Discouraged or not?

[mcbmajor]

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Hi

I was looking at the archives for some advice, but I didn't find information that was specific enough. I'm an MCB major at UC Berkeley and I notice you have some Berkeley grads here so maybe you guys can give me some idea of my chances. 🙂 I talked to some PILLS people (the prepharm society) on campus, but they were rather discouraging about my chances.

I haven't done all that well for the pharm prereqs though they're all B's pretty much except for biochemistry(A). I have A's in all my upper division biology classes, but despite the improvement I think that these grades wouldn't count(??) because they're not prepharm courses (cell bio and devl bio etc). They're science courses, but I am concerned that my prereq GPA is already too low to be competitive at places like USC and UCSF or UCSD. I want to apply within the state.

I have experience doing MCB research, working in labs, and volunteering at a pharmacy. My overall GPA is something like a 3.55 and it has definitely increased in the past 2 years. I guess it's only my prereq GPA (I think without the humanities it's a little above a 3.0) (that I earned mainly in my freshman year) that bothers me. I was wondering if anyone had
any encouraging words.

BTW, does the prepharm GPA you refer to include the humanity courses like Econ and micrbio and english? And if so...for the english courses if I took more than one...who decides what grades are used?

Thanks in advance. 🙂

 

[caligirlpharmd]

Oh my gosh don't be discouraged! I had a lower GPA than you from UCLA. I did fine with getting into all those CA schools. Obviously you are not me but I would not be discouraged. You have a great GPA from an amazing institution. Berkeley is looked upon very highly. Your grades are strong. Do you have experience, research, and/or volunteer work? If you have those, and spend a lot of time on your personal statements, you should be fine. Spend a lot of time on that, it is sooo important!

Pharmcas does not include humanities in the "science and math" gpa, it includes everything in the "overall" gpa.

Don't let other people discourage you. You have to believe in yourself and you can't get bogged down by other people's stats. Especially CA schools..that is not what they are about.

 

[crossjb]

You're a California resident finishing their pre reqs at an excellent school. GPA is relative to the university it was attained. You should be competitive in state. Don't allow the all omnipotent "prepharm society" to psyche you out!

 

[WVUPharm2007]

double post. oops.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

Hahaha, the omnipotent prepharm society. I have this mental image of a bunch of 19 and 20 year olds around the war room table from Dr. Strangelove plotting whom they will allow into pharmacy school. Trust me, it's funnier in my head than it is written down. I need sleep.

I love it when people claim joining those clubs "look good on your pharmacy school application." No it doesn't, they could give a rat's ass. They want to know what you got in O-Chem.

 

[cheesygal]

Yeah, I'm pretty much on the same boat as you are. I messed up my gpa pretty badly during my first 2 years at UCLA (also, the time I took my pre-reqs--smart, huh?). However, my last 2 years were a lot better. I just graduated and need to take the year off cus I WANT pharm schools to see the improvement I've made with my grades up until the end of senior year. I've been working hard on my PS and resume (USC requies a resume), and I've got to tell ya, it's one stressful process! I'm planning on re-taking the pre-reqs over again at a community college; I hope that at least shows the pharm schools that I am serious about pharm school and WANT to improve myself. And if worse comes to worse, I can always re-apply next year, but with a much higher pre-req GPA. I hope everything will fall into place cus my passion is in pharmacy and I can truly see myself happy doing it for the rest of my life. *sigh* 🙁

 

[elmoz]

Hi. I talked to some PILLS people (the prepharm society) on campus, but they were rather discouraging about my chances. . 🙂

Your chances are fine. I think they are discouraging you because they don't want you to take their spot.

 

[bananaface]

Hahaha, the omnipotent prepharm society. I have this mental image of a bunch of 19 and 20 year olds around the war room table from Dr. Strangelove plotting whom they will allow into pharmacy school. Trust me, it's funnier in my head than it is written down. I need sleep.

I love it when people claim joining those clubs "look good on your pharmacy school application." No it doesn't, they could give a rat's ass. They want to know what you got in O-Chem.

My school looks at/discusses activities and stuff during the interview portion of the process.

 

[aubieRx]

we're doomed!

seriously the naysayers are like c3po sometimes. dont always listen to em;'

 

[Minghoo]

Don't worry dude! PILLs people are psycho! I never joined them for a reason!

Anways I went to CAL too and was a MCB major (CDB) My overall gpa was lower than yours. 3.27 or something. And my prereq was a bit higher like 3.5 and my non science was a 3.8. I took most of my prereqs at a jc and I got into USC and UOP just fine. And I applied last year so their admission criteria wont change too much.

I had experience just like you, lab experience, clinical research experience, work experience, volunteering, leadership, blah blah blah. You get my point.

Don't let those nay sayers put you down, and trust me you'll meet plenty more as you progress in school. I do however recommend starting your essay early and make it interesting and unique and get some good letter of recs, not a professor from year 1 that only knows your name and gives you some generic letter. Get people that know the real you and if they let you read the letter that's even better, but most won't. Once you impress them with that they will give you an interview and then you just show them them real you!

I do recommend tier 1 deadline for UOP and as early as possible for USC cuz both are rolling admissions. UCSF and UCSD are very hard to get into but worth a shot...so good luck....if you need more info or whatever feel free to PM or IM me.