A Fatal EC?

[DaisyBell]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I am interested in becomming a pre-pharm major, but I had a few questions to ask:
I am currently envolved in a LGBT project that takes up a substantial amount of my time. However, I am not sure if it is something I would put down in my application since it has nothing to do with pharmacy and may offend some people...😳

(this question has nothing to do with pharmacy but if you could answer...) For this project, I may also potentialy publish a work. Should I use a penname or my real name?

Also, my school offers two versions of math and chemistry. One version is easier and for life science majors, while the other is for physical science majors. According to my school, they both satisfy pre-pharm requirements. Is it a good idea to switch to a life science major and take those classes, or will the harder physical science majors better prepare me for pharmacy? This university is highly ranked among public universities and I am afraid that the harder classes may drop my GPA.

 

[ageldred]

I am interested in becomming a pre-pharm major, but I had a few questions to ask:
I am currently envolved in a LGBT project that takes up a substantial amount of my time. However, I am not sure if it is something I would put down in my application since it has nothing to do with pharmacy and may offend some people...😳

(this question has nothing to do with pharmacy but if you could answer...) For this project, I may also potentialy publish a work. Should I use a penname or my real name?

That's a tough one. You may want to ask some pre-health advisors or other students in the organization their opinions. In my opinion, I think you should use your real name in your work, you'll want to receive credit for what you publish.

Also, my school offers two versions of math and chemistry. One version is easier and for life science majors, while the other is for physical science majors. According to my school, they both satisfy pre-pharm requirements. Is it a good idea to switch to a life science major and take those classes, or will the harder physical science majors better prepare me for pharmacy? This university is highly ranked among public universities and I am afraid that the harder classes may drop my GPA.

Usually the "easier" class does not qualify for pharm school admissions. In my state all the state universities have the same numbering system which makes it very easy to figure out what classes qualify.....I would recommend surfing over to the admissions websites and see what they require. Also if you're still unsure call them up and ask! Better to find out before you take the classes. Best of luck.

 

[eelo]

I am interested in becomming a pre-pharm major, but I had a few questions to ask:
I am currently envolved in a LGBT project that takes up a substantial amount of my time. However, I am not sure if it is something I would put down in my application since it has nothing to do with pharmacy and may offend some people...😳

(this question has nothing to do with pharmacy but if you could answer...) For this project, I may also potentialy publish a work. Should I use a penname or my real name?

Okay, this is totally my opinion........

I think that if you're going to a relatively large, state-supported public school, your political/social connections to the LGBT organization will have litle or no bearing. If you publish something, I agree it should be under your name. It appears you are aware of any potential controversy, so I would caution you to be assertive rather than aggressive, strong but not militant. ;-)

On the other hand- if you are applying to one of the church-supported schools or to U of Appalachia or any other equally remote location, I believe your LGBT work may be a hindrance to admission. Surely you are aware of the ways people percieve these issues, and you know it's futile at this point to debate the rightness or wrongness of that.... it just is what it is.

Congrats on the publication!

 

[twester]

If it were me, I'd talk about it. If you can talk about it in such a way as to make yourself a stronger applicant and to show how it will relate to your abilities to learn and practice pharmacy, I think it can only help.

 

[evilolive]

It's definitely a valuable extra-curricular that can make you stand out in interviews; it shows a particular passion and another side to who you are. This is, of course, if you apply to a school that has sexual orientation under its non-discrimination policies. My friend used the LGBT as one of her major focuses in her application/interviews and she was accepted to some of the finest medical schools.

 

[StringTheorist]

I included it in mine and i was fine. it might depend on where you apply. i didn't even think it would offend anyone or lessen my chances until weeks later, but i didn't regret it. it just shows i have dedication to a cause.

 

[Rumplestiltazepam]

I am interested in becomming a pre-pharm major, but I had a few questions to ask:
I am currently envolved in a LGBT project that takes up a substantial amount of my time. However, I am not sure if it is something I would put down in my application since it has nothing to do with pharmacy and may offend some people...😳

(this question has nothing to do with pharmacy but if you could answer...) For this project, I may also potentialy publish a work. Should I use a penname or my real name?

Also, my school offers two versions of math and chemistry. One version is easier and for life science majors, while the other is for physical science majors. According to my school, they both satisfy pre-pharm requirements. Is it a good idea to switch to a life science major and take those classes, or will the harder physical science majors better prepare me for pharmacy? This university is highly ranked among public universities and I am afraid that the harder classes may drop my GPA.

I think you have to ask yourself, would you want to attend a Pharmacy School that discriminated against individuals that participated in LGBT. If your answer is no you would not want to attend such a school then by all means put it on your app.

 

[Knickerbocker]

I am interested in becomming a pre-pharm major, but I had a few questions to ask:
I am currently envolved in a LGBT project that takes up a substantial amount of my time. However, I am not sure if it is something I would put down in my application since it has nothing to do with pharmacy and may offend some people...😳

You just answered it. I would never put down anything related to sexuality or religion. People aren't supposed to discriminate, but they will, and you can't prove that they did.

Never give out any personal information on such topics, unless you absolutely have to. I cringe when I have to use my mother's maiden name because, deep down, I wonder if I will be added to any special "watch this guy" lists.

 

[dt30]

Hi,

Thanks for posing that question; I think it’s a good one, and one that I’ve been debating. First off I’d say definitely use your real name on a publication since that is always a good thing to have in my opinion.

I have similar work that I was initially debating putting on my applications and have had a lot of discussions with friends and others in who are currently in medical school over this. I feel like the work is important (mine involved designing and facilitating a community LGBT youth group for four years focusing on at-risk youth and working with local school groups to increase awareness of LGBT issues)..

In the end I decided to mention it in the EC’s in a relatively subtle way (though how subtle can it really be?). At the same for certain programs/schools I’m discussing it in a more detailed way in the supplementals where I think it will be appreciated, or viewed as positive community involvement.

I definitely agree with one posters comment that I wouldn’t want to attend a program that has some type of discrimination associated with their admissions process; so if mentioning this type of work somehow precludes me from their school, it’s probably a good thing in the long run, and it would make me question the legitimacy of their program turning out graduates really prepared to provide benefit to all people/patients..

 

[eelo]

I definitely agree with one posters comment that I wouldn’t want to attend a program that has some type of discrimination associated with their admissions process; so if mentioning this type of work somehow precludes me from their school, it’s probably a good thing in the long run, and it would make me question the legitimacy of their program turning out graduates really prepared to provide benefit to all people/patients..

That was my comment, and I think you're being a little unfair. Private schools (because realistically, we are talking abut privates here) have the right to design their curriculum in any way they see fit; whatever they do with the 'extra' stuff outside the requirements for the professional degree are entirely up to them. If you don't like it, don't go to that school (that's pretty simple), but I don't think it's right to jump to the conclusion that their graduates are any less prepared to face the world and provide benefit to all people/patients.

Discrimination happens. Sometimes it's illegal, sometimes it's not.

 

[omnione]

I was accepted into Creighton's pharmacy school, and I wouldn't have put down any involvement with GLBT groups had I been a part of one.

We don't live in a world with a vacuum devoid of discrimination and bigotry. I'm not implying that all or any private schools that are church-based have these issues, but you'll never know if that was the cause of your rejection. Even public schools aren't necessarily immune to discrimination either.

 

[shaun009]

I was accepted into Creighton's pharmacy school, and I wouldn't have put down any involvement with GLBT groups had I been a part of one.

We don't live in a world with a vacuum devoid of discrimination and bigotry. I'm not implying that all or any private schools that are church-based have these issues, but you'll never know if that was the cause of your rejection. Even public schools aren't necessarily immune to discrimination either.

well said...