Am I even capable?

[FutureNPharm]

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Hey guys, after reading the many threads and posts on the SDN forum about high GPA's and the level of difficulty to get into a pharmacy school, I'm beginning to have doubts about pursuing a PharmD degree. Am I barking up the wrong tree?

First of all, a little backround on myself. I'm 28 years old (not getting any younger) and have been working in dead end jobs since I graduated college, with no pharmacy experience. I don't have the greatest stat's as I graduated back in 2003 with a degree in biology at a subpar university. My cumulative GPA since I graduated is a 2.7 (with a lot of drops and withdrawals) and I had a hard time taking more than 13 hours of a heavy science course load back as a undergrad. Granted, I was going through some problems in my personal life which was not diagnosed until later in college, but it dealt with anxiety issues (diagnosed with an anxiety disorder), especially when I would study for my classes!!! Since then, I've been taking the remaining pre-req's (Organic Chem, Calc, Stats and Econ), but had a hard of time of being committed and dropping them due to lack of effort and not being motivated enough to do well. I would be passing them, but not enough for an A and I would get discouraged and just drop them.

Finally, last semester, I took only two classes (Stats and Econ) and made A's in both and I'm planning to take Organic I and Calculus this semester, while preparing for the PCAT. I know I need to do extremely well in these remaining classes if I have any shot in getting into pharmacy school, but maybe I was never meant to be in professional school? I've been born and raised around medical professionals, most doctors (including my father), and I never really imagined doing anything else outside of a health career. Also, I started thinking about pharmacy when a family friend, who was an associate professor of the school of pharmacy here, started talking to me about the great opportunities as a pharmacist and that he would "give me a good word" if I did apply. So, yeah, I may have a "connection" thing going, but I don't want to take someone else's seat because of that type of connection (especially with all the hard work that entails in being accepted).

Also, I know a few friends and acquaintances who got accepted to pharmacy schools, and they are always complaining about how much work they have to do and all the studying involved as P1's and P2's. So I think to myself, if these good students (did well as undergrads....3.5 GPA and up) are having trouble in pharmacy school, how could I ever survive in that environment?

Some people aren't cut out to make it academically in a rigorous professional environment. So, should I reconsider doing something else? ANY suggestions and feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Rumplestiltazepam]

Hey guys, after reading the many threads and posts on the SDN forum about high GPA's and the level of difficulty to get into a pharmacy school, I'm beginning to have doubts about pursuing a PharmD degree. Am I barking up the wrong tree?

First of all, a little backround on myself. I'm 28 years old (not getting any younger) and have been working in dead end jobs since I graduated college, with no pharmacy experience. I don't have the greatest stat's as I graduated back in 2003 with a degree in biology at a subpar university. My cumulative GPA since I graduated is a 2.7 (with a lot of drops and withdrawals) and I had a hard time taking more than 13 hours of a heavy science course load back as a undergrad. Granted, I was going through some problems in my personal life which was not diagnosed until later in college, but it dealt with anxiety issues (diagnosed with an anxiety disorder), especially when I would study for my classes!!! Since then, I've been taking the remaining pre-req's (Organic Chem, Calc, Stats and Econ), but had a hard of time of being committed and dropping them due to lack of effort and not being motivated enough to do well. I would be passing them, but not enough for an A and I would get discouraged and just drop them.

Finally, last semester, I took only two classes (Stats and Econ) and made A's in both and I'm planning to take Organic I and Calculus this semester, while preparing for the PCAT. I know I need to do extremely well in these remaining classes if I have any shot in getting into pharmacy school, but maybe I was never meant to be in professional school? I've been born and raised around medical professionals, most doctors (including my father), and I never really imagined doing anything else outside of a health career. Also, I started thinking about pharmacy when a family friend, who was an associate professor of the school of pharmacy here, started talking to me about the great opportunities as a pharmacist and that he would "give me a good word" if I did apply. So, yeah, I may have a "connection" thing going, but I don't want to take someone else's seat because of that type of connection (especially with all the hard work that entails in being accepted).

Also, I know a few friends and acquaintances who got accepted to pharmacy schools, and they are always complaining about how much work they have to do and all the studying involved as P1's and P2's. So I think to myself, if these good students (did well as undergrads....3.5 GPA and up) are having trouble in pharmacy school, how could I ever survive in that environment?

Some people aren't cut out to make it academically in a rigorous professional environment. So, should I reconsider doing something else? ANY suggestions and feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

If you can not handle a few science courses, 16 credits or so then I would think pharmacy school would be very tough for you, but a alot could have changed since 2003. You could take a heavy load and see how you do this fall.
Don't feel bad about having a connection just be thankful you have one, 2.7 is on the very bottom end of what any pharmacy school accepts so you would probably need a pretty good connection especially with no pharmacy experience.
No one on here can really tell you if you can handle professional school but not being able to handle is something to consider.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

I have pretty bad untreated ADD, I'm lazy, I'm ****ing crazy, I'm a complete idiot, and I had a ****ty GPA upon application....yet here I stand, a few months from my degree. If I can do it, I'm fairly certain most other human beings could, too.

 

[CaliCPhT]

You should try to get accepted into a pharmacy program if that is what YOU want to do; not because someone said that it would be a good career with lots of opportunity. What good is it if you really don't like the work? I would suggest finishing the pre-reqs like you're doing and trying to get a job in a pharmacy. You might have to start as a clerk, but it's a start and it will give you opportunity to get the know the pharmacist and really get a feel for what they do day in and day out.

2.7 isn't horrible, but I'll agree with the other posters that it's at the very low end of the range that is considered. It sounds like you still have a few prerequisites left to take; and you may want to take a few more upper division science courses and really study hard to help bring up your GPA. It will show the adcoms that you are ready for this if your grades show. Also, if/when you get accepted into a pharmacy program, there will be no room for being committed halfway. You have to put yourself into it 100% to be successful. That's a lot of debt to take on if it's something that you're not going to commit yourself to or if it's a profession that you later decide is not for you. Best of luck to you! Feel free to PM me if you'd like to know more about where I'm coming from. 🙂

 

[OSUpharmy]

I know exactly what you are talking about, FutureNPharm. There was tons of doubt throughout my undergrad work. You keep on ploughing along though and you'll see yourself getting smarter and your work ethic getting fiercer. You may even go above and beyond your initial goal. Just keep praying and doing the best you can.

 

[SCCpharm]

I have had some pharmacists tell me that the hardest part of getting the PharmD degree is doing the undergrad/pre-req work. They have told me, once your in pharm school, its not that bad.

Also, if you are having problems with a high semester load, you may consider looking into schools that offer the "block curriculum". Basically what it is, is you only study one subject at a time. For example, in a block curriculum, you'll have pharmacology for 4 weeks straight and then after that you might have Drug Action for the next 2 weeks straight and so on. University of Southern Nevada offers this type of curriculum. Some others schools, as well.

I say if you have you're heart set on pharmacy, don't give up. You said you have a low GPA, so just start working hard now and concentrating and get the GPA up. Start working on making yourself look good on paper for the pharmacy admissions.

 

[FutureNPharm]

I appreciate the advice and constructive feedback from all of you. I was looking at my transcript from the university I graduated from and the community college that I'm going to right now to finish off the pre-req's and it looks horrible. Basically, there are a lot of F's and some W's for not going through with the classes and the F's are because I never bothered to drop the classes after I stopped attending. I only have four more classes of pre-req's left and even if I do well in them, how do you explain that to an admission committee? Obviously, I have a huge blemish in my academic record and a lack of improvement and progression. Even if I wanted to get SERIOUS now, my academic record still stands as is, right? I'm not sure what I'm needing to do anymore.

 

[rxlynn]

Also, if you are having problems with a high semester load, you may consider looking into schools that offer the "block curriculum". Basically what it is, is you only study one subject at a time. For example, in a block curriculum, you'll have pharmacology for 4 weeks straight and then after that you might have Drug Action for the next 2 weeks straight and so on. University of Southern Nevada offers this type of curriculum. Some others schools, as well.

yourself look good on paper for the pharmacy admissions.

Hm - I think I might respectfully disagree with this after going to a school with a modified block for a year. Yes, you only have one major class going on at any one particular time, but there's still some other things going on like early practice experiences, required volunteer work, etc. I think the block favors someone who is the type to study at least some most days of the week and really keep up with what's going on in your class. If you are somebody who likes to coast along until close to the test, you will really suffer on a block schedule (we typically have a major exam once a week in the block class). And, I have found that the block gives you very little time to go back over concepts you may have missed. If you get things mostly the first time, it's great. Not so good if you are struggling with something.

 

[Hels2007]

I will be brutally honest. As the things are now, you don't have a chance, because your track records shows the exact opposite of what a pharmacy school is looking for, which is ability to succeed in a rigorous academic environment and, more importantly, ability to stay on course when things get tough. It's not the Fs that are very off-putting, it's the Ws. Pharmacy school invests a lot in its students, and if they do not succeed, it hurts the reputation of the school. As simple as that. Pharmacists like to talk, and pharmacy is a small world. It never ceased to amaze me that at any pharmacy conference there are always a few people I don't know who have heard of me, and that just about anyone I speak with knows someone I know.

Does that mean you cannot be a pharmacist? Not at all. NOW you are not convincing me you will make a good candidate. Take a full load of courses for a couple semesters. Not to improve the GPA - that's a kindergartener's logic. To see whether the new and improved you can handle the load. If you can - then you will be able to come in full confidence to the admissions committee and show them that now you are a good candidate. If pharmacy is something you are passionate about, then by all means go ahead and try. If pharmacy is something you are thinking about because family is pushing you into healthcare, or you don't really know what to do and this seems like a respected, interesting and well-paying profession - then maybe not. Think hard - and good luck!

 

[FutureNPharm]

Thanks for the responses again. I only have four more pre-requisites to take in order to meet most pharmacy school requirements. I'm planning on taking Organic I and Calculus this fall and Organic II and Microbiology (retaking) in the spring. Albeit, with my track record, even if I did well (all A's is a must???) I may not be proving to anyone that I'm a good candidate for pharmacy school. So I was planning to work as a pharm tech for a year if I didn't get in next year and to reapply because I wouldn't be needing any more classes and would be gaining some valuable work experience. I've also thought about doing a postbac program, but that would be yet another year of courses and expensive. I'm already 28 years old, so I don't have that much time to waste anymore. What plan of action would you guys recommend? A part of me doesn't want to give up on the pharmacy school pathway and another part of me is just thinking about considering a vocational healthcare career like radiology tech or a sonographer. Someone even told me just today that I should consider a career as a pacemaker rep (they make up to 200,000 grand a year in some locations, but are often times on call) and that there aren't much requirements to get into that field. I'm getting to a point to where I'm frustrated with how my life has turned out (with the anxiety disorder screwing with me most of my college career) and I want to make something of myself, but I have a HUGE mountain to climb it seems. 🙁

 

[DieHardRX]

FutureNPharm

All I can say to you is DO NOT GIVE UP

You think you're in the worst position? Think again. I'm sure there are ppl. in worse position than you and I'm one of them.

Just so you know, i've been in college for 10 years and have thought of giving up on my career goal of pharmacy but i'm so GLAD i never did because although i'm not accepted yet I will have a chance this year or next year or the year after that.

I suggest you should transfer to a 4 year institution and obtain a B.S degree. Just taking courses to fulfill requirements is not going to do it. Yes, you meet the requirement. So what? You're not competitive enough. But if you're going full time at an university and getting a B.S, the chance of getting accepted is much higher. Besides, I don't think taking 1 year off is a very good idea. Sure, you would save some $ from working but you will never get back that year wasted.

Just a thought. good luck with everything

 

[mike36]

Pharmacy schools want to see that you are going to be able to handle a full course load. Yes, it is good to have pharmacy experience, but that only shows that you are interested in pharmacy. They need to see that you can handle their curriculum. My first semester of pharmacy school (I start next week!) is 16 hours of coursework, which includes 3 labs. Right now, you have not shown that you can handle something like that.

As people have already said, you really need to go full time for a few semesters. Instead of taking just a couple of classes this fall and spring, take a full load and see how it goes. If you get into a pharmacy program next year, that will be great. Otherwise, you can use the extra classes from this fall and spring to put toward a bachelor's degree. Just keep reapplying every year and continue taking classes to put toward a degree until you either finish the degree or are accepted.

Anyways, that's what I think. Best of luck to you. I hope whatever you do, it works out.

 

[FutureNPharm]

FutureNPharm

All I can say to you is DO NOT GIVE UP

You think you're in the worst position? Think again. I'm sure there are ppl. in worse position than you and I'm one of them.

Just so you know, i've been in college for 10 years and have thought of giving up on my career goal of pharmacy but i'm so GLAD i never did because although i'm not accepted yet I will have a chance this year or next year or the year after that.

I suggest you should transfer to a 4 year institution and obtain a B.S degree. Just taking courses to fulfill requirements is not going to do it. Yes, you meet the requirement. So what? You're not competitive enough. But if you're going full time at an university and getting a B.S, the chance of getting accepted is much higher. Besides, I don't think taking 1 year off is a very good idea. Sure, you would save some $ from working but you will never get back that year wasted.

Just a thought. good luck with everything

The only thing is that I already have a bachelor's in biology. So, I wouldn't be able to take any additional courses unless I repeat some of them. I'm finishing off my pre-req's for pharmacy school at a community college, so they don't really offer any higher level science courses like biochemistry and cell biology. As for this fall semester, I'm taking Calculus and Organic Chem I. I'm working part-time as well, so I'm needing all the time I can get to make the best grades possible on these two courses. Oh yeah, I also have to find the time to study for the PCAT too!!! S.O.S.

 

[ucftanaka08]

How did you do it?!

 

[lizzy972]

I know how you feel as well. I have had to retake 3 classes due to being pregnant and then ppdepression. It is very hard and I sometimes wonder if I am just spinning my wheels. I know this is really what I want to do and I am not sure what I will do if I get rejected. I am just going to do the best I can in my remaining classes and somehow do really well on the PCAT. Good luck to you and just do your best.