accepted on first try

[pharm1288]

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Hello everyone, I was just wondering is it very likely for students to get into pharmacy school on their first try? (right out of prepharm) The reason being, it seems like my friends will definetly get in and they see not getting accepted for fall 2009 admission (their first chance to apply to the professional program) as the end of the world. It seems like some take 2-3 years to finally get into pharmacy school?

 

[mike36]

Hello everyone, I was just wondering is it very likely for students to get into pharmacy school on their first try? (right out of prepharm) The reason being, it seems like my friends will definetly get in and they see not getting accepted for fall 2009 admission (their first chance to apply to the professional program) as the end of the world. It seems like some take 2-3 years to finally get into pharmacy school?

Several in my class had to apply two or three times before they were accepted. It is definitely not the end of the world. It is a good idea to start working on a bachelor's degree. If you are rejected after two years of undergrad work, continue working on your bachelor's. The more upper division classes you have when you apply (assuming you make good grades), the better.

 

[aboveliquidice]

Hello everyone, I was just wondering is it very likely for students to get into pharmacy school on their first try? (right out of prepharm) The reason being, it seems like my friends will definetly get in and they see not getting accepted for fall 2009 admission (their first chance to apply to the professional program) as the end of the world. It seems like some take 2-3 years to finally get into pharmacy school?

It is certainly possible to be accepted your first time applying - but I dont think it matters if you have to reapply - and it definitely is not the end of the world. If you really want it - you'll get it - The timeline is irrelevant.

~above~

 

[pharmgrl5]

Just have a plan in place for what you'll do if you don't get accepted first try. I really think everyone needs that. For me I am very aware that I have an uphill battle I'm facing and so I know that I may not even get an interview first run around. It would be disappointing, sure, but not the end of all ends. My plan is pretty simple, continue in school and work towards a bachelor's. If I end up with that bachelor's before I am accepted then so be it. It seems like a ton of people being accepted these days have them anyway. I'm guessing your friends don't use this forum. If they did they would have the advantage of hearing from many, many people about their experiences. Coming here opened my eyes to a lot. I'm actually not beating myself up anymore, I know that not everyone is a stellar 4.0 with a 99 PCAT and has 10 years of pharm tech work and has perfect volunteering. Now that I know that, I can stop beating myself over the head about not being up to expectations. Your friends need to come here because it would probably help them learn a lot. 👍

 

[pharm1288]

^Your were right, they don't use this forum. Before joinging SDN, I always thoguht people either get in on their attempt or they just drop pharmacy alotgether and try a different major. I always thought it was so embarassing to not get in and have to apply again the next year. But coming here and reading about all the experiences has made me realize it doesn't matter if it takes a couple of years to get in, as long as I can become a pharmacist down the road. Thanks everybody! Quick question, If I don't get in and reapply to the same schools the next time around, do schools give me a disadvantage becuase they saw that I appplied and was rejected already?

 

[nerv12345]

play your cards right and you'll get in your first try

i got into multiple schools and my GPA isn't even that competative (3.2 cumulative, 76 pcat)

 

[pharm1288]

play your cards right and you'll get in your first try

i got into multiple schools and my GPA isn't even that competative (3.2 cumulative, 76 pcat)

If you don't mind me asking, what schools were they?

 

[Hels2007]

I would say that vast majority (over 66%) of students who are accepted are accepted on their first try.

 

[cybercerebral]

I don't think most students get in on the first try, I called the pharm school i wanted to go to before i had even taken 0rg chem and the school urged me to apply asap, even if i didnt have a pcat yet. So i think a lot of students apply before they even take their first pcat and complete all their pre reqs, so they end up not getting interviews because by the time their pcat score arrives and all that good stuff most people already got spots in the class.
So just keep improving and you will get in sooner or later.

 

[PharmD321]

I am sure anyone can get accepted in their first try but it is all about how well you do in your first 3 years or 4 years of college.

here are a couple things to do that I believe will get in your first time (this is the plan that I am doing right now)

1)Most important is grades: 3.5 gpa and better during the 3 years in the pre pharmacy program and you should have all the credits by the 3rd year (my school is 90 credit hours).
2)You should take the PCAT (Pharmacy College Acceptance Test) and have at least a solid passing grade. Also, you can use KAPLAN to study for PCAT.
3)you should have experience in the pharmacy setting like be a pharmacy Technician for at least one year and more. You should do the PTCE (pharmacy tech certification exam) so you can be certified.
4)volunteer and go abroad (go to africa or something and help the doctors or pharmacist there during the summer)

what else do you guys think would make a better candidate?

 

[TangInaGlass]

i'm also in the application process and I know that my GPA is not competitive, so I focus on other qualities that makes me stand out. There's really no time and I'm not loosing all that motivation to crying about my low scores. I tried my best and sometimes things happen in the middle of the way. Although I have low scores, I still can control my performance on my personal statement, LORs (finding the right people to ask), supplementals, and interview. If you're really passionate about it, it will show in your application. Some people are lucky, but I always believe that LUck is when preparation meets opportunity. Show that you're well rounded within the pharmacy field. Ask yourself what makes a good pharmacist.....then that's what you work towards to acheiving. Good luck!

I am sure anyone can get accepted in their first try but it is all about how well you do in your first 3 years or 4 years of college.

here are a couple things to do that I believe will get in your first time (this is the plan that I am doing right now)

1)Most important is grades: 3.5 gpa and better during the 3 years in the pre pharmacy program and you should have all the credits by the 3rd year (my school is 90 credit hours).
2)You should take the PCAT (Pharmacy College Acceptance Test) and have at least a solid passing grade. Also, you can use KAPLAN to study for PCAT.
3)you should have experience in the pharmacy setting like be a pharmacy Technician for at least one year and more. You should do the PTCE (pharmacy tech certification exam) so you can be certified.
4)volunteer and go abroad (go to africa or something and help the doctors or pharmacist there during the summer)

what else do you guys think would make a better candidate?

 

[pharm1288]

The thing is that I have just finished up the fiirst year of pre-pharm (my first yr of college) and I am applying for fall 2009 admission, which means that colleges will only have 1 yr of grades to base my acceptance by. Wouldn't colleges prefer to accept students who have already completed all their pre-requisities and then apply so that the have a better understand of where you stand, grade wise? I know we post our courses in progress and intented courses for the spring, but they still wouldn't know our grade until pretty late into the year, and by then spaces would already be filling up. Maybe I should clarify, when I said accepted on first try, I had meant those who got accepted right away after their 2 yrs of pre-pharm, if that makes any difference.

 

[UES Girl]

The thing is that I have just finished up the fiirst year of pre-pharm (my first yr of college) and I am applying for fall 2009 admission, which means that colleges will only have 1 yr of grades to base my acceptance by. Wouldn't colleges prefer to accept students who have already completed all their pre-requisities and then apply so that the have a better understand of where you stand, grade wise? I know we post our courses in progress and intented courses for the spring, but they still wouldn't know our grade until pretty late into the year, and by then spaces would already be filling up. Maybe I should clarify, when I said accepted on first try, I had meant those who got accepted right away after their 2 yrs of pre-pharm, if that makes any difference.

I am a bit confused about what are you asking: are you asking if colleges prefer applicants with more coursework and wondering whether or not you are at disadvantage having completed only a year of classes ?

 

[Schrutebeetfarm]

I think most of us apply before we are finished with all of the prereqs. The schools will interview/accept you on the condition that you pass and maintain good grades or else you will loose your spot. And there are MANY people ready to take your seat I'm sure.

Ideally everyone would apply after 1 year of prereqs, but it's not always possible for everyone to finish them all in 2 years.

 

[esrodems]

Here's my story I got into pharmacy school on my first try. I have a bachelors but it is in a totally unrelated field (French and International Relations). Not a single one of my pre-reqs for pharmacy school transferred from my first degree. Having said that I got accepted at two schools of pharmacy without them even seeing my Ochem I grade and they only saw my PCAT which was ok a 73 (only this high because I got 90s in the verbal sections, I had 50s in chem and math).
I did make pretty good grades in my math/science pre-reqs and once schools saw my Ochem grade, which was only, ok I got a B then I got more interviews. My point is that anyone can get into pharmacy school if they work hard enough and want it bad enough. My advice is to be flexible about your choice of schools and apply to at least ten and make sure you make yourself stand out in your essay. Also pharmacy experience is a must!

Good Luck guys I know you can do it!!