Career Change. Possible to get into Pharm school?

[kimchidoll]

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Hi all,

I've been losing sleep now that application season is here, and I'm officially freaking out. I hate to be those people who ask if I can get in with my stats, but I think my well-being is at stake here, so thank you in advance for hearing me out!

I graduated in 2010 from Boston Univ with a journalism major. In high school, I was a solid 3.6 gpa student with a lot of ECs, so getting into undergrad wasn't a big concern. However, my gpa suffered in college (2.92) because I didn't try as hard in my GEs. Working in public relations/social media after college was fun for awhile, but there was a moment when I knew it was unrealistic for me to be in this career forever. What turned me off was the fact that it was a very self-centered career path. I wanted to do something more valuable and rewarding. I didn't know what I wanted to do, but I did my research and I narrowed it down to healthcare. I took the first blind leap by taking science classes at my local community college, and after each successful grade I received, I knew healthcare was the right track. I shadowed a few pharmacists in different settings and really liked that it was focused profession with many opportunities. The one skill/talent I can swear my life to would be my communication skills. The more I researched, the more I felt that pharmacy consulting combined my talents and desire to help others.

Here are my current stats/experience:

Undergrad GPA: 2.92
Science/Post-bacc GPA: 4.0
General experience/volunteer/ECs (the last 2 years): Union rescue mission, pharmacy tech at rite aid (since June 2015), writing tutor, shadow at Orange Coast Memorial, Placentia Linda Hospital, Walgreens.
PCAT: Pending for Sept 2015

I hear that pharmacy schools value those who come from a different background and have different talents to contribute. Please let me know other things I should consider adding to my app, or buffing up my personal statement or other classes I should take. Should I wait another year to apply?

Thank you!🙂

 

[alprazolamborghini]

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[pms_testosterone]

Your ECs/experience would be considered strong. You should contact admissions at the schools you are applying to and ask if your 2.92 is acceptable (if the answer is not clear from their website) or whether more coursework is recommended.

 

[kimchidoll]

Your ECs/experience would be considered strong. You should contact admissions at the schools you are applying to and ask if your 2.92 is acceptable (if the answer is not clear from their website) or whether more coursework is recommended.

Sorry if I wasn't clear. My undergrad gpa was targeted toward my major in liberal arts. I took absolutely no science or math courses, so need to retake ~16-17 prerequisite courses. I've finished 10 of them, currently holding a 4.0 gpa in my science and post bacc gpa, if that makes sense. My cumulative would jump to a 3.2 gpa.

 

[pms_testosterone]

Yes, 3.2 is OK for a bunch of US schools.

What are you seeking advice about in this thread?

 

[kimchidoll]

Yes, 3.2 is OK for a bunch of US schools.

What are you seeking advice about in this thread?

I guess I don't feel as competitive and want to know which schools would definitely accept me based on my stats.

 

[Jbrl]

I guess I don't feel as competitive and want to know which schools would definitely accept me based on my stats.

It would be conjecture to tell you anything, for several reasons:

1. You have no PCAT score - 50th percentile vs. 90th percentile is huge
2. Your recent pre-req GPA is markedly different from your journalism GPA, but it is also from a community college so may not be perceived as having the same rigor
3. You haven't outlined how many credits you've been taking per semester for your pre-reqs
4. Communication is your talent
5. You've made no mention of how many hours you've spent on your ECs, what positions you've had, if any, or why you participate in them

The schools that would take you on the stats you've listed alone are the newer schools that are more expensive and do not have the networks of established schools.

Your admission to established, cheaper schools will be contingent on how you bring all of these aspects of your application together to earn the interview and how you perform during it. Think of this from the perspective of an admissions director. "Tell me about yourself." What question marks do you have on your application that you think you'll need to address? Why pharmacy? Why should we choose you?

You're competitive enough - PCAT willing. Use those PR skills.

 

[kimchidoll]

You're competitive enough - PCAT willing. Use those PR skills.

Haha thanks for your honest input. I'm scoring 75% on my practice exams with only a couple days of studying so far for my PCAT. With due diligence, I'm hoping for an 85-90%. I also take a full class load every semester (15-18 units). I'm definitely not scared of the interviews, it's just getting to that point that is ruffling my feathers.

 

[Jbrl]

Haha thanks for your honest input. I'm scoring 75% on my practice exams with only a couple days of studying so far for my PCAT. With due diligence, I'm hoping for an 85-90%. I also take a full class load every semester (15-18 units). I'm definitely not scared of the interviews, it's just getting to that point that is ruffling my feathers.

Great. You'll get in somewhere, so as long as you execute, no need to be concerned. Instead, I would shift the focus to getting into the high-tier public (i.e comparatively inexpensive) schools. Get that 90%+ and your 3.2 will be serviceable for them, albeit on the low side. Admissions is fairly holistic so they won't reject you for that reason. Your stats are competitive enough. It somewhat depends on the weight that the school will give to your 4.0 alternative transcript and what your sGPA calculates to.

What I listed above will be important even before the interview, e.g. personal statement and supplemental essays. If you can tell your story well and pre-emptively address points of your application that would cause apprehension, you will get into good schools.

Some links for you:
http://www.pharmacy.umn.edu/pharmd/admissions/statistics/index.htm
http://pharmacy.umkc.edu/why-umkc/facts/
http://pharmacy.wisc.edu/education/doctor-pharmacy-program/pharmd-admissions/admission-statistics
http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/c...mDProgram/Pages/FrequentlyAskedQuestions.aspx
https://www.utexas.edu/pharmacy/admissions/ad_stats.html

Hope that allays your feeling of unease.

 

[vintagepearls]

I totally understand! I work in the Managed Care Industry at a Health Insurance CMO company. I love Health Policy and Pharmacy Regulatory Affairs so I am a "rare case." I have a BS degree in Public Policy but, was a Chemistry Pre-Pharmacy and Public Policy major in undergrad so I have a bunch of Chemistry classes under my belt. Working full time and finishing up my pre-reqs has been no joke. But, I will apply AND get into Pharmacy school. Don't give up hope! Study hard for the PCAT, get all your ducks in a row and blow them away in your interview. If you want it as bad as I know you do then, you'll do everything possible to get in 🙂

 

[SClENCE]

I think the science classes you took at CC would count towards your undergrad GPA, not as post-bac. So you cGPA might be >3.0 giving you a good chance if you can pull a 70-80+ PCAT.