How do pharmacy schools calculate the composite score if u have takin > 1 PCAT

[futurpharmacis]

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How do pharmacy schools calculate the PCAT composite scores if you have taken more than one PCAT?

Say I got a 80 and 86 percentile on Biology and Chemistry and 4 percentile on reading comprehension, and 67 on verbal ability on the first PcaT BUT...

46 and 78 on bio and chem on the second PCAT and 70 and 90 on reading comprehension and verbal ability, respectively on the second PCAT.

Do pharmacy schools just take the highest subsection score from each PCAt, like 80 on bio, 86 on chem, 70 on reading, and 90 on verbal ability and then calulate a "new" composite score to be used for the admissions?

 

[holymolys]

in most cases they probably just look at all your pcats and go from there, i doubt they'll mix and match and give u a higher composite

 

[Maximum404]

This topic has been discussed at length in other threads. Each school does it differently. For example, VCU will take the best scores in each area between two tests and use that. You will usually have to contact the school to find this information as I have rarely found it on the school's website.

 

[delano2000]

Never heard of a school mixing or calculating their own composite score. More than likely they will look at both, if provided, and go with the higher composite scores. Not many schools focus on the individual scores. Like someone said, try contacting your schools of interest and find out their methods of action.

 

[Maximum404]

Never heard of a school mixing or calculating their own composite score. More than likely they will look at both, if provided, and go with the higher composite scores. Not many schools focus on the individual scores. Like someone said, try contacting your schools of interest and find out their methods of action.

There are a couple of schools that I have talked to that do an average or "best of", but these are by far in the minority.

 

[futurpharmacis]

Do you remember the name of the thread? I want to find it. Thanks.

This topic has been discussed at length in other threads. Each school does it differently. For example, VCU will take the best scores in each area between two tests and use that. You will usually have to contact the school to find this information as I have rarely found it on the school's website.

 

[Maximum404]

I don't, but a search came up with 3 threads pretty quickly discussing this very topic. All that I looked at came to the same resolution, call the school. I can't emphasize good communication with the schools you are applying to enough.

 

[erin0522]

How do pharmacy schools calculate the PCAT composite scores if you have taken more than one PCAT?

Say I got a 80 and 86 percentile on Biology and Chemistry and 4 percentile on reading comprehension, and 67 on verbal ability on the first PcaT BUT...

46 and 78 on bio and chem on the second PCAT and 70 and 90 on reading comprehension and verbal ability, respectively on the second PCAT.

Do pharmacy schools just take the highest subsection score from each PCAt, like 80 on bio, 86 on chem, 70 on reading, and 90 on verbal ability and then calulate a "new" composite score to be used for the admissions?

Did your Composite go down? What were they? I'm kind of in the same boat =/ I improved a lot on some, went down a lot on others, and my composite went down =/

 

[madavis1987]

Every school is different when it comes to the PCATs. At the University of Buffalo for instance, if a student takes the PCAT twice, the higher of the two scores is considered. If the PCAT is taken three or more times, the average of all the scores is considered. In addition, the University of Buffalo considers the Percentile Rank (not Scaled Scores). The sum of each item under the Percentile Rank (Verbal Ability, Biology, Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Ability, and Chemistry) determines the score (not the Composite Score).

Good luck with your applications!

-Michelle
UB PharmD Candidate 2013