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- Pre-Pharmacy
Hello,
I am currently a third-year undergrad student who transferred from Elmhurst College (commuting) to UIC (dorming) this year. I knew I wanted to do something in the medical professions so I began undergrad as a Pre-Med. During sophomore year, I realized that it was far too stressful (OChem and Genetics killed me) so I switched to Pre-Pharmacy, which was the main career I had in mind growing up. Grade-wise, I have been fairly inconsistent throughout undergrad. Here are my grades:
Fall 2012:
English 160 - B
General Biology I - B-
General Chemistry I - B
Native American Math (pointless, required first-year class at Elmhurst) - B
Research in Biology - A
Spring 2013:
English 161 - A
General Biology II - C+
General Chemistry II - A
Sociology - A
Fall 2013:
Genetics - C
Organic Chemistry I - C
Intercultural Studies - B-
Enhancing Healthcare through Our Stories (terrible class) - B
(Calculus I - W)
Spring 2014:
Organic Chemistry II - C
Calculus I - B
Intro to Acting - A
Philosophy - A
(Invertebrate Zoology - W)
Fall 2014 (pending, but most likely):
Calculus II - B
Italian I - B
(Calc-based Physics I - W)
So far, I have racked up 3 W's and earned 4 C's. Currently, my cGPA is at a 3.06 and I *believe* sGPA is at 3.10.
I withdrew from Calc I in Fall 2013 because it was an 8 am that ran from Monday through Friday and commuting made it even worse.
I withdrew from Invertebrate Zoology in Spring 2014 because I had switched from being pre-med to pre-pharm and I didn't need any more upper-level Bio courses. Also, I bombed the first exam.
This fall has been a strange case. I immediately got bronchitis a week or two after school started and it lasted for nearly 2 months (still have a bit of a cough). I feel that I might have chronic bronchitis because I have gotten it around this time every year, for the past 4 years. As a result, it left me fatigued and getting out of bed was the hardest part. It also didn't help that I have never taken a physics class before (not even in high school) so naturally, jumping straight to calc-based physics was a foolish mistake. I feel that only having two classes in my third year will look fairly bad to pharm schools, almost like a downward trend. As long as I do well in my classes next semester and don't withdraw from any, I hope that I can rectify this.
As far as extracurriculars go, not too many. I have over 150 hours of volunteer experience at a local hospital since fall 2013. 100 of those hours were of being a front desk greeter and directing patients/visitors and the other 50 were certified pharmacy tech experience over summer 2014.
The pharmacy schools that I had in mind for applying to were Midwestern CCP and UIC COP. I was wondering if I am in an okay position currently for both schools and what I could do to strengthen my application. I would LOVE to go to UIC COP but I know that it is highly selective so this is why I'm worried.
I am taking the PCAT in spring 2015 and plan to purchase a Dr. Collins PCAT study guide and study like crazy over this winter break. (If anyone on here would be willing to part with a 2013-2014 Dr. Collins PCAT study guide, please PM me!) In addition, I am applying to be either a Resident Advisor or a Peer Mentor for next year at UIC, which I feel would help me take on more responsibilities and signify leadership skills. I also plan to receive my Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry before I think about applying to any pharm schools. Lastly, I realize that LOR's would also probably strengthen my application. I believe I could ask my volunteer coordinator at the local hospital to write me one or perhaps I could do some research at UIC and ask that professor?
Please let me know what you think and thank you for taking the time to read all of this!
I am currently a third-year undergrad student who transferred from Elmhurst College (commuting) to UIC (dorming) this year. I knew I wanted to do something in the medical professions so I began undergrad as a Pre-Med. During sophomore year, I realized that it was far too stressful (OChem and Genetics killed me) so I switched to Pre-Pharmacy, which was the main career I had in mind growing up. Grade-wise, I have been fairly inconsistent throughout undergrad. Here are my grades:
Fall 2012:
English 160 - B
General Biology I - B-
General Chemistry I - B
Native American Math (pointless, required first-year class at Elmhurst) - B
Research in Biology - A
Spring 2013:
English 161 - A
General Biology II - C+
General Chemistry II - A
Sociology - A
Fall 2013:
Genetics - C
Organic Chemistry I - C
Intercultural Studies - B-
Enhancing Healthcare through Our Stories (terrible class) - B
(Calculus I - W)
Spring 2014:
Organic Chemistry II - C
Calculus I - B
Intro to Acting - A
Philosophy - A
(Invertebrate Zoology - W)
Fall 2014 (pending, but most likely):
Calculus II - B
Italian I - B
(Calc-based Physics I - W)
So far, I have racked up 3 W's and earned 4 C's. Currently, my cGPA is at a 3.06 and I *believe* sGPA is at 3.10.
I withdrew from Calc I in Fall 2013 because it was an 8 am that ran from Monday through Friday and commuting made it even worse.
I withdrew from Invertebrate Zoology in Spring 2014 because I had switched from being pre-med to pre-pharm and I didn't need any more upper-level Bio courses. Also, I bombed the first exam.
This fall has been a strange case. I immediately got bronchitis a week or two after school started and it lasted for nearly 2 months (still have a bit of a cough). I feel that I might have chronic bronchitis because I have gotten it around this time every year, for the past 4 years. As a result, it left me fatigued and getting out of bed was the hardest part. It also didn't help that I have never taken a physics class before (not even in high school) so naturally, jumping straight to calc-based physics was a foolish mistake. I feel that only having two classes in my third year will look fairly bad to pharm schools, almost like a downward trend. As long as I do well in my classes next semester and don't withdraw from any, I hope that I can rectify this.
As far as extracurriculars go, not too many. I have over 150 hours of volunteer experience at a local hospital since fall 2013. 100 of those hours were of being a front desk greeter and directing patients/visitors and the other 50 were certified pharmacy tech experience over summer 2014.
The pharmacy schools that I had in mind for applying to were Midwestern CCP and UIC COP. I was wondering if I am in an okay position currently for both schools and what I could do to strengthen my application. I would LOVE to go to UIC COP but I know that it is highly selective so this is why I'm worried.
I am taking the PCAT in spring 2015 and plan to purchase a Dr. Collins PCAT study guide and study like crazy over this winter break. (If anyone on here would be willing to part with a 2013-2014 Dr. Collins PCAT study guide, please PM me!) In addition, I am applying to be either a Resident Advisor or a Peer Mentor for next year at UIC, which I feel would help me take on more responsibilities and signify leadership skills. I also plan to receive my Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry before I think about applying to any pharm schools. Lastly, I realize that LOR's would also probably strengthen my application. I believe I could ask my volunteer coordinator at the local hospital to write me one or perhaps I could do some research at UIC and ask that professor?
Please let me know what you think and thank you for taking the time to read all of this!
