Didn't get accepted this year, wondering what my plans should be

[CourtneySheldon]

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A bit of background: I'm going to be done with my prerequisites this summer. I applied to Pharmacy schools this year and got an interview with one, but ultimately I didn't get accepted to any of them.

I'm going to apply again in the next application cycle (as well as retake the PCAT), but I'm wondering what I should do until the decision comes in. My main goal is to do Pharmacy, so I was wondering if it would adversely affect my chances for admission if I stopped taking classes after finishing my prereqs, and instead stayed home to focus full-time on building Pharmacy work experience and saving money for future schooling.

Money is the main reason I'm apprehensive about taking more classes, since advisors have told me that Pharmacy schools only look at your prereqs and not any classes beyond that. So if I'm ultimately planning on doing Pharmacy then spending money to take classes that won't be considered doesn't seem like a comfortable decision.

So basically, what option would be wiser: to continue taking classes after I finish my prereqs (I could also get a job alongside this) or would it be okay to stop taking classes and focus fully on working and getting experience?

 

[Passion4Sci]

A bit of background: I'm going to be done with my prerequisites this summer. I applied to Pharmacy schools this year and got an interview with one, but ultimately I didn't get accepted to any of them.

I'm going to apply again in the next application cycle (as well as retake the PCAT), but I'm wondering what I should do until the decision comes in. My main goal is to do Pharmacy, so I was wondering if it would adversely affect my chances for admission if I stopped taking classes after finishing my prereqs, and instead stayed home to focus full-time on building Pharmacy work experience and saving money for future schooling.

Money is the main reason I'm apprehensive about taking more classes, since advisors have told me that Pharmacy schools only look at your prereqs and not any classes beyond that. So if I'm ultimately planning on doing Pharmacy then spending money to take classes that won't be considered doesn't seem like a comfortable decision.

So basically, what option would be wiser: to continue taking classes after I finish my prereqs (I could also get a job alongside this) or would it be okay to stop taking classes and focus fully on working and getting experience?

We cannot answer this question until you tell us what your grades in your pre-requisite classes are. If you didn't receive any admission offers & only 1 interview then chances are your grades / ECs need work. in that case, it might be wise to continue your education to bolster your GPA and to show you can master coursework while working/getting EC. Many of us worked, volunteered & still got competitive grades and that is what you're up against.

Especially if you can receive a BA/BS I strongly encourage you to stay in classes after your pre-requisites are done. That said, if you have a 3.9 GPA in your pre-requisite coursework then perhaps something else was missing and taking more classes would not necessarily be a good course of action so... like I said before, we need more info to give the best advice. I disagree with your advisors straight away however. Sure, pre-requisites are VERY important but to claim that they're the only body of coursework that schools look at it seems silly to me. If I take Biochem, Physical Chem, Analytic Chem, Histology and Immunology I hope to God they see those grades!!!! And don't just close their eyes and throw away the transcripts after checking to see if my GE breadth and O Chem was done.

So yea... more info please!

 

[deleted289008]

Something that you might consider is to look at what classes your target school's pharmacy courses are. For UCSF, there are some classes that we can waive out of if we had taken the class and received an A in it.

As stated above, if you have a high overall and science GPA (as well as great grades in the prereqs) then working and volunteering for a year is a great alternative to taking courses. You might also want to call the school you've applied to and ask them for ways to improve your application. Maybe they wanted more pharmacy experience? Maybe a better statement? Either way, it would give you a bearing on what you need to work on 🙂.

 

[CourtneySheldon]

We cannot answer this question until you tell us what your grades in your pre-requisite classes are. If you didn't receive any admission offers & only 1 interview then chances are your grades / ECs need work. in that case, it might be wise to continue your education to bolster your GPA and to show you can master coursework while working/getting EC. Many of us worked, volunteered & still got competitive grades and that is what you're up against.

Especially if you can receive a BA/BS I strongly encourage you to stay in classes after your pre-requisites are done. That said, if you have a 3.9 GPA in your pre-requisite coursework then perhaps something else was missing and taking more classes would not necessarily be a good course of action so... like I said before, we need more info to give the best advice. I disagree with your advisors straight away however. Sure, pre-requisites are VERY important but to claim that they're the only body of coursework that schools look at it seems silly to me. If I take Biochem, Physical Chem, Analytic Chem, Histology and Immunology I hope to God they see those grades!!!! And don't just close their eyes and throw away the transcripts after checking to see if my GE breadth and O Chem was done.

So yea... more info please!

My GPA is a 3.4 so far, so it could use a boost. But from talking to people I was under the impression that only the GPA for my prerequisites was looked at. So does that mean I should retake classes?

I've also only taken the PCAT once and made a 60. I'm planning on retaking that to get up higher. The interview I did get was at UGA which is pretty competitive, but I think I was bolstered by my recommendations and extracurriculars (sports and arts clubs).

Something that you might consider is to look at what classes your target school's pharmacy courses are. For UCSF, there are some classes that we can waive out of if we had taken the class and received an A in it.

As stated above, if you have a high overall and science GPA (as well as great grades in the prereqs) then working and volunteering for a year is a great alternative to taking courses. You might also want to call the school you've applied to and ask them for ways to improve your application. Maybe they wanted more pharmacy experience? Maybe a better statement? Either way, it would give you a bearing on what you need to work on 🙂.

I think calling the school would be a good idea. I'll try that.

 

[amox]

I was asked this during my interview, what would I do if I didn't get accepted this year.

My answer was simple.

Improve every aspect of the application. If you got a C in a prereq retake the course. Study harder for the PCAT, and learn test taking tips to improve your score.

Start your personal statement over from scratch, use key points, but rewrite it to flow.

Attempt to get more letters of recommendation, but remember quality > quantity. (pharmacist letters are very nice to have)

Apply to more schools, this will increase the odds.

Volunteer more, and somewhere relavent such as in/out-patient pharmacies.

Attempt to get certified as a tech, however also apply to jobs once you get it. Don't simply get it to improve your application.

Focus on the PCAT areas that count... Chemistry/Biology/Math the rest is nice to ace, but difficult to find decent material for.

Practice interview skills with families, and infront of a camera. Listen to what you say and how you sound. There are people with 3.5+ gpa and 90+ PCAT who are turned down because they cannot hold a convsersation or are too cocky.

Dress well, have grannie iron all the garmets.

GL

 

[armorking]

Practice interview skills with families, and infront of a camera. Listen to what you say and how you sound. There are people with 3.5+ gpa and 90+ PCAT who are turned down because they cannot hold a convsersation or are too cocky.

Dress well, have grannie iron all the garmets.

👍 QFT

Practice, practice, practice!!! I feel many do not get in or are wait-listed b/c of a lack of going through potential questions. It happened to me when I interviewed since I had a total lack of preparation. I used my first interview as practice and that was a huge mistake.

"Have grannie iron all the garmets." Best piece of advice I have seen on the forums in a while. There were some sloppy interviewers when I interviewed and, the truth is, you got to give it your all every time you see a school. Each school wants to know if you are serious about being there and how you present yourself is a big part of it.

 

[quimicosoy]

u should stick with your classes and keep taking upper level classes if you can. Nowadays, lots of people are applying to pharmacy school with bachelors, so it is a sure bet to stick with it. Plus, you need a second plan just in case you never get in.

For instance, I finished my BA in chemistry, and had to take tons of hard core classes, like physical chemistry, analytical, advance organic chemistry, instrumental analysis, biochem etc, etc...those classes are tough, why do you know that? Because the typical size of those classes are no more than 25 people. I know for sure that I got accepted because my upper level classes grades were not less than B, and most A's. And my prerequisites were also B's and A's. Except physical chemistry that I got a C...that class is the mother of all difficult classes.

So stick with the classes work hard, get the grades, re take pcat, apply early. AND don't forget pharmacy experience, very important, beg for it if you have to, it will pay off.

 

[CourtneySheldon]

Okay, so the general consensus here seems to be that it's wiser to continue taking classes. And I made a C in one class needed as a prerequisite, so I'm guessing it would be wise to retake that, right?

 

[crazybob]

Okay, so the general consensus here seems to be that it's wiser to continue taking classes. And I made a C in one class needed as a prerequisite, so I'm guessing it would be wise to retake that, right?

That would depend on the school. If the pharmacy school will accept C or higher in pre-reqs, then it would be up to you to decide if you want to retake it.

 

[colleo]

I think your GPA is fine. Schools don't accept you because of your GPA, they look at the entire picture. I am telling you this from experience. This year I was offered admissions to two schools, got waitlisted at three and had two denials. And my STATS are: GPA 3.0, PCAT 50 percentile. Now I know everyone is wondering why I got accepted. Many of the schools liked me because of my story and what I have accomplished. In high school I cofounded an organization that promoted non-violence awareness and I started working as an HIV/AIDS peer educator at the tender age of thirteen. After high school, I was unable to participate in extracurricular activities because I had to support my family. I worked three jobs as a single mother and managed to graduate with a BA in biology and started an MPH program (now have a 4.0 GPA, even though this doesn't erase my undergrad GPA it shows that my determination and that I can excel at the graduate level). I also just started working as a pharmacy technician a few months before applying for admissions.

The point of this story is that you must find what makes you unique and write about it in your personal essay if you. You have to capture the readers attention in your personal statement and keep it. But make sure you don't give them all the information so that they don't feel they need to meet you. Aslo make sure you get strong LORs, they definitely help. If you can try to take graduate level courses to show you can succeed at graduate level, many schools are concerned with how you will do with graduate level courses and by taking some now you can provide them with a preview. I wish you the best of luck. All things are possible you just have to believe. And by the way the previous year I only had one interview and did not get accepted anywhere.