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I wanted to ask you guys what your opinion was on this matter.
Would you say it would be more beneficial to span out a bachelors degree to 5 years and end up with a marginally higher GPA with more experience, or to cram into 4 years and have a lower GPA with less experience.
I decided on Pharmacy mid sophomore year (now a junior). I feel as though I do not have enough time to prepare for the PCAT, sustain good relations with professors for LORs, and to gain more experience in the field. I am also a health sciences major, which means most pharmacy prereqs are not included in my major. At first, I decided to span out 5 years. But I felt guilty because of the amount of money my parents are spending/amount of loans I am taking out just for undergrad. My grades weren't great my freshman year, but once I decided I wanted to go to Pharmacy school, I haven't received a C yet. So it will still take lots of work to raise my GPA.
Also there's another concern that I can't even span my curriculum to 5 years, it would be 4.5 and I don't know what I should/would do in the remaining semester.
Am I just rushing myself? I don't want to rush the 4 years and end up not getting in. I know I will be more prepared after 5 years, but I feel like I just can't get myself into that non-traditional track. What are your opinions?
I was also thinking... If I do 5, I could get tech certified and work in a pharmacy since my class load would be less.
//edit - Sorry, I'm now just coming up with all of these ideas. If I were to do 5 years, I would have to make my class load lighter. Would pharmacy schools look down upon a 10-12 credit hour semester? If I were working part time and volunteering during that as well?
Thank you!
Would you say it would be more beneficial to span out a bachelors degree to 5 years and end up with a marginally higher GPA with more experience, or to cram into 4 years and have a lower GPA with less experience.
I decided on Pharmacy mid sophomore year (now a junior). I feel as though I do not have enough time to prepare for the PCAT, sustain good relations with professors for LORs, and to gain more experience in the field. I am also a health sciences major, which means most pharmacy prereqs are not included in my major. At first, I decided to span out 5 years. But I felt guilty because of the amount of money my parents are spending/amount of loans I am taking out just for undergrad. My grades weren't great my freshman year, but once I decided I wanted to go to Pharmacy school, I haven't received a C yet. So it will still take lots of work to raise my GPA.
Also there's another concern that I can't even span my curriculum to 5 years, it would be 4.5 and I don't know what I should/would do in the remaining semester.
Am I just rushing myself? I don't want to rush the 4 years and end up not getting in. I know I will be more prepared after 5 years, but I feel like I just can't get myself into that non-traditional track. What are your opinions?
I was also thinking... If I do 5, I could get tech certified and work in a pharmacy since my class load would be less.
//edit - Sorry, I'm now just coming up with all of these ideas. If I were to do 5 years, I would have to make my class load lighter. Would pharmacy schools look down upon a 10-12 credit hour semester? If I were working part time and volunteering during that as well?
Thank you!
