Does march spell Doom for Non-Interviewers?

[Pharmpills]

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Is this the month that you should realize its not happening if you havnt received an interview yet?

i am starting to realize its unlikely to happen that i will get into my first or even second choice but my PCAT score still gives me a glimmer of hope.

When should ppl start worrying if they havnt heard anything (especially FL schools)?

my stats
Gpa ~3.0
Science 2.7 due to repeat calculated with grades
Degree Expected
PCAT 95 with 90's at least in ALL science and math
Experience 3 + cert tech

 

[Rumplestiltazepam]

Is this the month that you should realize its not happening if you havnt received an interview yet?

i am starting to realize its unlikely to happen that i will get into my first or even second choice but my PCAT score still gives me a glimmer of hope.

When should ppl start worrying if they havnt heard anything (especially FL schools)?

my stats
Gpa ~3.0
Science 2.7 due to repeat calculated with grades
Degree Expected
PCAT 95 with 90's at least in ALL science and math
Experience 3 + cert tech

I would say that middle of March and no interview invites= doom

 

[omnione]

I agree that mid-March = doom. Most interview sessions are done by April aside from the later deadline schools like the March schools. Impromptu interviews are rare and the interviewed waitlisters get first crack at any spots voided by people not accepting their acceptance.

 

[Pharmpills]

yeah i figured mid march would be on target. Well at least i know my weakness is my science GPA so i just need to boost it to the 3.0 mark or more. Oh well another year lost but at least i have several more credits to raise my gpa.

 

[SoccerCoach10]

yeah i figured mid march would be on target. Well at least i know my weakness is my science GPA so i just need to boost it to the 3.0 mark or more. Oh well another year lost but at least i have several more credits to raise my gpa.

Didn't you get accepted to 2 schools? Are you not going to attend one of those?

 

[RXdoctor]

I am giving it until March 14th before I throw in the towel. I am already hanging by a string, I have a co-worker who has 4/6 interview invites and I am sitting 0/6.
but hey everyday is a new day, somethings gotta happen, right? I just hope is a good thing that happens!
Good Luck All!

 

[Pharmpills]

Didn't you get accepted to 2 schools? Are you not going to attend one of those?

I doubt it bc they are 30k + 10k rent and so on and in my state its 20k or so. Im going to work on my one weak area and try again i think, im still conflicted.

 

[CantW8]

I doubt it bc they are 30k + 10k rent and so on and in my state its 20k or so. Im going to work on my one weak area and try again i think, im still conflicted.

Pharmpills are u crazy?!!! Go to whichever pharm school u got accepted to regardless of how much it's going to cost you. You'll start working as a pharm sooner making 100K a yr anyways! Don't waste any more time/misery/waiting/or money on pharmcas and pharm schools again!!!!!!

 

[Pharmpills]

Pharmpills are u crazy?!!! Go to whichever pharm school u got accepted to regardless of how much it's going to cost you. You'll start working as a pharm sooner making 100K a yr anyways! Don't waste any more time/misery/waiting/or money on pharmcas and pharm schools again!!!!!!

i dont know i dont want my effort on the pcat go to waste. i know i can get in if i apply early and plus i will get my degree bc if i go now i wont get my degree. is there a price on happiness and i think i will be happier trying one more time to get into my top pick, i will apply to other schools too and the one i got in this year again.

 

[CambioElMundo]

As they say!

What time did those of you guys who are worried apply? I am new to this process, so I may not be the best source of referece, but I am a logical person. Many deadlines are March 3rd on the PharmCas for a variety of schools. This means that if PharmCas takes even 4 weeks at a slower time to send the applcations, schools are STILL reviewing applications into April. There would not be a deadline of March 3rd, if schools were simply goign to disregard those who applied February 25th - MArch 3rd or so, putting their applciations into the reviwer's hands around mid-MArch. Don't give up! There is deifnitely still hope, I think, depending on the time at which you submitted your application, the interview dates left, and the strength of your applcation! Good Luck to all of you guys!🙂

 

[RNtoPharmD]

i dont know i dont want my effort on the pcat go to waste. i know i can get in if i apply early and plus i will get my degree bc if i go now i wont get my degree. is there a price on happiness and i think i will be happier trying one more time to get into my top pick, i will apply to other schools too and the one i got in this year again.

You can always go back to finish your degree after earning Pharm.D or you can even take some classes during Summer term in pharmacy school. The courses you took will not expire in the next few years. Unless you plan to be employed in the field of your degree during pharmacy school, getting BS right now is less important.

You're already accepted to LECOM, FL and the tuition is around 20,000, which is very typical and more reasonable than many private schools. Additionally, it is also a fairly good school.

I had the same thought as you. I haven't been invited for interviews at my very top choices (UGA, Mercer) probably due to my very low PCAT in october. My GPA is not too bad and might increase after spring classes. I could retake PCAT over and over and "potentially" receive 95 like you and get pharmacy experience. Finally, I might have a great shot at these two schools next year. IMO, prestige of the schools is less important and I don't want to want the limbo of the unknown factor after an interview. Whichever school students go to, I believe their success in career and NAPLEX will rely mainly on their efforts during school.

But if you think your top pick is more important, then you certainly can try next year. If tuition is an issue, I can understand.🙂
~$20,000 instate-tuition VS ~$80,000-111,000 at private school fee is a big difference.😱 The question is "how is your top pick important to you?" (cost, reputation, location, or the feeling of accomplishment of not failing to get in where you initially want to go?).

Good luck for your decision!! You may even hear back from your top choice soon.!!

 

[Pharmpills]

You can always go back to finish your degree after earning Pharm.D or you can even take some classes during Summer term in pharmacy school. The courses you took will not expire in the next few years. Unless you plan to be employed in the field of your degree during pharmacy school, getting BS right now is less important.

You're already accepted to LECOM, FL and the tuition is around 20,000, which is very typical and more reasonable than many private schools. Additionally, it is also a fairly good school.

I had the same thought as you. I haven't been invited for interviews at my very top choices (UGA, Mercer) probably due to my very low PCAT in october. My GPA is not too bad and might increased after spring classes. I could retake PCAT over and over and "potentially" receive 95 like you and get pharmacy experience. Finally, I might have a great shot at these two schools next year. IMO, prestige of the schools is less important and I don't want to want the limbo of the unknown factor after an interview. Whichever school students go to, I believe their success in career and NAPLEX will rely mainly on their efforts during school.

But if you think your top pick is more important, then you certainly can try next year. If tuition is an issue, I can understand.🙂
~$20,000 instate-tuition VS ~$80,000-111,000 at private school fee is a big difference.😱 The question is "how is your top pick important to you?" (cost, reputation, location, or the feeling of accomplishment of not failing to get in where you initially want to go?).

Good luck for your decision!! You may even hear back from your top choice soon.!!

thanks its the other lecom out of state lol plus i didnt put the deposit for that school. Although i did for the other one. If i can make a 3.7-4.0 this semester then my chances are incredibly strong bc summer will further bring me up and applying early with a 95 will give me a great shot plus i will have a degree by then. I think to myself is money everything, i mean when i die its not like i can take it with me. But yeah we will see, there is still time bc who knows maybe i will get a call that says i have an interview. I will try so hard this semester to make up for a few slacking C's. fingers crossed.

 

[confettiflyer]

mid march '08 with no interview = better start on your Fall '09 application

this is an absolute, unequivocal, undeniable fact.

 

[abcluck]

That's a sad and depressing fact!

 

[yazzman]

I would say that middle of March and no interview invites= doom

Listen to this guy..he knows everything in the whole wide world......

 

[eddie269]

thanks its the other lecom out of state lol plus i didnt put the deposit for that school. Although i did for the other one. If i can make a 3.7-4.0 this semester then my chances are incredibly strong bc summer will further bring me up and applying early with a 95 will give me a great shot plus i will have a degree by then. I think to myself is money everything, i mean when i die its not like i can take it with me. But yeah we will see, there is still time bc who knows maybe i will get a call that says i have an interview. I will try so hard this semester to make up for a few slacking C's. fingers crossed.

Although I cannot change your decision and you are an adult...I would highly advise you to attend a school this year.

Reason being:

- You are depending on CERTAIN SCHOOLS to accept you solely based on your PCAT score (and potentially higher GPA). Given, those are great accomplishments but with applicants growing every year, any acceptance is a gift.

So let's say you get 4.0 your remaining time in school, 95 PCAT, apply early and land an interview. How about if you bomb your interview? What if you are late due to a delayed flight/broken car/family emergency? What if the interviewer is in a bad mood that day and decides to take it out on you? What if you oversleep, what if the office loses your transcripts and they don't even give you an invite?

Point is, there are many factors in getting accepted than just your PCAT and gpa, many you can't control. I have heard stories of people with 99% PCAT and high GPA's, had a GREAT INTERVIEW and were denied right away. What happened you asked? They acted inappropriately during the tour given by a student volunteer. Instant denial due to their poor actions.

Not to mention the ones that did accept you WILL PROBABLY NOT accept you again next time if you apply. Why would they? They'd rather give out spots to people who really want to be there. For your one seat you are about to give up, there are at least 50 students, licking their chops, ready to take it.

Pharmacy school acceptances are NEVER guaranteed, no matter your stat's, interview skills, connections, etc.

OK, sorry for my ranting. I was one of those students who didn't get in the first (or 2nd) time around and I learned to be grateful for my acceptances.

Whatever you do, good luck.

 

[eddie269]

And to stay on topic....by end of March for sure..no interviews = apply again.

My gf got an interview mid March and accepted 3 days later at Loma Linda. That's the only success story I ever heard this late in the game.

 

[mrblah]

i dont know i dont want my effort on the pcat go to waste. i know i can get in if i apply early and plus i will get my degree bc if i go now i wont get my degree. is there a price on happiness and i think i will be happier trying one more time to get into my top pick, i will apply to other schools too and the one i got in this year again.

the problem with your reasoning is that you may not get into your top pick next year either, and let alone the schools that accepted you this year. Alot of things can happen in a year that can affect your chances next year, and I'm not talking about academics alone (your health, your finances, your life, etc).

Anyways, it definitely is a hard choice you have to make, so goodluck.

As for march equaling doom.. It ain't over until its over. So keep your chin up.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

Julius Caesar wants you all to go to hell.

 

[AbsoluteEthanol]

pharmpills, i have the similar stats ( a bit lower GPA, but 99 pcat) as you do and I'm going to go anywhere i get accepted. I'm willing to take out 2-3 hundred thousand in loans, leave two ailing parents and a perfect/gorgeous/intelligent girlfriend behind to pursue my dream. it all depends on how badly you want it... but i agree with you, going out of state, and perhaps even cross country is probably one of the toughest decisions you will ever have to make

 

[Jbuprepharm]

I didn't interview until the april before I got it

 

[RXdoctor]

april interview? did you get notice in march? or did they call you last minute?
I know the reality of things, but the fight doesnt stop for me until they send the "go away" letter...

 

[CambioElMundo]

april interview? did you get notice in march? or did they call you last minute?
I know the reality of things, but the fight doesnt stop for me until they send the "go away" letter...

I agree! I am right there with you!🙂

 

[doodle]

I just wanted to add an additional note that people should keep in mind. The United States is going into a recession. It will probably bottom out sometime this year or even into next year depending upon how quickly the market can rebound and the extent of the damage done to the housing market. Historically recession usually means an even greater increase in applications to schools in generalbecause people are either unhappy with their situation or getting laid off and these people figure school is their best option to move within their careers. Although the medical field is not one of the markets that has been badly hit by the current recession it will still be effected. Markets are not isolated. I predict there will be an even greater flood of applications to graduate programs next year which includes PharmD programs. This is why I pray I get in this year because I would not want to be applying to any schools during a recession!

Just my thoughts.

Good luck to everyone with getting in this year!

 

[confettiflyer]

I just wanted to add an additional note that people should keep in mind. The United States is going into a recession. It will probably bottom out sometime this year or even into next year depending upon how quickly the market can rebound and the extent of the damage done to the housing market. Historically recession usually means an even greater increase in applications to schools in generalbecause people are either unhappy with their situation or getting laid off and these people figure school is their best option to move within their careers. Although the medical field is not one of the markets that has been badly hit by the current recession it will still be effected. Markets are not isolated. I predict there will be an even greater flood of applications to graduate programs next year which includes PharmD programs. This is why I pray I get in this year because I would not want to be applying to any schools during a recession!

Just my thoughts.

Good luck to everyone with getting in this year!

Interesting thoughts, but I don't think it'll be this year...students still have to complete prerequisites, though I do think those that are graduating with a BS in biology/chemistry will think twice about getting a job and instead apply to graduate school, increasing the pool. But I don't think you'll get too many career switchers right now.

 

[stylerprodigy]

Pharmpills which schools did you get accepted to and which schools are you waiting for?

 

[tytestpharmD]

wow its only been 2 days since this thread was posted and ppl have already viewed it 900 times! I guess that means a lot of ppl are on the same boat!

 

[Pharmpills]

wow its only been 2 days since this thread was posted and ppl have already viewed it 900 times! I guess that means a lot of ppl are on the same boat!

haha yeah aton of views ive ever seen so fast. All i can say is that dont worry about me bc a 95 with at least a B GPA thats set to increase will definitely get me in somewhere. Money isnt everything and a year wont kill me alot of u think of a years pay check down the drain but oh well so be it. i can always work overtime to make up for the 40k or so lost bc out of state is expensive. Its still possible for me to get in this year though bc after all i did get a PCAT with 90's in every single science and its just this stupid taking into account grade forgiveness crap bc i would be in the 3.3-3.5 range ohh well I can play the game though, at least i didnt graduate yet and cant do anything about my gpa. Thanks for everyones opinions though but next year if anything i will go 110% without a doubt and sure it might be competitive next year but i'll be ready with 3.3-3.4 GPA (projected), Degree, 4 years experience, 95 PCAT so i'll be ok i hope.

 

[k1451372]

hey pharmpills,
you should call UF and ask them what you need to do to get in and not just think it is you GPA. If they say it is your gpa then calculate how many classes you have and find out your final gpa with straight A's. Also are you sure you will get straight A's. I only say this because I made practically straight A's my last three semesters and my GPA didn't move very much. I started out with a 3.3 and moved it to a 3.41 over that time so I would figure out my expected gpa with a counselor. Also a pharmacy advisor at UF told me that they looked at their prepharm pre-reqs not the science gpa first along with the pcat and this determined whether they will review you or not. Good luck, figure things out, I would hate you to pass up an oppurtunity and then not get into your top choice again but if you do wait I really hoe you get in.

 

[AbsoluteEthanol]

Interesting thoughts, but I don't think it'll be this year...students still have to complete prerequisites, though I do think those that are graduating with a BS in biology/chemistry will think twice about getting a job and instead apply to graduate school, increasing the pool. But I don't think you'll get too many career switchers right now.

well... i'm going to take it a step further. has anyone here tried to work with just a BS in bio/biochem/chem? it's very depressing, after working your behind off for 4-5 years in the most competative majors you only end up with what, a 20 bucks per hour research associate position; no reward there, i think sooner or later all bio majors realize that if they want to make a substantial living a graduate degree is required!

 

[goinkhead]

this mightve been said already...

generally speaking, i think no news in march is bad news. although i know of some schools that are interviewing applicants in april (western and USC),..not sure if the invites have been sent though.

well... i'm going to take it a step further. has anyone here tried to work with just a BS in bio/biochem/chem? it's very depressing, after working your behind off for 4-5 years in the most competative majors you only end up with what, a 20 bucks per hour research associate position; no reward there, i think sooner or later all bio majors realize that if they want to make a substantial living a graduate degree is required!

yep, i agree... a b.s. is the new high school degree. its not very difficult to earn a bachelors. lots of bio majors out there...
from personal experience, my b.s. coursework didnt prepare me for the job market. its kind fo a shame...i went to UCI for bachelors..which is a decent school, i felt cheated after i recieved my diploma because of the few marketable skills i learned as a bio major.. sure i gained a world of knowledge...but not a lot of bosses interested in my knowledge on the carbon cycle . im not blaming the institution...im sure part of it was me not taking that extra step...but i know plenty of other people who graduated from there with very little marketable skills....with the exception of plating plating bacteria on agar.

im about to finish my masters...here is where i gained lots of marketable skills...i.e. in-depth knwledge of statistics and software, GIS, public speaking and writing skills (although you might disagree based on my posts)

what are we talking about agian????

 

[UES Girl]

well... i'm going to take it a step further. has anyone here tried to work with just a BS in bio/biochem/chem? it's very depressing, after working your behind off for 4-5 years in the most competative majors you only end up with what, a 20 bucks per hour research associate position; no reward there, i think sooner or later all bio majors realize that if they want to make a substantial living a graduate degree is required!

At 20 bucks an hour consider yourself lucky - my bf has been looking and looking around, and even though he's gotten a job at a very prestigious lab in the bay area - the most they gave him was 15 $😱. You are right it is extremely depressing to know you worked your *** off like there is no tomorrow and some other major who partied their behind off at school(while you spent spleepless nights at the library😕) and took half the classes you did is getting paid a lot more.🙁

 

[confettiflyer]

well... i'm going to take it a step further. has anyone here tried to work with just a BS in bio/biochem/chem? it's very depressing, after working your behind off for 4-5 years in the most competative majors you only end up with what, a 20 bucks per hour research associate position; no reward there, i think sooner or later all bio majors realize that if they want to make a substantial living a graduate degree is required!

I'm thinking the CLS program...but that requires another year of study beyond a BS, so I guess you could count that as grad school. Salary for that is in the $60k range. I do have friends with BS Chemistry degrees making ~$50k/yr starting....but those are few and far in between.

Most of my friends with BS Bio end up doing admin work for ~$35k/yr and end up applying to grad school after a few years.

But yup...I'm a shining example of your theory. My mortgage company downsized and went bankrupt in early 2007....which sent me back to community college for a year cleaning up prerequisites and applying.

 

[cinnamoroll12]

this mightve been said already...

generally speaking, i think no news in march is bad news. although i know of some schools that are interviewing applicants in april (western and USC),..not sure if the invites have been sent though.

USC is done selecting applicants for interviews. That's because I just received a rejection letter from them. 🙁

Basically, they have admitted 140 candidates and 250 interviewed applicants are on the waitlist for 45 more spots.

 

[choylifut]

USC is done selecting applicants for interviews. That's because I just received a rejection letter from them. 🙁

Basically, they have admitted 140 candidates and 250 interviewed applicants are on the waitlist for 45 more spots.

Mind telling us who told you this?

 

[cinnamoroll12]

Mind telling us who told you this?

It says in the letter from Jim Granderson.

 

[BelmontUSOP2]

There's still options for Fall `08 admission to pharmacy school.

One thing to consider...unless you are locked into a specific geographic area...is to get back out and see what schools across the nation still have active admissions processes. Not all schools close their admissions processes in Feb..or earlier. Also, not all schools use the PharmCAS system, so only searching for programs through that venue will not yield you the complete admissions schedule information you need to understand the entire national scene.

I can't speak authoritatively about any other school but my own (Belmont U - Nashville, TN), but there are still good pharmacy programs still accepting applications this time of year. Ours, for example, remains open to March 31, with interview days scheduled to the end of April-early May.

There are always options if you can be flexible.

Eric H. Hobson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean
Belmont University School of Pharmacy

 

[AbsoluteEthanol]

At 20 bucks an hour consider yourself lucky - my bf has been looking and looking around, and even though he's gotten a job at a very prestigious lab in the bay area - the most they gave him was 15 $😱. You are right it is extremely depressing to know you worked your *** off like there is no tomorrow and some other major who partied their behind off at school(while you spent spleepless nights at the library😕) and took half the classes you did is getting paid a lot more.🙁

yeah definitely agree there, your BF is not alone, when i started with this company after graduating high school i was making 12.50 an hour. "Only" took me 6 years to get to 27 an hour. A BS is absolutely worthless these days! I want my PharmD NOWWW!!!

by the way, how is your app process, any headway?