Dilemma - Creighton web-based program - need advice

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I took the October PCAT and made a 91 Composite and a 49 in Chem, but my other scores were all high (87-94). Only Chem was low since I hadn't really taken Organic I at that point. I did have it 2 years ago and dropped it and got a W cuz I got really sick that semester, but took it last Fall and got an A. I signed up to take the January PCAT just because of Chem. When I talked to Creighton, they said they would only review my app once and I had a choice: they could review it now, with my Organic I grade (but the guy said that 49 was kinda a red flag, though the A sorta offsets it, and the other PCAT subjects are good), or I could wait till I take the PCAT again and hopefully get a higher score in Chem and they would review me then. But will it be too late in the game by the time they get my January score, since they are rolling? And that's assuming I do better in Chem. I SHOULD do better, but you never know.

So, should I have them review me now, or should I tell them to wait till after they get my January PCAT score? And they won't get that score till approximately the end of February, depending on Harcourt.

I'm so confused. 😕 Please help. I want to maximize my chances of getting in, but of course the guy wouldn't tell me what to do.

 

[taken2]

Just go ahead and ask them to review your application now. 91 is a good score . Also because they do rolling admission. Don't waste your chance, you don't know for sure what your january score will be.
That's my two cents. peace 😎

 

[jlpolla]

I agree, ditto...You never know how you will do in Jan. why take the chance if the man said that your grade will off-set your low PCAT score in Chem...

Just go ahead and ask them to review your application now. 91 is a good score . Also because they do rolling admission. Don't waste your chance, you don't know for sure what your january score will be.
That's my two cents. peace 😎

 

[starsweet]

I agree, ditto...You never know how you will do in Jan. why take the chance if the man said that your grade will off-set your low PCAT score in Chem...

Well, actually, he ALSO said that many applicants will be taking the January PCAT and they are waiting for their scores too... to me it seemed he was leaning slightly towards waiting till after the January PCAT, though he would not explicitly say that...

 

[DHG]

sounds like you have a good reason for the 49 in chem... not having taken organic yet... and you cant beat an A in organic.


I agree with the others. Rolling admissions = the earlier the better. If the 49 is the only blemish on your record, and the rest of your scores/grades are good, I think you should go ahead and do it.


Maybe try talking to someone else at Chreighton, to get a second opinion, if possible.

👍

I had a 55 in the quant PCAT section, and I've gotten interviews so far everywhere I applied. One section shouldn't kill you.

 

[starsweet]

Thanks DHG. Getting a second opinion is a good idea. I just hope they don't get mad at me for calling so much.

I think that a low score in Chem is worse than a low score in Quant, just cuz pharmacy is heavily based on chemistry... and Creighton in particular places a lot of emphasis on Organic grades. I do have As in Gen Chem I/II.

The other "blemish" I have is a D in Bio 1 (I took it as an afterthought while taking engineering courses as an undergrad b/c I thought I might go premed, but later decided not to, and slacked off in Bio 1 b/c it didn't "matter" then), and when I retook it as a pre-pharm I made a B. And I have nearly all As in my other prereqs, and a few Bs.

I think I will talk to another person. 👍

 

[ButlerPharm.D.]

I don't know how things work at Creighton but I know that Butler will not accept or look at you as an applicant if you score lower than a 50 (on any section) of the PCAT. I thought that a 50 or above was required because a 50 is considered a "minimum passing grade". Did they mention something about this to you?

 

[DHG]

Thanks DHG. Getting a second opinion is a good idea. I just hope they don't get mad at me for calling so much.

I think that a low score in Chem is worse than a low score in Quant, just cuz pharmacy is heavily based on chemistry... and Creighton in particular places a lot of emphasis on Organic grades. I do have As in Gen Chem I/II.

The other "blemish" I have is a D in Bio 1 (I took it as an afterthought while taking engineering courses as an undergrad b/c I thought I might go premed, but later decided not to, and slacked off in Bio 1 b/c it didn't "matter" then), and when I retook it as a pre-pharm I made a B. And I have nearly all As in my other prereqs, and a few Bs.

I think I will talk to another person. 👍

I like your dog in glasses 🙂

Just remember that with rolling admissions... half the spots or more will already be filled if you wait for new PCAT scores. And you will be competing against more applicants at that time. Competing with more applicants for fewer spots is not where I would want to be. You can't change your previous grades. So don't sweat that, there's nothing you can do about it. You can try to bring up the Chem score, but you can't garauntee that your next PCAT score will be better than a 91 (which is an excellent score, BTW).


Just curious, and sortof not related to your question, but I'm dying to know... what is the appeal of the web-based program? I don't know that I'd feel comfortable doing a PharmD that way. I know it's supposed to be a good program, but I think I would be scared to do it that way. I know they still have to meet occasionally, but doing most of it online just sounds... scary... to me

What ButlerD says is important, too... you should check to see what Chreighton's minimum in each section is, if possible.

 

[starsweet]

I don't know how things work at Creighton but I know that Butler will not accept or look at you as an applicant if you score lower than a 50 (on any section) of the PCAT. I thought that a 50 or above was required because a 50 is considered a "minimum passing grade". Did they mention something about this to you?

I did ask them about this a while ago, and they said only the Composite has to be greater than 50. They weren't very clear with me at first, but I think I will ask them again. Thanks for bringing this up.

 

[starsweet]

I like your dog in glasses 🙂

Just remember that with rolling admissions... half the spots or more will already be filled if you wait for new PCAT scores. And you will be competing against more applicants at that time. Competing with more applicants for fewer spots is not where I would want to be. You can't change your previous grades. So don't sweat that, there's nothing you can do about it. You can try to bring up the Chem score, but you can't garauntee that your next PCAT score will be better than a 91 (which is an excellent score, BTW).


Just curious, and sortof not related to your question, but I'm dying to know... what is the appeal of the web-based program? I don't know that I'd feel comfortable doing a PharmD that way. I know it's supposed to be a good program, but I think I would be scared to do it that way. I know they still have to meet occasionally, but doing most of it online just sounds... scary... to me

What ButlerD says is important, too... you should check to see what Chreighton's minimum in each section is, if possible.

Thanks, he really is a smartie! (my dog)

You're right about the class being halfway filled and competing with more people doesn't sound fun to me either... I just wonder why the guy wanted me to wait. I tried calling again but the same guy answered! So I didn't get to talk to anyone else.

It's funny, when I first heard of Creighton's web pathway I thought it was crazy but the more I thought about it, the more it appealed to me. I am actually applying to quite a few campus-based programs and decided to also apply to Creighton b/c I've been sick a lot in the past (doctors didn't know what was wrong with me) and had to drop classes (I have a few Ws for this reason - this is also why I had a W the first time I took Organic I) so I thought a web-based program would be more convenient. I didn't want the same thing to happen while in a professional program (me getting sick, then majorly stressed out b/c I was missing so many classes, then having to drop classes). At least there wouldn't be classes to attend and I could spend more time studying, in case I were to get sick again. I have gotten better but I get flareups from time to time. I am concerned about motivation and the lack of interaction with others, though. I am still young and single (25) so I would miss out on meeting people and the experience if I decided to do Creighton. But I haven't made a final decision and I guess it all depends if I get into Creighton anyway!

 

[Glycerin]

I'm not sure that I would have called the 49 to their attention. But, I would also go ahead and let them review your app now.

 

[starsweet]

I didn't really call it to their attention. I just told them I was going to take the PCAT again, since I noticed they recommended the PCAT be taken after one semester of Organic (which I didn't do, b/c I didn't want to wait that long). That's when he said I had a choice and started looking at all my stats.

Thanks to all for your advice. I will probably tell them to do it now.

 

[rxlynn]

I like your dog in glasses 🙂


Just curious, and sortof not related to your question, but I'm dying to know... what is the appeal of the web-based program? I don't know that I'd feel comfortable doing a PharmD that way. I know it's supposed to be a good program, but I think I would be scared to do it that way. I know they still have to meet occasionally, but doing most of it online just sounds... scary... to me

DHG - I am also applying to Creighton web-based, so I can comment on this question. You do go to Nebraska once a year. Also, they assign mentors for your courses, so you have a person who is actually supposed to be an additional contact/resource besides just the professor. The average age of their web-based class is a bit older than the average pharmacy school class, and I would assume that is because a lot of them are in the same situation I am. I have 2 children, and do not have the choice to relocate from where I live because my husband has to continue to be employed while I am in school. So, I just don't have the luxury of choice that all the younger folks on this board do. For me, Creighton might be the only way I can do pharmacy school.