Discouraged--please help :(

[emkobiet]

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I'm feeling so discouraged. This is my second year applying for pharm schools and I still haven't heard anything yet from the schools that I applied to, except for a rejection letter from Nova. After May, I will receive my BS in Biology. I really don't know what to do afterwards if I don't get accepted to a pharm school this year. My GPA and PCAT scores aren't that good-- my overall GPA on PharmCAS is 3.17 and my PCAT is 59 percentile. I'm retaking the PCAT in Jan, hopefully I will do better this time. I trying to improve my GPA as well, but it seems like no matter how hard I try, my GPA won't increase by much.
But anyhow, my question is what should I do after graduation? Should I just attend a community college and retake all the science classes that I had Cs in to pull up my science GPA? Or should I just take graduate courses so it would look good on my transcript when I reapply the following year? Or should I just screw pharmacy and go for something else?

 

[misstofu]

I'm feeling so discouraged. This is my second year applying for pharm schools and I still haven't heard anything yet from the schools that I applied to, except for a rejection letter from Nova. After May, I will receive my BS in Biology. I really don't know what to do afterwards if I don't get accepted to a pharm school this year. My GPA and PCAT scores aren't that good-- my overall GPA on PharmCAS is 3.17 and my PCAT is 59 percentile. I'm retaking the PCAT in Jan, hopefully I will do better this time. I trying to improve my GPA as well, but it seems like no matter how hard I try, my GPA won't increase by much.
But anyhow, my question is what should I do after graduation? Should I just attend a community college and retake all the science classes that I had Cs in to pull up my science GPA? Or should I just take graduate courses so it would look good on my transcript when I reapply the following year? Or should I just screw pharmacy and go for something else?

Well, a 3.17 is not bad at all! besides that, do you have any other experiences ? pharmacy, and activities? leadership skill? try to into some activities, they help a lot as well....
but in your case, what i will do is yup try harder on the pcat next time !
however, if you don't get to any of the pharmacy schools like you said ( but i hope you will get good news soon) then what's ur major? maybe you can go for master degree and then apply to pharmacy later, bc a master degree means a lot!! so good luck! but i bet, you'll get news eventually! maybe interviews??

 

[PharmacistApril]

I'm not that far with my pre-requisites but I can tell you that if pharmacy is what you want to do don't let anyone say, "Retake courses and if you don't do well don't do pharmacy". I feel like if you want to do pharmacy re-take courses that can make a impact on your GPA like a 4 credit science course that you got a "C" or lower in. Also I would definitely look into re-taking the PCAT or apply to schools that don't require a PCAT if your not comfortable with standardized tests. However, if you get restless and you aren't satisfied or you keep getting denied have a back up plan, My back up plan is to be a physician assistant if I don't get into pharmacy school but I still have two years before I get my bachelors so time will only tell..........another story lol, I say keep trucking and you will get there.

I also agree with MissTofu you should try and do volunteer work, and all the good stuff.

 

[emkobiet]

Thanks misstofu and PharmacistApril for your replies.
I have about 3 months of pharmacy experience, I'm in the Pre-pharmacy society at my University, I have some leadership positions, and plenty of community and volunteer services. I think my overall GPA is decent, but my science GPA is horrible (it's about a 2.7). My PCAT is horrible also--the verbal and reading part screwed me over. I was leaning towards retaking the science courses that I had Cs after graduation to improve my GPA, but I don't know if that will help. Will pharm schools mind if I retake those at a community college? I just feel like I've wasted a lot of time... sighhhhh

 

[misstofu]

Thanks misstofu and PharmacistApril for your replies.
I have about 3 months of pharmacy experience, I'm in the Pre-pharmacy society at my University, I have some leadership positions, and plenty of community and volunteer services. I think my overall GPA is decent, but my science GPA is horrible (it's about a 2.7). My PCAT is horrible also--the verbal and reading part screwed me over. I was leaning towards retaking the science courses that I had Cs after graduation to improve my GPA, but I don't know if that will help. Will pharm schools mind if I retake those at a community college? I just feel like I've wasted a lot of time... sighhhhh

Well, i guess it is bc of the science gpa, but think about if you have to take all those prereq again and the time of retaking them is equal to the time you're getting your master, then i would rather go for master!
but of course getting your master is harder than retaking those prereq at a community college.
so try to come up with the best solution,
A. retaking those prereqs at college, chances are: higher gpa, pharmacy schools will consider it of course, but what a waste of time-- this (TO OTHER SND USERS, PLEASE HELP!) I REALLY don't know if it's good or not!
b. go for master: chances are: if you really want to improve, do you think you will get a higher gpa?- if so, then go for master, because master weights more than retaking classes, and plus another degree! with a master degree, you can make at least 60K/year. However, going for pharmacy after that is no problem!

hope this helps! other ideas, please help her out!

 

[aboveliquidice]

I'm feeling so discouraged. This is my second year applying for pharm schools and I still haven't heard anything yet from the schools that I applied to, except for a rejection letter from Nova. After May, I will receive my BS in Biology. I really don't know what to do afterwards if I don't get accepted to a pharm school this year. My GPA and PCAT scores aren't that good-- my overall GPA on PharmCAS is 3.17 and my PCAT is 59 percentile. I'm retaking the PCAT in Jan, hopefully I will do better this time. I trying to improve my GPA as well, but it seems like no matter how hard I try, my GPA won't increase by much.
But anyhow, my question is what should I do after graduation? Should I just attend a community college and retake all the science classes that I had Cs in to pull up my science GPA? Or should I just take graduate courses so it would look good on my transcript when I reapply the following year? Or should I just screw pharmacy and go for something else?

I think it depends on what you earned the Cs in... If it is Gen Chem I - or Bio I - You really should take those. However, I would pursue your Master's Degree primarily - and take one or two science retakes at the same time, but at a CC. That way you forge ahead - and at the same time clean up your past record. Community service is a dime-a-dozen. You volunteer w/ the homeless, you play softball, you do xxxxxxx whatever - just make sure you have some. Academics are paramount - the rest is secondary.

~above~

 

[Farmercyst]

Thanks misstofu and PharmacistApril for your replies.
I have about 3 months of pharmacy experience, I'm in the Pre-pharmacy society at my University, I have some leadership positions, and plenty of community and volunteer services. I think my overall GPA is decent, but my science GPA is horrible (it's about a 2.7). My PCAT is horrible also--the verbal and reading part screwed me over. I was leaning towards retaking the science courses that I had Cs after graduation to improve my GPA, but I don't know if that will help. Will pharm schools mind if I retake those at a community college? I just feel like I've wasted a lot of time... sighhhhh

Depending on how old the units are you could retake the bare necessities and try for academic forgiveness (a la USN) I know I had a 6 unit physics course. That would have a huge impact if you retook something like that.

 

[Pharm47]

I'm feeling so discouraged. This is my second year applying for pharm schools and I still haven't heard anything yet from the schools that I applied to, except for a rejection letter from Nova. After May, I will receive my BS in Biology. I really don't know what to do afterwards if I don't get accepted to a pharm school this year. My GPA and PCAT scores aren't that good-- my overall GPA on PharmCAS is 3.17 and my PCAT is 59 percentile. I'm retaking the PCAT in Jan, hopefully I will do better this time. I trying to improve my GPA as well, but it seems like no matter how hard I try, my GPA won't increase by much.
But anyhow, my question is what should I do after graduation? Should I just attend a community college and retake all the science classes that I had Cs in to pull up my science GPA? Or should I just take graduate courses so it would look good on my transcript when I reapply the following year? Or should I just screw pharmacy and go for something else?

Get a job. Learn a little bit about life, support yourself, pay your own bills...try not being a student for once! Most professional schools (medical, dental, pharmacy, etc) look very positively on applicants that have a "gap year" between undergraduate and professional school. You are about to enter another 3-5 years of education, which requires 3-5 years of tuition, that will eventually lead to a job you are expected to have (in one form or another) for the rest of your life. A little bit of experience in the working world can only help you, not only in your quest to gain admission, but also in your eventual decision as to what type of work you want to do (i.e. clinical pharmacy, community pharmacy, research, etc.) If you don't know what type of work to get, and you want to give pharmacy a try, get certified and be a tech for a year. Or, do what I did: I'm a Biology major working as a business consultant. Nothing to do with pharmacy, but I've learned a lot of real-life working-world skills. 2 years was enough - now I'm off to pharmacy school!

 

[Rxbound]

Do what Pharm47 said.
I graduated in 2002 with a degree in French. My GPA was a 3.19, and the science GPA was 2.75 (no kidding). How did I get in? Real life experience. I support myself. Retake the PCAT and do well (93 is what I got). If you want this, you can do it.

 

[helster]

hey i know how you feel. I applied to pharmacy school 4 times. The first 3 times i just applied to 4/5 schools. This year I appied to 14 schools, and i actually got into one. I had a low gpa, and after takng the pcats 3 times i got a 94. I also got a job as a pharm tech. If you dont get in apply again and get work experince, and study hard for the pcats. Also apply very EARLY, that also makes a difference. Get a rec letter from a pharmacist if you dont already have one. good luck. and dont give up if this is what u really want to do.

 

[TennisBoy78]

I agree with Pharm47. Gaining pharmacy tech experience (along with getting certified) is paramount. You can retake classes, but your old grades will still show. You can take the PCAT over and over again, but let's face it, it is a standardized test, and it's not easy for a lot of people (myself included). You can retake the PCAT many times, but I would not retake it more than once or twice because there is more to life than the PCAT. Your GPA/PCAT is not that bad, but not stellar. Pharm experience will make your application more attractive than retaking the PCAT ten million times or retaking classes will.

Gaining pharm experience tells schools that YOU ARE SERIOUS about pharmacy as a profession. Will pharmacy school still be hard? Yes, but at least a school will know that you are committed to the profession and understand the parameters of the profession.

Good luck to you.

 

[airen]

Do what Pharm47 said.
I graduated in 2002 with a degree in French. My GPA was a 3.19, and the science GPA was 2.75 (no kidding). How did I get in? Real life experience. I support myself. Retake the PCAT and do well (93 is what I got). If you want this, you can do it.

I agrree with most of what was said in this forum. If this is what you really want to do, don't let anyone discourage you from pursuing it. Get your pharm tech license, retake classes at CC cuz some if not most school take the higher grade when you fill out the institution's supplemental apps., re-evaluate your apps. By that I mean, do you think you received a strong LOR, how were your personal statement? Did you spend time making it sound personable and meaningful? Just spend some time doing that and take or retake your PCAT again. do whatever it takes to get your foot in the door.

 

[emkobiet]

Thanks everyone for replying. Your insights are very meaningful and encouraging. I know that a career in pharmacy is my dream and I will not give up on it. Hopefully you guys will hear some good news from me the following year.

 

[abt04]

hey dont feel bad, a 3.17 isnt bad at all. its a decent gpa. truthfully thats what i had when i applied for schools. i applied to 11 schools and got accepted to 3 and waitlisted at some others. the key thing is to retake your pcats and try to get better scores (it doesnt hurt if you can. otherwise i met people with lower pcats and they got interviews. another key thing is to apply early. like crazy early and you wont regret it.

 

[meg]

If your science GPA and PCAT scores are that low, it seems to me that you don't like science that much! Are you sure there isn't something else that is taking away your attention that you would rather be doing with your life?

Example: I started in Biochem and now I work in marketing and PR...

~Meg

 

[rx27563]

If your science GPA and PCAT scores are that low, it seems to me that you don't like science that much! Are you sure there isn't something else that is taking away your attention that you would rather be doing with your life?

Example: I started in Biochem and now I work in marketing and PR...

~Meg

i dont agree with that logic...that if you have a low science gpa that you dont like science that much. honestly all schools are different maybe his/her school has an insanely hard science department? maybe his/her C will prove more useful than your A on the PCAT. thats where the true indicator is at...standardized test tell everyone what kind of education you have recieved.....

 

[FarmDMD]

I was in a similari situation as are now 2 years ago. Forget retaking all those classes it won't do you any real good. Start a graduate program in somthing that you enjoy (preferably in the sciences) that will help your GPA and give you a back up plan. I would wait to retake the PCAT until you feel you can rock that mo' fo! I took the Kaplan class and went from a 72 to a 93...I think its worth it but you need to put in the work. Don't rush into anything until you think your options through and don't give up.

 

[longstech]

You may want to look into special masters programs that are designed for those looking to apply to a graduate health program. They are usually 1-2 years long, may or may not require a thesis and one of the main purposes of the program is to improve one's GPA. Most are for medical or dental schools (that I have looked into) but you can usually submit a GRE score in place of a MCAT or DAT and you may be able to even submit the PCAT on the application (you would have to call the school). These programs are especially helpful to those who need to raise their GPA and know that they want to enter into a professional health program post-bachelors degree.

 

[PharmDstudent]

Get a job. Learn a little bit about life, support yourself, pay your own bills...try not being a student for once! Most professional schools (medical, dental, pharmacy, etc) look very positively on applicants that have a "gap year" between undergraduate and professional school. You are about to enter another 3-5 years of education, which requires 3-5 years of tuition, that will eventually lead to a job you are expected to have (in one form or another) for the rest of your life. A little bit of experience in the working world can only help you, not only in your quest to gain admission, but also in your eventual decision as to what type of work you want to do (i.e. clinical pharmacy, community pharmacy, research, etc.) If you don't know what type of work to get, and you want to give pharmacy a try, get certified and be a tech for a year. Or, do what I did: I'm a Biology major working as a business consultant. Nothing to do with pharmacy, but I've learned a lot of real-life working-world skills. 2 years was enough - now I'm off to pharmacy school!

My pharmacy school doesn't encourage taking a year off. They even say on their website that they prefer continuous students.
Do the Masters Program, if you can. You could also do an intership in a foreign country. I worked at a nursing home in Germany during the summer of 2004. I really think it made my application unique. You could also try persuing a second bachelors if you have enough hours. I was only 30 hours away from a bachelors in Economics when I got accepted to pharmacy school. My back-up plan was to finish Economics if I didn't get in.