extracurriculars

[simplyme01]

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I am working on my pharmcas app and realized that my extracurricular section is seriously lacking. I only have about 50-60 hrs volunteering at a pharmacy. I was wondering if volunteering somewhere else for this month would help me or would it look bad since it's so last minute.I don't want them to think I'm only doing it for my app. I worked almost every day during undergrad and never really had time to get involved since I wanted to keep my grades up too but now I am starting to really worry about my chances considering my lack of extracurriculars. I'd appreciate any advice you guys could give me!

 

[armorking]

I am working on my pharmcas app and realized that my extracurricular section is seriously lacking. I only have about 50-60 hrs volunteering at a pharmacy. I was wondering if volunteering somewhere else for this month would help me or would it look bad since it's so last minute.I don't want them to think I'm only doing it for my app. I worked almost every day during undergrad and never really had time to get involved since I wanted to keep my grades up too but now I am starting to really worry about my chances considering my lack of extracurriculars. I'd appreciate any advice you guys could give me!

Were you involved in any clubs or honor societies while in undergrad? Those would count as extracurriculars. Did you have work experience or research experience? All these other items will speak volumes for you in your application. Honestly, you want to volunteer mainly out of the goodness of your heart. That's always the main reason. I know volunteering looks great on apps but to do it in a month instead of spreading it out will probably be a negative instead of a positive. I had 70+ hours of volunteer work but I also had plenty of research and work experience when I applied. It's always about the total package! Good luck!

 

[hapy]

I am working on my pharmcas app and realized that my extracurricular section is seriously lacking. I only have about 50-60 hrs volunteering at a pharmacy. I was wondering if volunteering somewhere else for this month would help me or would it look bad since it's so last minute.I don't want them to think I'm only doing it for my app. I worked almost every day during undergrad and never really had time to get involved since I wanted to keep my grades up too but now I am starting to really worry about my chances considering my lack of extracurriculars. I'd appreciate any advice you guys could give me!

I'm sort of in the same boat in terms of volunteer experience. I will start volunteering this month or next month depending on when they place me at this hospital. But I still need to get a pharmacist to write an LOR for me which I don't have at this point. Even if I get a pharm tech job tomorrow, I will only have known a pharmacist for a couple of months. Where did you work at?

 

[simplyme01]

Were you involved in any clubs or honor societies while in undergrad? Those would count as extracurriculars. Did you have work experience or research experience? All these other items will speak volumes for you in your application. Honestly, you want to volunteer mainly out of the goodness of your heart. That's always the main reason. I know volunteering looks great on apps but to do it in a month instead of spreading it out will probably be a negative instead of a positive. I had 70+ hours of volunteer work but I also had plenty of research and work experience when I applied. It's always about the total package! Good luck!

Thank u for the advice! and yeah I neglected the importance of being part of a club also. I worked most afternoons but it was at a restaurant so I don't see how that could help me. I was considering including it in my personal statement and maybe talk about how it helped me with my communication skills. My volunteering was at a free clinic's pharmacy and even though I really enjoyed volunteering there, they were open only about 10 hrs a week so I wasn't able to get more than 60 hrs throughout the summer. Thanks again!

 

[simplyme01]

I'm sort of in the same boat in terms of volunteer experience. I will start volunteering this month or next month depending on when they place me at this hospital. But I still need to get a pharmacist to write an LOR for me which I don't have at this point. Even if I get a pharm tech job tomorrow, I will only have known a pharmacist for a couple of months. Where did you work at?

The school I'm applying to doesn't require an LOR from a pharmacist.I worked at a restaurant. I also volunteered at a pharmacy over the summer but I wasn't able to get many hours. I spoke to the school and it seemed like PCAT and gpa are number 1 but I still can't help but worry that the lack of extracurricular will really hurt my chances. It seems like almost everyone I talk to that is applying this year has many hours of volunteering and school activities. Anyways Good luck with your app and hope it all turns out great!

 

[armorking]

Thank u for the advice! and yeah I neglected the importance of being part of a club also. I worked most afternoons but it was at a restaurant so I don't see how that could help me. I was considering including it in my personal statement and maybe talk about how it helped me with my communication skills. My volunteering was at a free clinic's pharmacy and even though I really enjoyed volunteering there, they were open only about 10 hrs a week so I wasn't able to get more than 60 hrs throughout the summer. Thanks again!

You are thinking outside the box by using the restaurant experience as a tie-in to communication skills. That's definitely how you should go about in your personal statement with that experience coupled with your volunteer work. I think you have a solid plan!

 

[xtsukiyox]

You are thinking outside the box by using the restaurant experience as a tie-in to communication skills. That's definitely how you should go about in your personal statement with that experience coupled with your volunteer work. I think you have a solid plan!

👍 +1 this. How did your restaurant experience help you understand the professional work environment? What skills did you develop at your job? (Having worked in a restaurant as well for a while - communication, issue resolution, multi-tasking, work flow, team work... the list could go on depending on what sort of job you had.) Are there any stories that might relate to your desire to go into pharmacy? (There aren't necessarily, there wasn't for me from that particular experience.)

 

[simplyme01]

👍 +1 this. How did your restaurant experience help you understand the professional work environment? What skills did you develop at your job? (Having worked in a restaurant as well for a while - communication, issue resolution, multi-tasking, work flow, team work... the list could go on depending on what sort of job you had.) Are there any stories that might relate to your desire to go into pharmacy? (There aren't necessarily, there wasn't for me from that particular experience.)

This is so helpful, thank you!I worked as a waitress, sometimes hostess so it definitely helped with all of the above and I'll make sure to include it.

 

[xtsukiyox]

This is so helpful, thank you!I worked as a waitress, sometimes hostess so it definitely helped with all of the above and I'll make sure to include it.

You know, you may want to seek out a good resume writer to help brainstorm these sorts of skills people want to know that you know. Perhaps a friend or relative, doesn't have to be in pharmacy. Just a thought.