Applyin to only one school?

[Lady Tokimi]

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Has anyone done this??? I am only applyin to one pharmacy school....which is in my state. Do you think that the school will look at this in a negative way? or would they even look? any suggestions on what the school might make of it? Thanks

 

[txpharmdstud]

Has anyone done this??? I am only applyin to one pharmacy school....which is in my state. Do you think that the school will look at this in a negative way? or would they even look? any suggestions on what the school might make of it? Thanks

It depends. Do you have a 4.0 GPA and a 99 PCAT?

 

[bananaface]

It's always a risk just to apply to one school. Be ready to be asked what you'll do if you are not admitted.

 

[Jonno1288]

I did exactly what you did. I only applied to one school. Luckily, I got accepted. I'll admit, it's a big risk. But if you have good stats and definitely know your stuff you should have a decent chance of being accepted.

I had a 3.66 GPA, 95 PCAT (2nd time), and I thought my interview was all right. But like bananface said be sure you have a response in case they ask what your back up plan is. I wasn't asked that, but my friend was and she replied that "No matter what, she was going to go into pharmacy". Apparently they liked it, because she got accepted. But personally, I think she was the exception.

Good luck!

 

[All4MyDaughter]

I am a nontraditional student with a family, and I'm applying Early Decision to one school only (Kentucky). If I don't get in ED, I'll probably submit some other applications, but I will have to think carefully about where I apply because my family has some relocation issues. I might apply to the Creighton online program.

However, I really hope to get into Kentucky. I am in-state (90% of spots reserved for Kentuckians), have pretty good stats, etc. Plus I am old so I contribute to the "diversity factor"! I think I have a good shot but I am still going to have a plan B.

 

[okieRx]

I also have a family and work at a job that is paying for my tuition as long as I can work at least 30 hrs. a week. Therefore, applying to the the school in my city was the only option for me.

 

[Laferno]

I seriously doubt that schools look at how many other schools you applied to. However, it is entirely possible that they may ask you why you only applied to their school in an intreview, so be sure to have a damn good answer ready.

I personally only applied to one school and got accepted. But I only did that because I had a 99PCAT and a 3.78. Also, if I didnt get accepted then I could go to college on scholarship for another year and apply to a bunch of schools the next year.

 

[craziness824]

I also only applied to one school. It is a big risk, however, if you have good stats (mine were 3.79 and 88% PCAT) and feel that you can prove to them that you are a good candidate for their school then don't worry too much. I was limited by location, but I also had a plan B (working for a pharmaceutical company). I wasn't asked by Temple why I only applied to one school (I doubt they even knew) or why I even wanted to become a pharmacist (crazy, I know!) but definitely have answers to those questions. It does help if you hedge your bets and apply to numerous schools, but it can work out when you only one option available. Also look into how many applicants per spots the school has--that can make a big difference on your chances as well. Good luck!

 

[LBS615]

I applied to one school too and got in..PCAT 98, GPA 3.4 BS and MS degrees. If you have you heart set on only going to that school than do it- but it also maybe smart to have a back up. I was not in a position where I could move- nor did I want to- that was the only school I wanted to go to (there is another pharm school near me but I did not want to go there).

 

[kellia]

while i am glad to hear of success stories, i want to point out that it doesn't always work out that well... i, among others, did exactly that and did not get accepted the first time around. while i was bummed that i lost a year by applying to only one school, i got accepted to an accelerated program the second time around so it kind of made up for that lost time. if i were you, i would not take that risk. why not just apply to other schools too? just in case!! i wish that i had!

 

[Crazy_Norwegian]

I only applied to one school (which happened to be in my state)--but I had a 4.0 GPA and a 99 PCAT. Since the school only goes by the numbers (no interviews, personal statements, etc), I was told that I was basically in before I even applied. I would suggest that if there are other schools in your state, you should apply to them as well.

 

[Jonno1288]

The more I think about it, the more I realize how stupid I was to only apply to one school. Say I hadn't gotten accepted. I would then have had to waste another year taking classes that I didn't need. If you have the patience and the money to take another year of classes then by all means apply to just 1 school. But if not I strongly suggest you apply to more than 1 school.

 

[RLK]

I only applied to one school (which happened to be in my state)--but I had a 4.0 GPA and a 99 PCAT. Since the school only goes by the numbers (no interviews, personal statements, etc), I was told that I was basically in before I even applied. I would suggest that if there are other schools in your state, you should apply to them as well.

with stats like that you'd probably get in anywhere

 

[jemc2000]

I only applied to 2 schools with some good and some not-so-good stats and did not get in. But you have to do what you have to do. I am just applying to the same 2 schools this year.

Best of luck.

 

[Smilescali]

I too will be only applying to one school (USN). I do not have a degree and have reached the earliest point where I can apply to a school. I have tailored my pre reqs to USN and plan to reapply to various other schools next year if I don't get into USN (USN will still be my #1 choice). I feel like I have nothing to lose and EVERYTHING to gain by applying to only USN (it is the only school I can apply to and still complete all of the pre reqs in time). I have a 4.0 GPA with TONS of people experience in my former career as a flight attendant (MAJOR CONFLICT RESOLUTION ISSUES) so I hope that that will be enough to prove myself.

I think that if you are applying to only one school you must have good reasons to do so. Family issues, moving restrictions and quality of life seem like valid reasons to me, just be prepared that you might take a little longer to get into that school.

I plan on telling USN that they are the only school I will be applying to. If you are a qualified student that is serious about pharmacy school I think that it would be flattering to that school to know that you have choosen them to pursue your goals with. 👍

 

[DownonthePharm]

Im only applying to one school this year. Mostly because my family and my property are here. I dont have a 4.0, I havent taken the PCAT yet (end of the month) and I have no experience in pharmacy (yet).

I guess Im just confident. Or stupid. 🙄

 

[jemc2000]

If you are a qualified student that is serious about pharmacy school I think that it would be flattering to that school to know that you have choosen them to pursue your goals with. 👍

Just my personal opinion, and no offense intended, but I really do not believe that the adcoms can be "flattered". It is all going to come down to PCAT, GPA, interview, EC, and Pharm experience. But yet again, just my two cents.

 

[imperial frog]

Has anyone done this??? I am only applyin to one pharmacy school....which is in my state. Do you think that the school will look at this in a negative way? or would they even look? any suggestions on what the school might make of it? Thanks

I only applied to one school mainly because I didn't want to move again.

 

[craziness824]

Just my personal opinion, and no offense intended, but I really do not believe that the adcoms can be "flattered". It is all going to come down to PCAT, GPA, interview, EC, and Pharm experience. But yet again, just my two cents.

I agree...I think the best thing to do is show the school why they want/need you in their program, not to say that you're depending on them for an acceptance. Sure they could be impressed that you feel strongly about their school by only applying there, but it could work the other way as well. As stated above, schools give spots based on qualifications--GPA, PCAT, etc. Just my personal opinion though.

I guess the best thing to do is follow what you feel is right at the time of the interview and what gives you the best chance of getting into the pharmacy school of your choice.

 

[lynzee]

I only applied to one school and like a few of you have said, I got lucky! I graduated with a bachelors degree, attained a 3.2, and a PCAT score of 92. Although I thought I was shooting myself in the foot for not applying to more schools, I just put my all into the application and interview. I didn't want to leave Minnesota, so I only had one choice!

 

[UTstdnt]

I applied to one school and was accepted (3.5 GPA, 99% PCAT). This was the right path for me because I wasn't ready to move to another city. If I had not made it in, I planned on applying to more schools next year and reapplying to the school in my hometown, and that is exactly what I would've told admissions had they asked. I didn't want to waste my time and money or the admissions time when I wasn't ready to go to their school if accepted. But if I was in a rush to get my pharmD. then I would definitely apply to a lot of schools to increase my chances. It's really a matter of personal choice I think.

A friend of mine applied and was not accepted, but now can continue working toward a degree and then re-apply next year.

 

[Smilescali]

Just my personal opinion, and no offense intended, but I really do not believe that the adcoms can be "flattered". It is all going to come down to PCAT, GPA, interview, EC, and Pharm experience. But yet again, just my two cents.

No offense taken. 🙂 Everyone here has their own voice and plenty of opinions. That is what makes SDN so great.

USN does not require PCAT and does not give preference to pharm experience. In fact someone on the adcom told me that they actually prefer that you didn't so they can teach you from "scratch". That same person told me that they are indeed "flattered" when students of this type solely interview with them.

 

[kellia]

It's a nice thought that you can "try" to flatter the adcom's, buy remember that not all schools interview... my first choice didn't. Personally, I don't see the harm in applying to more schools. if you're hypothetically going to apply to more schools "next" year anyway, why not just do it in the first place?! Seriously, I wish that I had. While I had the requirements to get into my first choice the first time around, other people had better stats. It has a lot to do with who you are up against. Had I the chance to do it again, I would not have wasted my time going for a degree I won't need (the year between applications). We all are going into this field to be able to actually participate in the field, not to spend our time taking class after class that won't help us get any closer to becoming a doctor of pharmacy. My second year applying, all in all, I spent less than $2000 to apply to about 9 schools including expenses while interviewing. Think about it. The year that I spent doing all of the application stuff all over again, and the waiting game all over again, could have computed to a year working as a pharmacist, being compensated a pharmacists salary, had I only applied to more schools the first time around. While I greatly enjoy the educational experience, it is the position as Pharmacist that I am working toward.

sorry to rant! I just wish that others could learn from my mistake!!

 

[kellia]

ps-
if this is something that you really want to do, you will be willing to go anywhere (edit: if at all possible) to accomplish your goals. i'm not saying that you'll want to relocate, but that you will be willing to make that sacrifice for a short period of time to reach your goal.

 

[Smilescali]

ps-
if this is something that you really want to do, you will be willing to go anywhere to accomplish your goals. i'm not saying that you'll want to relocate, but that you will be willing to make that sacrifice for a short period of time to reach your goal.

I consider myself VERY serious about pharmacy school, however my family is my first priority and I am not willing to go anywhere. Going to school period when you have little ones is a HUGE sacrifice.

Everyone has their own reasons for applying to the schools that they do. What is right for one may not be right for another.

 

[All4MyDaughter]

ps-
if this is something that you really want to do, you will be willing to go anywhere to accomplish your goals. i'm not saying that you'll want to relocate, but that you will be willing to make that sacrifice for a short period of time to reach your goal.

Now, I disagree with this. In my case, I have a husband who has a good job and a daughter we are responsible for. My husband's job isn't portable, and it pays for medical insurance that we have to have - we have special medical needs.

Even people who aren't married may have perfectly valid reasons for not wanting to relocate. They may be caring for an infirm or elderly parent, or just simply very connected to their friends/family and not want to start over somewhere else.

I have the needs of two people besides myself to consider, and if it came down to it - if going to pharmacy school was going to be extremely disruptive to my family and a hardship - I wouldn't do it. My husband and child are my first, primary and most important committment.

So, no - "going anywhere" isn't always possible, and willingess to do so isn't a good measure of how badly someone wants to be a pharmacist. People have to do what they have to do!

Your mileage may vary...

 

[kellia]

Now, I disagree with this. In my case, I have a husband who has a good job and a daughter we are responsible for. My husband's job isn't portable, and it pays for medical insurance that we have to have - we have special medical needs.

Even people who aren't married may have perfectly valid reasons for not wanting to relocate. They may be caring for an infirm or elderly parent, or just simply very connected to their friends/family and not want to start over somewhere else.

I have the needs of two people besides myself to consider, and if it came down to it - if going to pharmacy school was going to be extremely disruptive to my family and a hardship - I wouldn't do it. My husband and child are my first, primary and most important committment.

So, no - "going anywhere" isn't always possible, and willingess to do so isn't a good measure of how badly someone wants to be a pharmacist. People have to do what they have to do!

Your mileage may vary...

Of course I can appreciate your situation. Everyone has their own things to deal with in their lives. I also am newly married. My husband also has a steady job that will not allow him to travel with me. Unfortunately I have been accepted 1200 miles away from my home. I know that becoming a doctor of Pharmacy will better both of our lives, so I am going. Three long years apart to better our lifetime together. Unlike you and your husband, we do not have children to be concerned about at this point in our lives or health concerns. We all need to decide what is ultimately best for our own lives. It sounds like you have made good choices for your life.

I'm not trying to say that because someone *can't* move for school, that they don't want to do it... Not being able to move, and not wanting to move, could be considered two completely different scenarios. Not everyone will get in the first time around, and those who are able to be flexible should give themselves as much of an opportunity that they can. The first time I applied to Pharm school, I was so sure that the school near my home was my only option. I was so sure that I absolutely couldn't move anywhere else. The year following my rejection I reevaluated my situation and realized that I couldn't just keep applying to only that school waiting for the opportunity to come to me. I needed to go out and create more opportunities for myself. As I stated in my previous posts, if someone is planning on applying to only one school this year, and many schools next year (if rejected first year), why not just apply to more schools the first time around and broaden their chances??

 

[kellia]

Just a note... I did not mean to offend anyone with families or situations that will not allow them to move. I was primarily referring to those who just didn't want to leave a place where they were comfortable just to go to pharmacy school. I was also primarily posting for those people who commented that they would apply to more schools the second time around if they didn't get in.

 

[UTstdnt]

Just a note... I did not mean to offend anyone with families or situations that will not allow them to move. I was primarily referring to those who just didn't want to leave a place where they were comfortable just to go to pharmacy school. I was also primarily posting for those people who commented that they would apply to more schools the second time around if they didn't get in.

There are a lot of reasons why I don't feel like it's the right time for me to relocate. It's not because I would be living outside my comfort zone, that's almost laughable. I think you need to realize that you sharing your personal experience will be very helpful for some people but that my decision to apply to one school this year and see what happens, then expand my chances the following year when I can make myself more prepared for it, is equally helpful. Like I said before, it's a very personal decision.

I feel for the sacrifice you are making by moving away from your new husband. My husband moved out of the country for 3 years for work and we were a plane ride away from each other plus couldn't talk on the phone much because it was very expensive. Like you, he was trying to make a better future for us. It was tough at times but we made it and became even closer than before he left.

 

[Smilescali]

Just a note... I did not mean to offend anyone with families or situations that will not allow them to move. I was primarily referring to those who just didn't want to leave a place where they were comfortable just to go to pharmacy school. I was also primarily posting for those people who commented that they would apply to more schools the second time around if they didn't get in.

I think I am the only one on this thread that has stated that I will only be applying to one school this year and "many" next year. However, if you read my post again you will see that I am doing this because I am at the earilest point where I can apply to a school. As you know, many pharmacy schools require different pre reqs and USN requires the Physio/ Anatomy route as opposed to the one year Biology sequence. I have decided to take the Physio/ Anatomy sequence first, so out of all of my choices USN is the only school that I can apply to and still get my pre reqs done in time. They are my first choice school so that is why I decided to do it that route even though if I took the Biology sequence I could have initially applied to more than one school the first time around. If I don't get into USN then I will have 2 more semesters to complete the Bio classes and I will be able to apply to more schools, but USN will still be my first choice.