1st BS GPA low..Masters or second BS?

Started by sab818
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sab818

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My BS in biological sciences yielded a low GPA of 2.88. I had a child my junior year and he was very sickly so motherhood took precedence over my studying. Typically I held a 3.3-3.4 GPA each semester before then. In 2006 I went back to school for two semesters taking upper level science courses and a stats course to show my coursework capabilities. Both semesters I received a 4.0. When I applied to pharmacy school last year I was rejected and I am guessing it was my grades from my primary institution. Since my rejection I've been actively seeking an alternate route so that I can get accepted into pharmacy school. Recently I was accepted into an online PSM (Professional Science Master's) program in Integrative Pharmacology. I was hoping this would help me but many advised I not do this program because this degree is still relatively new and questionable. As a result, I didn't enroll and I've been looking into MPH programs with Health Policy and Hospital Administration concentrations, Masters in Pharmacology or get certified as a Medical Technologist in a hospital based program and receive a second B.S. I am so confused. Which way should I go? I am 29 years old and have taken routes that obviously haven't benefited my entrance into pharmacy school. Recently, my first scientific paper was published and I'm the second author. I'm a science guru with physiology and pharmacology being my areas of interest in the medical field. Am I pursuing the right profession? If so, please advise on how I can survice my noncompetitive GPA and enter into this field. Clinical Pharmacy seem to be the area of pharmacy that would cover these areas. I have always thought that PharmD was a versatile degree therefore, I wouldn't be restricted to just "pharmacy" if I grew tired.
 
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did you take your pcat? if so, what were your score? That is probably what 80% of pharmacy schools care about and how much experience you have in the field (could be pharmacy tech).
 
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Yes I took it as a diagnostic tool like my pre-pharm advisor advised me to. The school I applied to doesnt' require PCAT. I scored horribly overall and did fairly well in the Biology section. I have almost two years pharmacy tech experience. I was working in a hospital pharmacy when I applied. I also called the school to find out why I wasn't accepted and they gave me the run around. I'm preparing for the PCAT now to increase my chances but was wondering if I need to go back and get one of those degrees so I wouldn't waste anymore time.
 
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what was your pcat? if your pcat was somewhat ok, you should be able to get into a pharm school, now it's just a question of it matters which pharm school. i've heard of people with less experience get in..

sab818 said:
Yes I took it as a diagnostic tool like my pre-pharm advisor advised me to. The school I applied to doesnt' require PCAT. I scored horribly overall and did fairly well in the Biology section. I have almost two years pharmacy tech experience. I was working in a hospital pharmacy when I applied. I also called the school to find out why I wasn't accepted and they gave me the run around. I'm preparing for the PCAT now to increase my chances but was wondering if I need to go back and get one of those degrees so I wouldn't waste anymore time.
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To be honest the other routes may be benificial for some programs and useless for others. Most schools use the Pcat as a primary filter of applicants, with exceptions made in applicats with extrodinary stregths in other areas. Pharmcas scores can go-up especially in the portions other than reading comp(Takes long time to change reading and thought process). Getting a master is impressive and shows your ability to handle upper level classes, but the workload in terms of number of classes per semester are usually low(PharmD programs average 15-17hrs per semester5-6classes). A second degree will allow you to add more 4.0s to your transcript increasing cum GPA and demonstrate deversity, but poor previous grades, may jump off the application page. Personally, I would retake those identical courses as a full-time student. Check to be certain, but they will usually average the grades with a upper limit(cannot get an A). It creates less variables, and your job easier when describing the effect of your child's illness, when they can look and see that you can ace the same classes with that variable removed. I should have said this first- Know the miniaml requiremnts, because programs will not accept an application on something that is trivial to the student, but paramount to the program(ie. statistics, macroeconomics course). I don't know your personal situation, but if you are completely willing to relocate, can afford to apply to many schools the right combo of traditional and new programs will take notice of you with no or very little changes. Go http://www.aacp.org/ and compare yourself to other successful applicants in order to make an informed decision.
 
When I went back in 2006-2007 I took Biochem II, Anatomy, Physiology, Statistics, Microeconomics, Toxicology. Microeconomics and Anatomy was taken in the same semester and the other upper level science courses were all taken in spring 2006. I retook organic while getting my BS in biological sciences and got a B the second time in organic I and a C in organic II. I retook Cell Physiology and Genetics before I graduated as well and received a B in both courses. Basically, I retook everything I scored poorly in before I graduated the first time. Should I redo the last two years (pre-reqs only) or just go after a grad degree? Sounds like I need to focus on the PCAT since I didn't study the first time, I just took it to see what areas I needed work in.
 
When this has been discussed before on here, most people recommend concentrating on getting your GPA up and not getting a masters. A masters degree is more likely to bring your GPA down than bring it up. Schools are typically more interested in your pre-reqs than graduate level courses.

Schools that don't require the PCAT can only base their initial decisions on GPA, which puts anyone with a low GPA at a great disadvantage. Definitely rock the PCAT to make up for the lower GPA and don't apply to schools that don't consider PCAT scores. Honestly you have an amazing app except for that GPA. Having experience is awesome, and publishing really will make you stand out! Writing a good personal statement will also really help.

From reading your post, it sounds like you might be more interested in research. If that is the case, you should probably pursue a Ph.D. rather than a PharmD. Or you could think about applying to PharmD/PhD programs.
 
sab818 said:
My BS in biological sciences yielded a low GPA of 2.88. I had a child my junior year and he was very sickly so motherhood took precedence over my studying. Typically I held a 3.3-3.4 GPA each semester before then. In 2006 I went back to school for two semesters taking upper level science courses and a stats course to show my coursework capabilities. Both semesters I received a 4.0. When I applied to pharmacy school last year I was rejected and I am guessing it was my grades from my primary institution. Since my rejection I've been actively seeking an alternate route so that I can get accepted into pharmacy school. Recently I was accepted into an online PSM (Professional Science Master's) program in Integrative Pharmacology. I was hoping this would help me but many advised I not do this program because this degree is still relatively new and questionable. As a result, I didn't enroll and I've been looking into MPH programs with Health Policy and Hospital Administration concentrations, Masters in Pharmacology or get certified as a Medical Technologist in a hospital based program and receive a second B.S. I am so confused. Which way should I go? I am 29 years old and have taken routes that obviously haven't benefited my entrance into pharmacy school. Recently, my first scientific paper was published and I'm the second author. I'm a science guru with physiology and pharmacology being my areas of interest in the medical field. Am I pursuing the right profession? If so, please advise on how I can survice my noncompetitive GPA and enter into this field. Clinical Pharmacy seem to be the area of pharmacy that would cover these areas. I have always thought that PharmD was a versatile degree therefore, I wouldn't be restricted to just "pharmacy" if I grew tired.
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Hey I just quickly read over your post... but if you are deciding between another BA or BS OR a masters degree i would recommend going for another bachlors or atleast retaking all of the courses that you did poorly in. The reason is that when I attended USC pharmacy school's info session the lady told us specifically that they will not be looking at any master's courses/grades... ONLY undergrad. I would check with the other schools that you are interested in applying to because they might have a similar situation. BEST OF LUCK... but I think the best advice i could give you is to retake courses that you did poorly in (because it will raise you cum and sci GPAs when pharmcas is calculating them, AND when you list the courses in the supplemental section of each application you could list the HIGHER grade... in fact some schools allow you to not only list the higher grade but also mention that its a retake and they will take out the lower grade from your GPA and recalculate everything). Hope i wasn't confusing... if you have any questions feel free to send me a private message.... oh and DON'T GIVE UP! :luck:
 
Hi,
A couple comments about professional science master's (PSM) degree programs before you dismiss pursuing the online program:
1) PSM's have been around for 10 years
2) There are currently 2800 enrolled students and 2000 grads
3) 120 PSM's are offered at 60 universities with a 25% increase expected in the next 2 years
4) Employers are demanding PSM grads as each PSM program has its own employer advisory board
5) The employment rate of PSM grads is 93% - the other 7% are pursuing additional degrees
6) PSM grads earn at least $10,000 more per year than the average master's degree graduate
 
Yeah I saw all of these stats before I applied to the program. The thing that got me was the cost and the mere fact that the only placement was in MI. That's a bit far for me to move to. I was hoping to stay down south (TN, FL, GA, AR, LA, Carolina's). When I asked the coordinator for other job placements she didn't respond. As a result, I didn't enroll. $60K is a decent salary but I have 3 children and daycare up that way isn't cheap so it would be like $20k because all of my money would go to daycare and paying off student loans. I was intrigued by the depth of the program however, it was unfortunate I was unable to attend due to cost and limited employment placement.
 
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I think you should do masters and retake some courses that you didn't do well in. Make sure you find master's degree that can help you make decent living and at the same time apply to pharm schools; study what you are interested in not because it's a master's in pharmacology & that will bring you at least 70k per year. Doing 2nd bachelor's may be a waste of time because there are no guarantees.
 
I'm sure they will look at Master's degree b/c it goes into overall GPA. doing 2nd Bachelor's in a subject like biology and the like may not help her to make a living in case something does not work out. She has a kid to support.
shehsheh said:
Hey I just quickly read over your post... but if
you are deciding between another BA or BS OR a masters degree i would recommend going for another bachlors or atleast retaking all of the courses that you did poorly in. The reason is that when I attended USC pharmacy school's info session the lady told us specifically that they will not be looking at any master's courses/grades... ONLY undergrad. I would check with the other schools that you are interested in applying to because they might have a similar situation. BEST OF LUCK... but I think the best advice i could give you is to retake courses that you did poorly in (because it will raise you cum and sci GPAs when pharmcas is calculating them, AND when you list the courses in the supplemental section of each application you could list the HIGHER grade... in fact some schools allow you to not only list the higher grade but also mention that its a retake and they will take out the lower grade from your GPA and recalculate everything). Hope i wasn't confusing... if you have any questions feel free to send me a private message.... oh and DON'T GIVE UP! :luck:
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with a killer PCAT score a 2.88 may be sufficient to get you into Pharm School now. Whenever I get asked about going back to school to improve GPA, I ALWAYS suggest studying up for the PCAT, and getting as close to a 99 as possible! it also depends where you will be applying, if it's a PCAT school you still have a decent chance.


i had a 2.8, and a 99 pcat, and I got in😎
 
ruth265 said:
I think you should do masters and retake some courses that you didn't do well in. Make sure you find master's degree that can help you make decent living and at the same time apply to pharm schools; study what you are interested in not because it's a master's in pharmacology & that will bring you at least 70k per year. Doing 2nd bachelor's may be a waste of time because there are no guarantees.
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Yeah I know that UT Memphis favors Masters coursework but it's like you said what will it do for me just in case things don't go in my favor. I absolutely LOVE pharmacology, physiology, biochemistry and business administration with healthcare administration emphasis. I don't know maybe pursuing a PhD/MBA or PhD/MPH would be the alternate route. For now I think I should make the PCAT my number one priority since I've gone back for a year and took those science courses. As for everything I didn't do well on, I retook those courses before I graduated. I guess I should research the site on schools that have academic forgiveness.
 
PhD may take a long time but Master's will take about 2 yrs. If you like business do it. If you retook classes and did well in them you will be fine. In your case I don't think you need a 2nd BS. There are so many things that we like to study but unfortunately there is no time to study everything especially if you have a child to support. Make a clear plan and find out salaries that people make after they finish their master's degree in the area that interests you. I hope everything works out for you. Start taking one master's class perhaps through extension so you don't waste time

sab818 said:
Yeah I know that UT Memphis favors Masters coursework but it's like you said what will it do for me just in case things don't go in my favor. I absolutely LOVE pharmacology, physiology, biochemistry and business administration with healthcare administration emphasis. I don't know maybe pursuing a PhD/MBA or PhD/MPH would be the alternate route. For now I think I should make the PCAT my number one priority since I've gone back for a year and took those science courses. As for everything I didn't do well on, I retook those courses before I graduated. I guess I should research the site on schools that have academic forgiveness.
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im in her situation too, but i heard that many post bs or masters are for premed students to enhance their applications. i just wonder do they also enhance pharm applications because i looked over their programs, it seems like you take the same courses as medical students.
thank
 
id also like to know about this..

you dont hear too many people that completed a masters and apply to pharm (low success rate?...i dunno)
 
Something doesn't sound right.😕

You re-took all the pre-req science courses and your current GPA is 2.88 for those courses? Hmmm...I guess your school averages the two grades or maybe you did the re-takes after getting your degree.

Is there more to your story? Did you have interviews? Maybe you bombed those? Or are you saying you didn't even get to the point of interviewing?🙁

Can you consider pharm schools that have an academic forgiveness policy? I only know of one but there's got to be more out there!

University of Southern Nevada has it http://www.usn.edu/pharmacy/admissions-requirements

I'm in the same boat as you. I haven't even applied yet. Guess I might get another bac. degree in bio or chem.😳

And as you may have noticed, many or rather some people just wait until the following year and reapply.

Like I said, something isn't adding up. If you look at some of the pharm school admission stats like Western U you'll see that "average overall GPA is 3.38 and "average science GPA is 3.27".......😕 So for sure there must've been some students admitted w/ a 2.8 and that brought the stats down on the 4.0 ers.🙄


Would you mind telling us which schools you applied to?
 
The general consensus i’m seeing is its better to either get a 2nd bachelors or at least re-take courses to boost up my GPA! Does anyone have more info on getting 2nd bachelors? How does that work in terms of the class that I’d need to take? Would I have to re-take all the GE’s?
 
Pauligirl said:
Something doesn't sound right.😕

You re-took all the pre-req science courses and your current GPA is 2.88 for those courses? Hmmm...I guess your school averages the two grades or maybe you did the re-takes after getting your degree.

Is there more to your story? Did you have interviews? Maybe you bombed those? Or are you saying you didn't even get to the point of interviewing?🙁

Can you consider pharm schools that have an academic forgiveness policy? I only know of one but there's got to be more out there!

University of Southern Nevada has it http://www.usn.edu/pharmacy/admissions-requirements

I'm in the same boat as you. I haven't even applied yet. Guess I might get another bac. degree in bio or chem.😳

And as you may have noticed, many or rather some people just wait until the following year and reapply.

Like I said, something isn't adding up. If you look at some of the pharm school admission stats like Western U you'll see that "average overall GPA is 3.38 and "average science GPA is 3.27".......😕 So for sure there must've been some students admitted w/ a 2.8 and that brought the stats down on the 4.0 ers.🙄


Would you mind telling us which schools you applied to?
Click to expand...

My B.S. degree yielded a 2.88 GPA. After getting my degree, I worked for two years and went back to take courses that I didn't take as an undergrad as well as upper level sciences to show that I can handle the courseload and received a 4.0. I only applied to one school and they didn't require the PCAT. I thought I would get in having research experience and a publication and everything. Before I graduated in 2003 with my B.S. I retook EVERY science course I did poorly in and received B's. This is how my cum was 2.88. My semester GPA for those semesters was a 3.0.

No I didn't get to the interview point and when I called and asked they gave me the run around. I finally found out that they most accept in state students and high school students (0-6yr). There are very few slots for students such as myself. I've spoken with deans of other schools and they've advised me to just re-take all my pre-reqs at a community college because it's been longer than five years since I've had most of the courses and to apply to their schools. Two of the deans even did a transcript evaluation for me and told me EXACTLY what to do so I can get into their program.

Since I'm a non-traditional student with kids to feed, I'm going to get certified in a MT program first because this would be definitely a job I'd have to fall back on. It's only a year program and it covers clinical chemistry, immunology and microbiology and I'll take GCHem, OChem, and Phys at CommColl.
 
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they will only ask you to retake classes if you were out of school. even though it's more than 5 years and you were always in school they shouldn't ask you to retake classes.


sab818 said:
My B.S. degree yielded a 2.88 GPA. After getting my degree, I worked for two years and went back to take courses that I didn't take as an undergrad as well as upper level sciences to show that I can handle the courseload and received a 4.0. I only applied to one school and they didn't require the PCAT. I thought I would get in having research experience and a publication and everything. Before I graduated in 2003 with my B.S. I retook EVERY science course I did poorly in and received B's. This is how my cum was 2.88. My semester GPA for those semesters was a 3.0.

No I didn't get to the interview point and when I called and asked they gave me the run around. I finally found out that they most accept in state students and high school students (0-6yr). There are very few slots for students such as myself. I've spoken with deans of other schools and they've advised me to just re-take all my pre-reqs at a community college because it's been longer than five years since I've had most of the courses and to apply to their schools. Two of the deans even did a transcript evaluation for me and told me EXACTLY what to do so I can get into their program.

Since I'm a non-traditional student with kids to feed, I'm going to get certified in a MT program first because this would be definitely a job I'd have to fall back on. It's only a year program and it covers clinical chemistry, immunology and microbiology and I'll take GCHem, OChem, and Phys at CommColl.
Click to expand...
 
ruth265 said:
they will only ask you to retake classes if you were out of school. even though it's more than 5 years and you were always in school they shouldn't ask you to retake classes.
Click to expand...

Yeah I thought the same thing. When I went back in 06 I only took prereqs that I didn't take the first time I got my undergrad degree. I didn't retake anything because I did this before I graduated in 03. Only two schools suggested this. In fact, two other schools advised I just study really good for the PCAT and one school advised me to do a year's masters program because the give graduate work preference.
 
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