-
Scholarship Access: Becoming a Student Doctor course
Free access to comprehensive medical school prep. Eligible students include AAMC FAP recipients and HS graduates from underserved areas. Apply today. -
Cusop
- Thread starter UN4GETTABLE
- Start date
The process is pretty straight forward. Getting an interview with them is partially a numbers game (based on GPA) and how good your essay is. They don't currently take PCAT scores, but there has been talk of them starting to. That said, I seriously doubt it'd happen by next year. Getting an interview is very competative. I think they had ~1600 applicants this year, and interviewed ~350. The interview itself is pretty standard. In addition to the interview there is a short math test (not hard at all) and group exercise. Read over the feedback posted on here and you should be good to go. If you have questions when filling out your supplemental application the staff is very helpful. Hopefully thats what your looking for, if not be a little more specific.
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2006
- Messages
- 123
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
- Pharmacy Student
their supplemental application is one of the easiest that i've ever seen - basically biographical information and criminal record. there's a couple parts where you can explain a bad grade or transcript notation or talk about anything else you want the adcom to know about you, but aside from that it's a really short and simple supplemental.
the test during the interview is actually math and biology. the math part is pretty much just all about units (if you have x kilograms, how many grams is this) and the biology test is also really basic, simple stuff (the building block of proteins are... amino acids).
they also had a record number of applications this year, and i wouldn't be suprised if the trend continued since they are one of the few schools that do not require the pcat. so it is rather difficult to get an interview. however, i believe most of their accepted class is usually from colorado (~100 out of a class of 130 i think).
the group exercise is also pretty easy - they just want to see how you interact with your colleagues and stuff like that. it's all observation on their part - they don't ask you any questions after giving you your prompt.
also, the interview is closed file and everyone pretty much has to answer the same set of questions at least.
oh, one other point that i thought was interesting: they only take microeconomics and not macro...
the test during the interview is actually math and biology. the math part is pretty much just all about units (if you have x kilograms, how many grams is this) and the biology test is also really basic, simple stuff (the building block of proteins are... amino acids).
they also had a record number of applications this year, and i wouldn't be suprised if the trend continued since they are one of the few schools that do not require the pcat. so it is rather difficult to get an interview. however, i believe most of their accepted class is usually from colorado (~100 out of a class of 130 i think).
the group exercise is also pretty easy - they just want to see how you interact with your colleagues and stuff like that. it's all observation on their part - they don't ask you any questions after giving you your prompt.
also, the interview is closed file and everyone pretty much has to answer the same set of questions at least.
oh, one other point that i thought was interesting: they only take microeconomics and not macro...
Thanks, that information was helpful. One other qustion though...how likely is that they accept students whose prerequisites aren't completed at the time of thier application?
I heard about how many folks applied there and didn't get in. It is a little unnerving, but I have a strong GPA...and I've got micro economics 🙂 .
I heard about how many folks applied there and didn't get in. It is a little unnerving, but I have a strong GPA...and I've got micro economics 🙂 .
As long as you have just one or two left, that your taking during interviews I wouldn't worry about it. You have through the summer to complete any remaining classes. However, I think they prefer people that will have them finished by the end of spring semester.
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2006
- Messages
- 123
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
- Pharmacy Student
i definitely had at least one prereq left by the time i interviewed (darn that microeconomics), but i was still accepted, so they definitely take people that haven't completed all of their prereqs yet by interview time.UN4GETTABLE said:
so if im from cali, how much higher of a gpa should i have rather to the typical 3.5 average that they accept?
does it matter that A LOT of my family lives in Denver, Colorado (like my 2nd home)? does that help me somewhat in the application process since it is a state school and therefore takes mostly in-state students.
does it matter that A LOT of my family lives in Denver, Colorado (like my 2nd home)? does that help me somewhat in the application process since it is a state school and therefore takes mostly in-state students.
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2006
- Messages
- 123
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
- Pharmacy Student
well, my gpa was a 3.8 and i am from california and was accepted to this school, if you want an example (i don't know if this is typical or not though).doublehh03 said:
also, i'm not sure if the family thing will "officially" help you if you can't declare residency or something like that, but i'm sure that it won't hurt...
xnm11 said:
what was your overall application like?
my GPA is around 3.82 right now too so im similar to yours. hopefully i'll get in b/c although i will be out of state, i have a place to live so it won't be that expensive.
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2006
- Messages
- 123
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
- Pharmacy Student
3.8 overall gpadoublehh03 said:
chemistry major
classical civilization minor
retail pharmacy experience, ~1 year
research, ~2 years
officer position in 3 clubs
no criminal record (hahaha)
applied from california with i think just 1 prereq left
turned in application on deadline (or maybe the day before)
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
xnm11 said:
i dont have pharmacy experience much (just a lil volunteering at hospital) but i have lots of work experience in labs, some volunteering in hospital, leadership at my temple, u think i'll get in colorado?
also, does that school place a lot of emphasis on pharmacy experience?
what cali schools did u get into?
thanx a lot
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2006
- Messages
- 123
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
- Pharmacy Student
to me, your application looks just as good as mine..doublehh03 said:
it didn't seem like they placed any more emphasis on pharmacy experience than any other school i've interviewed at - so as long as you at least have some, i think it's fine for this school. just a note though, there were a LOT of out-of-state people during my interview (especially from california), and there's not that many seats that colorado usually gives to out-of-state applicants, so it is pretty competitive for out-of-staters.
for california schools, i followed through on the applications for 3 schools: llu, ucsf, ucsd. invited to interview at all three, declined the interview at llu, accepted at ucsf and ucsd.
where did u go for undergrad? one of the UCs?
doublehh03 said:
They don't place a lot of emphasis on experience. If you don't have direct experience in pharmacy, then have a good answer why you want to go into pharmacy even though you've never done it. Having work experience in a lab is certainly a plus. That shows that you can handle detailed orriented work. I got into colorado w/o any pharmacy experience, and 3+ years of lab work.
yea, im still tryin to get some experience though but its kinda hard to get pharmacy experience outside of hospitals. they usually want techs.
hopefully i get some clerk job soon so that'll give me 3-4 months of experience b4 interviews come around.
hopefully i get some clerk job soon so that'll give me 3-4 months of experience b4 interviews come around.
If you can't get a job, don't stress out about it too much. Just do more shadowing. Besides with shadowing you could see a wider variety of job in pharmacy.
do u think asking to shadow a pharmacist is easier for private pharmacists? i think they would need more help since most i know don't hire a lot of pharm techs.
If you are shadowing them, you don't really do anything besides watch and ask questions. At least where I live both hospital and retail people are generally will to let you shadow. Hospitals usually are a little more difficult since you have to fill out a bunch of paperwork.
- Joined
- Aug 3, 2004
- Messages
- 1,389
- Reaction score
- 13
- Points
- 4,641
- Age
- 60
- Location
- Denver, CO
- Pharmacist
patmcd said:
My overall stats (since we're sharing):
Biology/Chemistry major
3.96 GPA
no pharmacy experience, but previous work experience shows aptitude with science and little nit-picky details
no volunteer experience (that I cared to list, I don't volunteer to get into pharm school)
tons of life experience - successful (but soul-killing) career in telecom, lived overseas for several years
I got into CU. I only applied to two schools and I think my lack of pharmacy experience will keep me out of the other school. I don't care at this point.
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
So I have a B.S. in Public Relations - CLEARLY not a science background. Do you think this will have a negative effect on my overall application?
Biochemistry major, chemistry minor, and molecular bio certificate
3.75
Only a little pharmacy shadowing, but plenty of lab experence
Some volunteer stuff, but not tons like some people on here
A decent number of EC's, inluding multiple leadership positions
In addition I applied to UW, UNC, OSU, and Creighton.
3.75
Only a little pharmacy shadowing, but plenty of lab experence
Some volunteer stuff, but not tons like some people on here
A decent number of EC's, inluding multiple leadership positions
In addition I applied to UW, UNC, OSU, and Creighton.
patmcd said:
Public Relations Major
3.79 - Magna Cum Laude
Currently holding an A average in my pre reqs
good amount of pharmacy volunteer experience (incl. shadowing)
More than 20 ECs, leadership positions and academic honors...
So, how do you think this will affect my overall application and admission chances, being that I have a PR degree and not one that is from a science background?
Also, patmcd, which school are you going to?
Denver as of now. I've still waiting to hear back from UW and I've been waitlisted at UNC.
I think you have a fine chance of getting in. You are obviously successful academically based on your bs degree and your pre-req grades. If anything I'd think that since you can do well in science and PR you have a leg up the rest of us.
I think you have a fine chance of getting in. You are obviously successful academically based on your bs degree and your pre-req grades. If anything I'd think that since you can do well in science and PR you have a leg up the rest of us.
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2006
- Messages
- 90
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 0
- Pre-Pharmacy
A good friend of mine interviewed this Spring, but didn't get in...they had the nerve to send the infamous 'rejection by email' - with "APPLICATION DENIED" in the subject heading...She has a 3.8 GPA and got 90th percentile PCAT, extremely bright girl.
PCAT isn't even considered for Colorado. A high GPA will get you an interview, but after that its all on you. Maybe you friend had a bad interview?