Critque my prereq schedule...

[Danyelle1]

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Hi everyone! I am planning on taking my PCAT and applying to pharmacy schools next summer. Right now I have a 3.13 GPA, but am retaking 2 classes that I got C's in which should raise it to around a 3.3 with good grades. I was a business major with a 2.9 gpa and just went back to school and got a 3.9 my 1st semester back! I am trying to finish my degree in 2 years..Bio with chem minor. I want to use this year to get basic pre reqs done and next year to fulfill any I am missing if I get into a school. If i get accepted, I might just do the prereq and not finish the degree.. not sure yet.

Here is how I plan on scheduling these classes... let me know what you would change.

Summer 2009
Chem 1 and 2 at CC
English 2 online -retake

Fall 2009
Organic 1
General Physics 1- algebra based
Pre Calculus
Sociology- retake
Art survey 1 online

Spring 2010
Organic 2
Microbiology
Calculus
Psychology
Arts appreciation elective

Summer 2010
Take PCAT
Apply to schools

Fall 2010
Statistics
Cell Biology
Animal Behavior
Upper level psych class
Biology seminar (1 credit)

Spring 2011
Math methods in science
Biochemistry
Literary/phil elective
*Any pre reqs i am missing for certain schools

 

[fhx06]

How well do you manage your time? Your Spring '10 courses will take a lot out of you: organic chemistry 2 may come with a lab and the work in orgo 2 is not particularly easy. Microbiology has a lot of memorization but the concepts are not too complicated. Calculus will require a lot of practice, particularly when it gets down to recognizing all of the derivatives and integrations and trig. identities, but that's later on during the course (about the same time organic chemistry 2 gets really intense). Psychology isn't too bad conceptually but there are quite a few concepts to memorize and names to remember. For the most part, it's a lot of reading with the potential for writing papers.

I think your Spring '10 term will be the hardest for you, but you may pull out of it very well and be in good shape. If you can, take a look at the syllabus and see the pace of your 3 hardest courses for that term, and see if you may benefit in taking one of the courses over the Summer '10 term.

Keep in mind, I can only base this off of the material from my own university so the content and difficulty may be different. So... I wish you the best of luck and hang tough.

 

[xpertholen1]

How well do you manage your time? Your Spring '10 courses will take a lot out of you: organic chemistry 2 may come with a lab and the work in orgo 2 is not particularly easy. Microbiology has a lot of memorization but the concepts are not too complicated. Calculus will require a lot of practice, particularly when it gets down to recognizing all of the derivatives and integrations and trig. identities, but that's later on during the course (about the same time organic chemistry 2 gets really intense). Psychology isn't too bad conceptually but there are quite a few concepts to memorize and names to remember. For the most part, it's a lot of reading with the potential for writing papers.

I think your Spring '10 term will be the hardest for you, but you may pull out of it very well and be in good shape. If you can, take a look at the syllabus and see the pace of your 3 hardest courses for that term, and see if you may benefit in taking one of the courses over the Summer '10 term.

Keep in mind, I can only base this off of the material from my own university so the content and difficulty may be different. So... I wish you the best of luck and hang tough.

I'd have to agree with fhx...Spring '10 does seem to be your busiest. The one thing that I would like to add though is where are you getting your pharmacy experience. Grades are one thing, but if you've got no experience in pharmacy your grades are going to have to be stellar to make up for it. I'm sure you've got that covered, but I thought I'd throw that in there too. Good luck to you though.

 

[rphfan2009]

Hi everyone! I am planning on taking my PCAT and applying to pharmacy schools next summer. Right now I have a 3.13 GPA, but am retaking 2 classes that I got C's in which should raise it to around a 3.3 with good grades. I was a business major with a 2.9 gpa and just went back to school and got a 3.9 my 1st semester back! I am trying to finish my degree in 2 years..Bio with chem minor. I want to use this year to get basic pre reqs done and next year to fulfill any I am missing if I get into a school. If i get accepted, I might just do the prereq and not finish the degree.. not sure yet.

Here is how I plan on scheduling these classes... let me know what you would change.

Summer 2009
Chem 1 and 2 at CC
English 2 online -retake

Fall 2009
Organic 1
General Physics 1- algebra based
Pre Calculus
Sociology- retake
Art survey 1 online

Spring 2010
Organic 2
Microbiology
Calculus
Psychology
Arts appreciation elective

Summer 2010
Take PCAT
Apply to schools

Fall 2010
Statistics
Cell Biology
Animal Behavior
Upper level psych class
Biology seminar (1 credit)

Spring 2011
Math methods in science
Biochemistry
Literary/phil elective
*Any pre reqs i am missing for certain schools

I suggest pacing yourself and going slow...Spring of 2010 looks very challenging.

Better to take things slow and not rush...rushing will affect your GPA in the long run.

 

[Danyelle1]

Thank you everyone for your input. I might look at taking micro during the summer since it is not going to be on the pcat. I have some time to decide on that one though. I also work 24 hours a week as a cpht at a hospital and Ive been working in a pharmacy for 4 years so far.