Aug or Oct PCAT?

[SquidAT2]

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I'm debating right now whether to take the PCAT in AUG or OCT. These are the classes I've had so far,

Chem I and II
Bio I
Calc I
A and P I and II
Phys I

I'm not taking any classes over the summer so I should be able to study pretty good from now until the August test. BUT I'm taking Org Chem I in the fall so I would at least have some of that course done for the October exam.

I'm applying to UF, are your chances of getting in to that school better the earlier you apply? Or should I wait until I've had some Organic before taking it?

 

[omnione]

I believe UF is not a rolling admissions school, so taking the October PCAT should not be as detrimental thing to do. Organic chemistry does comprise about 40-50% of the PCAT Chemistry section, so you definitely want to self study the sections that your class won't cover until after the October PCAT. Though some second semester organic is covered on the PCAT, the distribution of organic questions are slanted toward first semester material.

So if you are applying to regular admission schools, taking the October PCAT won't result in an adverse result. UF did take the January PCAT for consideration last year but I don't know about this year. Still, the risk you run with taking the October PCAT is that you do poorly and need to retake it. Thus, the August PCAT offers some convenience just in case you need to retake the PCAT.

 

[NYCStreetGenius]

I'm debating right now whether to take the PCAT in AUG or OCT. These are the classes I've had so far,

Chem I and II
Bio I
Calc I
A and P I and II
Phys I

I'm not taking any classes over the summer so I should be able to study pretty good from now until the August test. BUT I'm taking Org Chem I in the fall so I would at least have some of that course done for the October exam.

I'm applying to UF, are your chances of getting in to that school better the earlier you apply? Or should I wait until I've had some Organic before taking it?

The chances of getting into any school are high the earlier you apply. Because you have not taken Organic Chem the ocrober Pcat will probably the best for you. If UF if the only school you are appying to, you can even take the Pcat in january. Also consider applying to LECOM in bradenton. they dont require Pcat. they dont even look at the Pcat if sumit them. Plus their interview is not stressful. they interviewed me on the phone.

 

[azPharmD2B]

The chances of getting into any school are high the earlier you apply.

Postively untrue. In fact, most schools don't do rolling admissions. The only good thing about applying early is in case there are any mix-ups, you'll have more time to correct those than if you apply the very last day. YMMV, check the school you are applying with to see if they do or don't. Also verify which PCAT exams they take, some do in fact take the January one. If you can take the one in January, you might still benefit from taking the October one. The October test will give you a baseline to study from for the next 4 months, or heck, you may even do well enough to not even bother taking it again in January.

 

[NYCStreetGenius]

Postively untrue. In fact, most schools don't do rolling admissions. The only good thing about applying early is in case there are any mix-ups, you'll have more time to correct those than if you apply the very last day. .

I went to open houses at LECOM and UF, one of the questions that was asked was: does applying early help you and the answer was yes at both schools. Some schools start inviting people for interviews before the application deadline. I actually know someone who got accepted to PBA before I even I had the interview because he applied early and I applied on the deadline. He got accepted in february and my interview was in April. the deadline was feb or march. So if a school only has 75 spots for that year and if by the time you get your interview 25 students are already accepted. you are fighting for one of the 50 remaining spots instead of one of the 75. So yes it does make a difference, probably not true for all of the schools but i know UF, PBA and LECOM.

 

[NYCStreetGenius]

I went to open houses at LECOM and UF, one of the questions that was asked was: does applying early help you and the answer was yes at both schools. Some schools start inviting people for interviews before the application deadline. I actually know someone who got accepted to PBA before I even I had the interview because he applied early and I applied on the deadline. He got accepted in february and my interview was in April. the deadline was feb or march. So if a school only has 75 spots for that year and if by the time you get your interview 25 students are already accepted. you are fighting for one of the 50 remaining spots instead of one of the 75. So yes it does make a difference, probably not true for all of the schools but i know UF, PBA and LECOM.

correction UF is not on rolling admission, but they encourage people to apply early.

 

[omnione]

I went to open houses at LECOM and UF, one of the questions that was asked was: does applying early help you and the answer was yes at both schools. Some schools start inviting people for interviews before the application deadline. .

UF had one interview session before the deadline and LECOM + PBA are rolling admissions schools, so that's why you see applicants getting accepted before the deadline for both types of admission.

However, regular admission schools aren't as advantageous to weaker applicants applying super early. Many schools do have early interview sessions, but most regular admission interview sessions are held after the deadline. Regular chools often offer two to three dates to the applicant and the offers come later than rolling admissions, meaning that the rolling admissions advantage of getting placed in the early bird group of weaker applicants is lessened.

Some schools use some sort of formula for accepting students, like Wingate, making early application irrelevant as one is probably not awarded points for applying early. Another school, Iowa, doesn't review the applications in exact order of interview date and extends interview requests before the application is fully complete (my fall grades weren't in yet and they gave me an invite). Iowa reviews applications somewhat randomly.

 

[guestxyz]

Also consider applying to LECOM in bradenton. they dont require Pcat. they dont even look at the Pcat if sumit them.

I just wanted to let people know that starting this current admission cycle (for 2008) that LECOM now requires the PCAT.

This is from their site at http://lecom.edu/app_degree_rx.php:

To be considered for admission, applicants must satisfy the LECOM School of Pharmacy Admission Requirements.

The Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) is required to be considered for admission. Applicants may submit PCAT scores from exams taken within three years prior to the date of matriculation. The applicant must arrange for Harcourt Assessment to send the PCAT scores directly to PharmCAS (select PCAT code 104).

 

[SquidAT2]

Thank all you guys very much for the info. I'm definitely going to take the August one and try to get my app. in as early as possible.

 

[overhillpharmer]

I applied close to the deadline for UMINN. I was invited to the last interview day there. There were about 80 of us there that day fighting over the remaining 9 seats. I got a 95 on my PCAT and I have decent GPAs. I did not even make their ranked waitlist and I thought I had a really awesome interview. Even if a school does not claim to have rolling admission does not mean that every application has the same chance of getting an interview. You better believe that most schools use promptness (earliness) as part of their decision making process.

 

[NYCStreetGenius]

I applied close to the deadline for UMINN. I was invited to the last interview day there. There were about 80 of us there that day fighting over the remaining 9 seats. I got a 95 on my PCAT and I have decent GPAs. I did not even make their ranked waitlist and I thought I had a really awesome interview. Even if a school does not claim to have rolling admission does not mean that every application has the same chance of getting an interview. You better believe that most schools use promptness (earliness) as part of their decision making process.

I couldn't agree more.

 

[bubblechasincat]

hi, does anyone have a list of pharm schools that have rolling admissions? (and which ones are private schools) - please do reply to me! thank you =)

 

[eelo]

I applied close to the deadline for UMINN. I was invited to the last interview day there. There were about 80 of us there that day fighting over the remaining 9 seats. I got a 95 on my PCAT and I have decent GPAs. I did not even make their ranked waitlist and I thought I had a really awesome interview. Even if a school does not claim to have rolling admission does not mean that every application has the same chance of getting an interview. You better believe that most schools use promptness (earliness) as part of their decision making process.

Absolutely! My daughter was in a similar position (although her PCAT was merely terrific, yours is amazing). She barely got her application materials in on time, just making the cutoff by one day, because she took the January PCAT and was waiting for the scores. She was applying to a public institution in another state, and there were about 10 spots remaining. Her application was reviewed along with everyone else who didn't quite make the earlier cuts but were still competitive. She was not admitted; didn't even get called for an interview.

She was able to speak to an admissions officer a couple weeks later and he told her that her application was extremely competitive, and if she had applied earlier, she most likely would have gotten admitted. They were using that final round to re-review the applications of in-staters who were thiiiiiiis close to making the cut, so there was virtually no chance she would be considered over them.

However, she'll be applying ED for the school this year, and she'll be in-state by then, so we're a little more hopeful for the 2008 school year. ;-)

 

[eelo]

hi, does anyone have a list of pharm schools that have rolling admissions? (and which ones are private schools) - please do reply to me! thank you =)

Consider doing your own research. It's a skill you'll need to have out there in the real world.