don't know where to turn next...advice please!

[jdelaro2]

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Hey all,

I would really appreciate it if I could get some feedback on my situation.

I started out as a GPPA student at UIC, meaning that I had guaranteed acceptance into the UIC Pharmacy School as long as I kept my GPA at a 3.5. Unfortunately, that did not happen for me, due to familial circumstances my Freshman and Sophomore year.

After being dropped from the program, I pursued a Biological Sciences major, but was not performing well in the classes that I decided to switch to a Sociology major instead.

My Math & Science GPA is extremely, extremely low, a 1.96 to be exact because I failed Gen Chem II, Orgo I, and Orgo II. I retook these classes already, but I was only able to obtain a C. I re-calculated my Math & Science GPA if I was to retake these classes and receive an A in them, but it still comes out to a low 2.51. However, if I decide to retake ALL of my pre-reqs, I can bump my pre-pharm GPA to a 3.0+.

I'm graduating this fall with my B.A. in Sociology, but I am considering just starting fresh at a junior college with my Pre-pharm pre-reqs, and only submitting those grades when I apply to pharmacy school. Would that be considered academic dishonesty? If so, I'll submit all my grades. Do most pharmacy schools consider ALL your grades, or do they just take the latest one?

Also, I have been a pharm tech for Walgreens for the past 5 years, I work a computer lab job, I currently volunteer at a hospital pharmacy, I have done research in 2 studies, I have been a laboratory aide, I have served leadership positions in two organizations on campus, and I have received two student service leadership awards from UIC's Chancellor.

I took my PCAT in the spring (but did not study for it =/), and I received a composite of a 49. I am retaking the PCAT in January, and I'm hoping to obtain a score of 85+.

So, would it better for me to start fresh in my Pre-pharm pre-reqs? If i were to start fresh, I'm planning to start in the spring, and take full-time semesters until spring 2011 and apply for admission into a pharmacy program for fall 2011.

Thanks in advance =]

 

[AdamSanders]

You must submit all grades when applying.

 

[crazybob]

yes, and also from every college and university you have ever attended.

it would be unprofessional and you would lose credibility if you hide information that they should know. if you submit all of your grades, they would be more likely to try to work with you and tell you how you can improve. if you don't and they find out about grades from other schools you have attended, you're pretty much out of luck.

 

[quadruple]

Yes, you do need to submit all of your grades, but some schools (UMKC for example) have an academic forgiveness policy where they do not consider older grades for courses you have retaken. Look into these policies when you're considering where to apply.

 

[UES Girl]

Well to be honest with you:

1. It's not just academic dishonesty to not submitt all your grades, if you get admitted to a program that doesn't have an academic forgiveness policy, your offer of admissions to be withdrawn and seat given to someone else if they find out about it.

Internally, you must feel it's really a shady thing to do if you are asking this question, so just read up on what consequences are if you do decide go that route.

2. You don't have any grades for us to go by, so far you only listed you projected GPA that you recalculated and your projected PCAT. ECs are great, but as of now your GPA doesn't even meet the requirements for most schools, so it's hard to project your chances based on your hypothetical GPA that you might obtain on a chance that you get all As.

3. I understand there was obviously hardship in your life that contributed to your grades. But perhaps you would like to ease yourself slowly to school and evaluate your study habits, so you can do well in your classes rather than jump in head on hoping to get As ? Maybe go to school part time, and take one-two classes your first semester and see how you do ?

 

[jdelaro2]

Thanks for the feedback, everyone.

Currently, my cum GPA is a 2.6, but when I graduate this semester, I'm sure I can bump it up to a 2.75. After retaking my pre-reqs, I'm hoping I can achieve a 3.0+ GPA.

Does anyone know of any schools in the Midwest that have academic forgiveness policies?

 

[Passion4Sci]

University of Colorado @ Boulder !

 

[MaximBrutii]

I'm going to be frank here. I'm going to tell you what the others won't but also feel in their guts. What makes you think you could make it through pharmacy school, even if you are accepted? You know what a science GPA of a 1.xx tells me? You failed some of the more important pre-reqs the first time around and could only make C's the second time around. It tells me that you :

a.) Don't have the mental capacity to learn science based information

b.) Won't have the capacity to make it through pharmacy school

c.) You are just not fit for pharmacy school

As much as it hurts to hear this from someone with a different perspective, its the truth.

If you can't even make a 2.xx science GPA through undergrad school, what makes you think you could handle the overload of science based pharmacy classes.

That's just my take. You can forget about what the adcoms will see when they come across this GLARING problem. You're app would be auto-rejected the moment they see the horrendous GPA. With the amounts of applications that are going through each cycle, they wouldn't even have time to blink at any of your EC's or PS.

Don't take this personally, just take this as reality.

 

[Passion4Sci]

I'm going to be frank here. I'm going to tell you what the others won't but also feel in their guts. What makes you think you could make it through pharmacy school, even if you are accepted? You know what a science GPA of a 1.xx tells me? You failed some of the more important pre-reqs the first time around and could only make C's the second time around. It tells me that you :

a.) Don't have the mental capacity to learn science based information

b.) Won't have the capacity to make it through pharmacy school

c.) You are just not fit for pharmacy school

As much as it hurts to hear this from someone with a different perspective, its the truth.

If you can't even make a 2.xx science GPA through undergrad school, what makes you think you could handle the overload of science based pharmacy classes.

That's just my take. You can forget about what the adcoms will see when they come across this GLARING problem. You're app would be auto-rejected the moment they see the horrendous GPA. With the amounts of applications that are going through each cycle, they wouldn't even have time to blink at any of your EC's or PS.

Don't take this personally, just take this as reality.

Add d. Lazy as a possibility.

 

[quadruple]

Does anyone know of any schools in the Midwest that have academic forgiveness policies?

GREAT NEWS FOR YOU, SIR OR MADAME!!! UMKC, or University of Missouri at Kansas City, has an academic forgiveness policy. Work hard through graduation, study hard for your PCAT, and you'll have a very good chance for getting into UMKC.

 

[xxxhotstuffxxx]

I'm going to be frank here. I'm going to tell you what the others won't but also feel in their guts. What makes you think you could make it through pharmacy school, even if you are accepted? You know what a science GPA of a 1.xx tells me? You failed some of the more important pre-reqs the first time around and could only make C's the second time around. It tells me that you :

a.) Don't have the mental capacity to learn science based information

b.) Won't have the capacity to make it through pharmacy school

c.) You are just not fit for pharmacy school

As much as it hurts to hear this from someone with a different perspective, its the truth.

If you can't even make a 2.xx science GPA through undergrad school, what makes you think you could handle the overload of science based pharmacy classes.

That's just my take. You can forget about what the adcoms will see when they come across this GLARING problem. You're app would be auto-rejected the moment they see the horrendous GPA. With the amounts of applications that are going through each cycle, they wouldn't even have time to blink at any of your EC's or PS.

Don't take this personally, just take this as reality.

ooooh i like this. someone who says it like it is. hi i'm xxxhotstuffxxx its nice to meet you 😍

 

[Passion4Sci]

Dammit, when I go scorched earth like that, bleeding hearts come out in droves and whine and complain...

 

[xxxhotstuffxxx]

well next time you go all out on a post, let me know. i'll be there on the sidelines rootin for you.

 

[UES Girl]

Dammit, when I go scorched earth like that, bleeding hearts come out in droves and whine and complain...

I'm not saying anything, only because the 9 science courses I'm taking are giving me hard time and keeping me busy.

Pchem is especially challenging and did I mention I completely aced both semesters as an undergrad ?

Logical minds make a conclusion that pharmacy school is not easy. 😎 Spock concurs.

 

[Tinkerbell22]

I find it pretty entertaining... bleeding hearts make a boring forum. We are all adults... sugar coating everything isn't going to help someone who asks for honest opinion.

 

[kimbebe51]

Retake your classes and apply to schools that take the regrade. You must submit all your courses. There is a chance they might not find out, or they might. However, I wouldn't gamble with my future.

 

[jdelaro2]

Thanks for the feedback, again.

I'm gonna stick it out =]

 

[MaximBrutii]

ooooh i like this. someone who says it like it is. hi i'm xxxhotstuffxxx its nice to meet you 😍

Haha Likewise!

 

[MaximBrutii]

Thanks for the feedback, again.

I'm gonna stick it out =]

There is a very fine line between perseverance and stubbornness..

I wish you the best of luck.

 

[diastole]

Didn't one of the admissions guys say that the whole state of Kentucky has this do-over rule where you can just start over fresh if you want? I don't remember the details but it might be worth looking into.