advice please

[daonlydann]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

ok, i know you guys get these a lot, but hopefully you can give me some input.

i'm going to be a 3rd year student at the university of california irvine. i want to apply to pharmacy school this yr w/o finishing my bachelors degree. Do you think this is a good idea and what are my chances?

stats;

3.5 gpa
currently working as pharm tech for 3 months
total 1 yr exp in a pharmacy
thats it.

i really want to get into pharmacy school now so i dont have to squander 1 yr in undergrad; on the other hand, my chances are very slim so im not sure i want to spend the time, energy, effort in applying, its really draining. also, would there be a big advantage in sticking around and getting my bachelors in biology, which everyone seems to have these days. i would go to any school that accepts me. thanks.

 

[acetyl]

If you want to do it, then do it.

If it's draining, then either rise up or don't do it.

Therefore, you need to figure out what it is that YOU want to do, then do it.
I don't necessarily think having the Bachelor's degree is that big of an advantage, however, if you are not accepted into the professional program it does keep some doors open that would otherwise be closed. If you have the money to apply, I would definetly get an application in and see what it's all about. If you're still not sure, and strapped for cash, then I would reevaluate the situation and think about other things to do.

Just my two pennies. Hope it helps.

 

[38ctk]

Hey,

I would try applying now. My philosophy is to get things done asap. Aside from the money issue....there are great benefits in applying now: finishing 1 year early OR if you don't get in this year...its not that big of a deal because you can then get your bachelors. however. if you do get an interview ...DO NOT TELL THE INTERVIEWER THAT YOU ARE NOT PLANNING ON FINISHING YOUR BACHELORS.

There are many students in my class that do not have a bachelors. Myself included

ok, i know you guys get these a lot, but hopefully you can give me some input.

i'm going to be a 3rd year student at the university of california irvine. i want to apply to pharmacy school this yr w/o finishing my bachelors degree. Do you think this is a good idea and what are my chances?

stats;

3.5 gpa
currently working as pharm tech for 3 months
total 1 yr exp in a pharmacy
thats it.

i really want to get into pharmacy school now so i dont have to squander 1 yr in undergrad; on the other hand, my chances are very slim so im not sure i want to spend the time, energy, effort in applying, its really draining. also, would there be a big advantage in sticking around and getting my bachelors in biology, which everyone seems to have these days. i would go to any school that accepts me. thanks.

 

[Pharm47]

ok, i know you guys get these a lot, but hopefully you can give me some input.

i'm going to be a 3rd year student at the university of california irvine. i want to apply to pharmacy school this yr w/o finishing my bachelors degree. Do you think this is a good idea and what are my chances?

stats;

3.5 gpa
currently working as pharm tech for 3 months
total 1 yr exp in a pharmacy
thats it.

i really want to get into pharmacy school now so i dont have to squander 1 yr in undergrad; on the other hand, my chances are very slim so im not sure i want to spend the time, energy, effort in applying, its really draining. also, would there be a big advantage in sticking around and getting my bachelors in biology, which everyone seems to have these days. i would go to any school that accepts me. thanks.

Personally, I don't consider the time spent getting a bachelor's "squandered," but hey, that's just me. You can lose everything in life, but no one can take away your education.

 

[tdkneo]

ok, i know you guys get these a lot, but hopefully you can give me some input.

i'm going to be a 3rd year student at the university of california irvine. i want to apply to pharmacy school this yr w/o finishing my bachelors degree. Do you think this is a good idea and what are my chances?

stats;

3.5 gpa
currently working as pharm tech for 3 months
total 1 yr exp in a pharmacy
thats it.

i really want to get into pharmacy school now so i dont have to squander 1 yr in undergrad; on the other hand, my chances are very slim so im not sure i want to spend the time, energy, effort in applying, its really draining. also, would there be a big advantage in sticking around and getting my bachelors in biology, which everyone seems to have these days. i would go to any school that accepts me. thanks.

if you think youre ready to apply, then go for it..........but with a bs under your belt, you have a better chance of getting in............so if you apply now and no results, finish your degree and apply again........

 

[azncheri77]

I think you should apply if you have the money since you are sure you want to do pharmacy, and if you don't get in, just finish up with your B.S. degree 😀

 

[AnnaLIU2010]

The more drained you are the better. It means your doing more to make your application better. My opinion, as long as you have all the pre-reqs then you are set. Getting a bachelors may not necessarily improve your chances. Although if some of your grades are bad, I wouldn't really recommend re-taking classes. Instead, I would take harder and more advanced classes, and do better in those. Unless you already have taken your pre-reqs and you are not happy with the grades then I suggest finishing up the advanced classes and doing better in those, if not then apply with what you have and wish for the best.

Love Anna

 

[AnnaLIU2010]

PS. If you are not willing to risk the energy spent on applying then you don't want to go to pharmacy school. In order to find a treasure you must look for it very hard until you find it, without the promise that it will be in your hands just because you have looked for it. If you really want to find that treasure you must treat this goal as a passion, a journey. Is this something you really want. If it is, you will get your treasure. If you give up you will not. Keep positive, I am sure there are plenty of those who will give up. Stay strong and you will get it.

 

[Utterdevotion]

Hey,

I would try applying now. My philosophy is to get things done asap. Aside from the money issue....there are great benefits in applying now: finishing 1 year early OR if you don't get in this year...its not that big of a deal because you can then get your bachelors. however. if you do get an interview ...DO NOT TELL THE INTERVIEWER THAT YOU ARE NOT PLANNING ON FINISHING YOUR BACHELORS.

There are many students in my class that do not have a bachelors. Myself included

I'm in the same boat, I'll be a junior in the fall. I went back and forth on this decision because I'm a perfectionist and I want the best chances I can get. But at the same time I sometimes feel that I'm wasting my time in classes that have nothing to do w/ pharmacy.
I can't really explain why I ended up deciding that I would risk it and apply this year. But I also have faith that if I have as much passion and love for pharmacy as I do, that I'll make it. You should have confidence in yourself too!! Think of it this way, if not this year, then the experience of your failures will make the year after a possible.

I've taken my PCATs in june and working on my apps now. 🙂

Good luck!!

Hey 38ctk,
why would you not tell the interviewers you aren't going to finish your bachelor's? Wouldn't it be obvious if you are a junior and applying...?

 

[Scrubs Fan]

I was in a similar position to you and I was also at UCI. At first I was just going to take the pre reqs for pharm school, but when i looked at the classes i needed to take, and the bio degree, it ended up being like 4 or 6 bio classes to finish off the bio degree. In my opinion, i felt it was important for me to get the bio degree, just because I put in all the time, and if i'm so close to finishing the degree, then I thought I should. But that's just my two cents.

But i understand you not wanting to be at UCI another year. The campus is really boring now w/ the student center under construction. Everytime i come back, there's something else that bothers me about the campus, like Cornerstone being gone too.

So for me, I would want to get my Bachelors. But if you think you can get in a pharm school, then by all means apply. If there are classes that you need to take as pre reqs still, and won't be done by the start of next fall then maybe stay in school for another year. Or if there are other things you want/need to do to better yourself as an applicant, like do research with a prof.
Apply now, and if you don't get in, finish your bachelors and try it again.