Drop Masters After Accepted

[jojo7]

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Anyone done that?

 

[jojo7]

would it matter if there are straight W's on your transcripts when you're already accepted?

 

[SoccerCoach10]

I think the Ws wouldn't matter, since you've already been accepted to a professional program and the classes don't count as pre-reqs. You already have your bachelors, so you should be set.

What were you trying to get your masters in?

 

[jspwinter]

They could require you to finish up your masters.

 

[beanpie]

yes, i dropped out of a MS in bio. program with only my thesis to finish. Pharmacy school will get me the job I want, a MS in bio won't. I'm planning on writing my thesis over the summer and finally get the MS, only because i don't have any classes to take.

so if you are done with course work then file a leave of absence and go to pharm school. if not, maybe you can finish later (i think most schools have a 7 year limit on MS degrees, so maybe you can finish after pharm school).

 

[beanpie]

one more thing...

you should finish out the semester in the program you are in so there are no W's on your transcript. That way you leave in good standing if you wanted to return to finish the MS.

i think having graduate level courses helped me to get into pharm school.

 

[Boop2002]

one more thing...

you should finish out the semester in the program you are in so there are no W's on your transcript. That way you leave in good standing if you wanted to return to finish the MS.

i think having graduate level courses helped me to get into pharm school.

I was planning on doing an MS in Physiology. Can you offer any advice on selecting a program? My ultimate goal is to become a pharmacist but i am unsure if i should retake my prereqs for better grade about one semester and a summer session or do a masters and apply?? Can you give me an insight on where you did your masters and the programs were perceived by pharmacy admissions!! by the way what pharmacy school accepted you. One last thing what graduate courses did you take?

 

[imperialto]

im working on my mba right now, got a bs in business anyways. if all goes well ill still finish out the semester and jump right into pharm school. cant u just transfer ur credit to the pharm school anyways and get a ms in bio or whatever while doin pharm?

 

[HoosierPharmD]

Some schools will allow you to transfer coursework from pharmacy school back to your current masters program.

What ever you decide, you want to be professional and keep good standing with both the institution you are doing your masters in and the Pharmacy school you will be attending.

Either way, congrats on getting in and best wishes!

 

[Shprot]

I would not recommend to drop masters after all that work you've done for graduate degree (unless it is a real BS masters, or just started a program, but you still have 5-7 years to finish that degree depending on the program). But Pharm D, MS together look very nice🙂 I am finishing mine.

If you have been accepted already, it probably wont' matter - however, it definately wont' look good on your profile if you'll have multiple W's or degree not complited, especially if you mentioned about it somewhere in the personal statement etc.

 

[Farmercyst]

yes, i dropped out of a MS in bio. program with only my thesis to finish. Pharmacy school will get me the job I want, a MS in bio won't. I'm planning on writing my thesis over the summer and finally get the MS, only because i don't have any classes to take.

so if you are done with course work then file a leave of absence and go to pharm school. if not, maybe you can finish later (i think most schools have a 7 year limit on MS degrees, so maybe you can finish after pharm school).

I didn't know that about you.
Have you read the article for Duncan's class yet? Quiz tomorrow and all.

 

[ScienceMS]

I'm actually finishing up my masters in Biology next semester with only my research left. I'm going to be applying to pharmacy school and was wondering if a masters degree in biology increases your chances of getting into school. I had a low undergrad gap of 2.71 and I currently have a 3.90 in my masters program. Do you think I will have a good chance of getting into pharmacy?

 

[Passion4Sci]

I'm actually finishing up my masters in Biology next semester with only my research left. I'm going to be applying to pharmacy school and was wondering if a masters degree in biology increases your chances of getting into school. I had a low undergrad gap of 2.71 and I currently have a 3.90 in my masters program. Do you think I will have a good chance of getting into pharmacy?

What's your PCAT score, assuming you had one? And your UG GPA was 2.71, but what was your pre-requisite core class GPA?

 

[ScienceMS]

I havent taken the PCAT nor do I plan on it. I was hoping my masters degree (gpa of 3.90) would be enough because I'm only going to be applying to schools
that dont require the PCAT. I have nothing below an A- in my master courses. My core gpa for undergrad was 2.5...I know its low. It was due to extenuating circumstances. =/ By the way the only two schools I'm going to be applying to is Northstate and Touro. Do you think I have a fair chance of getting in?

 

[Passion4Sci]

I havent taken the PCAT nor do I plan on it. I was hoping my masters degree (gpa of 3.90) would be enough because I'm only going to be applying to schools
that dont require the PCAT. I have nothing below an A- in my master courses. My core gpa for undergrad was 2.5...I know its low. It was due to extenuating circumstances. =/ By the way the only two schools I'm going to be applying to is Northstate and Touro. Do you think I have a fair chance of getting in?

Well, your pre-requisite coursework at 2.5 is barely going to scrape by unfortunately. Do you have any other distinguishing characteristics besides the very nice Master's coursework? I'd have to assume that if you can maintain that GPA in graduate-level science coursework that something "stuck" in your mind from UG, and your grades were due to the extenuating circumstances.

You might want to look into the PCAT - Touro doesn't require it, but they DO mention that they will "consider" the PCAT in your overall package, so it could be worth dressing yourself up with. If you do poorly you never have to acknowledge its existence w/ CNCP or Touro.

 

[MrMeowphers]

firstly, do not drop a master's program. That is an easy program, plus looks great in case you would like to do more research in the distant future (if you so desire).

I have a M.S. in Virology from Harvard and a PhD in Immunology from Stanford, yet took the PCAT during my final year prior to finishing my dissertation. I could have easily just quit the PhD program and became a double Master's, but I'm a firm believer that once you start something, just finish it.

What's 1 more semester or 1 more year? It gives more credentials to your resume when you compete for the limited number of openings in the future!

good luck

 

[ScienceMS]

I have a lot of pharmacy experience. My uncle is a pharmacist and I've been working with him for years.... I dont know if that will help. Thanks for your input. =)

 

[cloudyand47]

I did just that. I had a couple of Ws on my transcript but I did finish the term and took a leave of absence. So far it hasn't really come up in any of my dealings with pharmacy schools. Of course, it also has been a couple years now and I have taken the time to take additional biology and chemistry prerequisites (I was in an atmospheric science program) and get also to get pharmacy experience.

I think what matters most to admission committees, maybe even more than grades and PCAT scores in some cases, is that you have a good story. You need to be interested in pharmacy for a good reason. Think about the reasons you are considering leaving your grad program, if some of those same reasons are those pulling you to pharmacy you have some good material to work with.

Make your experience an asset and finish the term.

 

[Teva]

I'm actually finishing up my masters in Biology next semester with only my research left. I'm going to be applying to pharmacy school and was wondering if a masters degree in biology increases your chances of getting into school. I had a low undergrad gap of 2.71 and I currently have a 3.90 in my masters program. Do you think I will have a good chance of getting into pharmacy?

I was in the same situation as you. My undergrad GPA was very similar to yours but I did retake a few pre-req classes to bump it up as a post-bac. But it didn't seem to help me all that much until I enrolled in a master's program in molecular bio and took as many classes as possible. My master GPA was also 3.9.... I applied this year and got in. So I think you will have a good chance. Good luck

 

[ScienceMS]

Thats awsome congrats! Did you take the PCAT by any chance and what school did u get into if you dont mind me asking. =)

 

[desklamp]

I have a lot of pharmacy experience. My uncle is a pharmacist and I've been working with him for years.... I dont know if that will help. Thanks for your input. =)

I just finished my Masters in Pharmacology with a similar GPA to yours (both undergrad and graduate) as well as a 95 PCAT, and I currently work in the pharmaceutical industry, but none of that has really helped me that much in the application process for California schools (e.g. I've heard nothing from them, not even from Touro, who hasn't even sent me a supplemental 🙁 ).

PharmCAS averages your entire GPA so it really brings down your grad GPA a lot, and for all we know, schools might not even notice your individual graduate GPA when going through 2000+ applications and just see the 3.2, or 3.3 or w/e the cumulative average will be.

You have a lot of pharmacy experience though, which I didn't, so you might be in a different boat. California frustrates me to no end.