years) and get a bachelors. This applicant from what I was hearing had great stats, up there with mine, but I guess the interviewer felt she wasn't ready.

What about letters of recommendation or extra curricular activities? Do you have those squared away? There's a lot to the application process, and I feel after only one year of college you'll be rushed to throw together an application that would most likely be silver compared to the golden one you'd turn in if you spent two years in undergrad making those connections and getting fantastic letters of recommendation. What about pharmacy experience or shadowing a pharmacist, doctor, etc? A lot to think about. Good luck to ya.

^Ok, thanks for the advice.

Well, maybe I've confused you all, but I'm a Canadian student from Ontario. (I did take the SAT subject tests but decided not to go to US because it was simply too expensive)

Anyways, I will be going into U of T and hoping to get into UBC pharmacy.

I'm not sure, but it appears that many applicants from UBC have not completed a bachelors and apply to pharm. after 1st year. And yes, I do know my chances are much lower because I'm out of province.

Originally Posted by nanared

Well, I have a lot (and I mean a lot) of credits. I am basically finishing all my prereqs through credit and the courses I will take in first year.

Again, I'm not worried about chem. I only need biology help.

There is a vast information of biology you need to know...I wouldn't take the pcat until sopho-jr yr in collage at least, imo.

I'm taking the PCAT in 10 days. Under my belt bio courses I have:

Human Structure and Function
Cell Biology
Microbiology
Genetics
Immunology
Anatomy&Physiology I

You also need to make sure the pharmacy school(s) you are looking into accept ap courses.