Does an excellent PCAT score make up for...

[Jamesdd]

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does an excellent pcat score make up for the rest of your application being crap? ^^

anyways, i'm just really curious as to where i would stand and what my chances are at getting into a pharm school (i'm not too picky which one, i just wanna go to school again, work sucks)

i got a 97 composite (95 verbal, 94 bio, 97 reading, 96 math, 84 chem, 3/3 on writing) on the pcat in august, first try taking the test, i was pleasantly surprised. I'm golden right? Wrong. The rest of my app goes like this: 2.92 GPA cumulative, probably even lower for pre-reqs, no extra curriculars during college. I did play sports in high school but yeah.... No pharm tech or volunteering experience (on the plus side i do work in QC for a pharmaceutical company i guess). Also i am having trouble thinking of who to use as a reference. I'm pretty sure none of my professors remember me, i ehm....didnt show up to class too regularly. I could probalby get someone from work to write one, but the academic one is egh...any thoughts on what i should do here?

so...any ideas? Think i have a good shot at getting into pharm school? Or am i stuck working for another year ~~

 

[wolfpackhal]

Nice PCAT score. However, I do not think a good PCAT score will make up for an otherwise "crap" application. I would def. try to find some kind of ec or pharmacy experience if I were you. On the plus side, if you took the PCAT you must have had/have the desire to apply, so why not give it a shot. I don't know of any schools specifically, but I would apply to schools with high PCAT averages bc they are likely the ones that really take the PCAT into consideration. Otherwise, a lot of schools may see a lot of wasted potential with such a high PCAT and a lack of other activities/grades.

 

[lwang81]

does an excellent pcat score make up for the rest of your application being crap? ^^

anyways, i'm just really curious as to where i would stand and what my chances are at getting into a pharm school (i'm not too picky which one, i just wanna go to school again, work sucks)

i got a 97 composite (95 verbal, 94 bio, 97 reading, 96 math, 84 chem, 3/3 on writing) on the pcat in august, first try taking the test, i was pleasantly surprised. I'm golden right? Wrong. The rest of my app goes like this: 2.92 GPA cumulative, probably even lower for pre-reqs, no extra curriculars during college. I did play sports in high school but yeah.... No pharm tech or volunteering experience (on the plus side i do work in QC for a pharmaceutical company i guess). Also i am having trouble thinking of who to use as a reference. I'm pretty sure none of my professors remember me, i ehm....didnt show up to class too regularly. I could probalby get someone from work to write one, but the academic one is egh...any thoughts on what i should do here?

so...any ideas? Think i have a good shot at getting into pharm school? Or am i stuck working for another year ~~

definitely find some kind of academic professor who can write a rec for you or take a class and make friends with that professor. not having an academic professor write a rec for you is enough to disqualify you from some schools. a lot of schools require an academic professor rec and some of them require it to be a science professor at that.

 

[internPharmD]

Awesome PCAT scores. Could you give me some hints how to get it man 😉

 

[pharmacyanalyst]

Get some volunteer hours in and have a pharmacist write you a letter. If you work in a lab, you should try and get someone with a good title to write you a letter as well. If you don't get in this year- consider taking a few classes to show you can improve your grades and definetly address your lackluster GPA in your essay. Good luck!

 

[ronswifey]

I wish my pcat scores were nearly as good as yours. If they were I wouldnt be sitting here stressed out! Please post any tips you have.
GPA 3.3
PCAT compostite 40 (so depressing)

 

[Jamesdd]

definitely find some kind of academic professor who can write a rec for you or take a class and make friends with that professor. not having an academic professor write a rec for you is enough to disqualify you from some schools. a lot of schools require an academic professor rec and some of them require it to be a science professor at that.

yeah, but the problem is my professors probably wont remember me at all. Would a generic "i dont remember this person so i'll just write a bunch of bull**** based on his personal statement" recommedation suffice?

Get some volunteer hours in and have a pharmacist write you a letter. If you work in a lab, you should try and get someone with a good title to write you a letter as well. If you don't get in this year- consider taking a few classes to show you can improve your grades and definetly address your lackluster GPA in your essay. Good luck!

Wish i had the time, but between working full time and driving over an hour each way as a commute, i'm way too burned out to volunteer as a pharmacy tech ~~



as for those of you asking for PCAT advice, i honestly cant give any you havent heard before. I got way higher than i figured i would, so i probably got kinda lucky, but all i can say is just practice as much as you can.

 

[atticus27]

does an excellent pcat score make up for the rest of your application being crap? ^^~~

That's like a girl having Carmen Electra's body and Rosie O'Donnell's face

 

[apteryx]

You have to have a strong application overall. You might lack in one thing, but make up for it with other stronger areas. Having ONLY a good PCAT with a bad GPA, poor letters of recommendation, no extra curriculars, and acrappy personal statement will most likely not get you in.

It's something you have to work at. I had a hard time getting LORs, but I got em!

(On a side note, can I view the LORs that were written for me if I did not waive my right to see them?)

 

[pharmacyanalyst]

"Wish i had the time, but between working full time and driving over an hour each way as a commute, i'm way too burned out to volunteer as a pharmacy tech ~~"

Depends on how much you want it. I work full time, it takes me an hour to get to work/hour to get home and I am married with 2 kids (3 year old and 2 year old). I still find time to take classes or volunteer work on the weekends to boost my resume/pharm app. It sucks but carving out time shows the school that you want to be a pharmacist and are willing to work for it.