Chances?

[AmandiLee]

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Hey everyone, my name is Amanda and I have recently started to panic about getting into pharmacy school. My overall GPA is a 3.47, with all A's and B's except for two C's (in Animal Physiology and Organic Chemistry 1 =/). These two C's are recent additions to my transcript, although I did make A's in everything else this past semester. I am a VCU Bio major right now, and I do plan on getting my B.S. before pharmacy school, but I really want to go to VCU and I'm worried with that C in Organic Chem it's not going to happen. Do pharmacy schools take into account your workload for each particular semester? This past one I took 5 science classes plus an economics class, so although I can't get rid of those C's (VCU doesn't offer a retake option for C's), do you think schools will be a bit understanding?

As for other things, I'm involved in 4 extracurricular activities and I belong to 3 honor societies, plus I completed a highly competitive research institute right before my freshman year (I'm going into my junior year now). I don't have any pharmacy experience yet, but I'm trying to get a tech job for some of the summer and I plan on volunteering in our hospital's pharmacy next semester.

And if it makes a difference, some of the B's I got were in Bio 1, Bio 2, Chem 1, Chem 2, and Calc 1. However, I did get A's in all of those labs, plus an A in Pre-Calc and Statistics as well as Genetics and Microbiology (and its lab). Other than that, the only other B I got was in a philosophy class. All of my other electives (Sociology, Economics, Political Science, Spanish, History, etc.) were A's. I'm just really worried about those B's and now my two C's. And I do have two W's (in Organic Chem 1 plus the lab). However, those were due to the fact that I switched my major for a semester and my advisor explicitly told me to withdraw from them. Of course, that probably won't make a difference to them.

To slightly rectify this situation, I'm taking a Bio graduate class next semester to prove that I can do graduate level work as an undegrad, but I don't know if that will actually make a difference.

So, what do you think my odds are of getting into pharmacy school (VCU in particular)? Is there anything else I can do to make myself more competitive? I'm just the eternal pessimist and I really want to do pharmacy, but if I can't get in, I would rather plan for that now (Bio isn't much of a major for anything other than grad school).

Thanks!

 

[ButlerPharm.D.]

Although I don't attend VCU let me assure you that you are doing everything you can do in order to develop yourself as an excellent applicant. Your GPA looks good, it could be higher but you still have time to improve-the fact that you have 2 C's shouldn't prevent you from getting into pharmacy school-believe it or not people do get C's!! Yes, I do believe the schools look at their applicants work loads therefore applicants that are taking 18 hours and getting a 4.0 or 3.5 etc may appear to be a better applicant than someone who is taking 5 hours a semester and getting a 4.0 (let me say that I do understand that there are extenuating circumstances that may require students/applicants to spread out their course load over a period of time-this statement is not meant to be offensive to anyone). Overall, I would say you should work on getting pharmacy experience-that is definitely one thing you can do to improve you chances of getting-pharmacy experience always looks good!!

 

[twester]

Yeah, what ButlerpharmD said. You have an excellent chance at getting into a pharmacy school. Limiting the options to one school is a big risk even for applicants with a perfect GPA and extracurriculars. So I'd recommend being willing to apply to more than one school.

Although I think pharmacy experience can be really helpful, I don't think it's absolutely required (I didn't have any). Any kind of exposure to pharmacy will help your application, whether it's working for one summer or three years as a tech or shadowing pharmacists in various practice settings for several days. Basically anything that will help you speak eloquently of your motivations will boost your application.

Don't despair, just make it happen. Good luck!

 

[mike36]

I got in with a 3.47 GPA. I had 2 Fs , some Cs, and several Q drops. I also didn't have any pharmacy experience. But I also had a 98% PCAT, good essays, and good LORs. I think my interview helped also. I think it depends on the school you're applying to as to what they look at or weigh more heavily, but grades aren't everything.

 

[AntiviralsRule]

let me say that I do understand that there are extenuating circumstances that may require students/applicants to spread out their course load over a period of time-this statement is not meant to be offensive to anyone quote]

I am one of those people who needs to spread out the course load because I need to work full-time. Do you think I'll be at a disadvantage when it comes time to apply? 😳

 

[binghamkid]

Absolutely not. Working full-time and still managing a fairly good GPA can be a strength as well. Adcoms know full well that you can't be the perfect student if you have to work to put yourself through school. As long as you aren't totally falling apart (and even then, if you can really pull yourself together and demonstrate academic stability you'll be fine), you can actually spin it off in your interview and turn it into your strengths. Just be confident and assertive when they ask you about that in your interview. I worked over 40 hours a week and managed a terrible GPA and I still managed to get an acceptance. So don't fret, and keep doing what you're doing.

 

[StringTheorist]

if its a good admissions committee, they will take EVERYTHING into account. i really dont think you have anything to worry about😀