Fluffing GPA - Pointless or Necessary?

[ALLNuclear]

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I'm concerned that my undergrad nursing GPA will interfere with getting into a good pharmacy school. Nursing courses are 10 credits each and on a 7 point scale. I've never failed a course, but I have gotten a few C's.

My prereqs for PharmD are going well (I did poorly in A&P and Micro, but I did pass them... I took these in my first semesters "on my own" before I whipped my studying into shape). But the possibility of me scoring below the "averga GPA accepted" is still a huge possibility due to the 10 credit courses. It's anyone's guess at this point.

Should I plan to take classes besides the prereqs to add to my GPA? I'm also working full-time. Worst case scenario if I don't do A's in all nursing curriculum, I end up with a 3.4 thereabouts.

I know PCAT and interviews and LORs are also factored in. When faced with a 3.58 average accepted GPA, should I not panic if I end up with a 3.4 or should I look into taking something extra?

Thanks.

 

[laimyours]

I'm concerned that my undergrad nursing GPA will interfere with getting into a good pharmacy school. Nursing courses are 10 credits each and on a 7 point scale. I've never failed a course, but I have gotten a few C's.

My prereqs for PharmD are going well (I did poorly in A&P and Micro, but I did pass them... I took these in my first semesters "on my own" before I whipped my studying into shape). But the possibility of me scoring below the "averga GPA accepted" is still a huge possibility due to the 10 credit courses. It's anyone's guess at this point.

Should I plan to take classes besides the prereqs to add to my GPA? I'm also working full-time. Worst case scenario if I don't do A's in all nursing curriculum, I end up with a 3.4 thereabouts.

I know PCAT and interviews and LORs are also factored in. When faced with a 3.58 average accepted GPA, should I not panic if I end up with a 3.4 or should I look into taking something extra?

Thanks.

I wouldn't panic, remember 3.58 is the average gpa that means people will lower do get accepted. If you have the opportunity to you might want to retake the pharmacy prereqs you got C's in, they might look at your pre-req gpa so that could bring it down. Taking some extra classes can't hurt either, I would just make them some upper division science classes. Or something like genetics, virology, immunology.....something sort of pharmacy related.

 

[Farcus]

sorry not to be off topic but where did you read that the average gpa for 1st yar is 3.58? I thought it as 3.3-3.4

 

[ALLNuclear]

http://www.uspharmd.com/school/pharmacy/South_Carolina_College_of_Pharmacy.html

I've also seen them on the official MUSC website somewhere. 3.58 was average for 2006, and I'm only assuming it hasn't decreased since then as schools have become more competitive.

 

[Drug Doc]

Unless you haven't done anything outside of class (ec's), a 3.4 is pretty kick ass if you ask me. Especially since you are calling a 3.4 your worst case scenario, I honestly wouldn't worry one bit if I were you. You have to realize that these averages are...well, they are averages. This means you have people across a spectrum of 2.8-4.0 gpa's getting accepted.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

Especially since you are calling a 3.4 your worst case scenario, I honestly wouldn't worry one bit if I were you. You have to realize that these averages are...well, they are averages. This means you have people across a spectrum of 2.8-4.0 gpa's getting accepted.

Well...don't have THAT much confidence necessarily. If you had two guys with a 3.1 and another with a 4.0, the average is 3.4. You can't calculate a number range with a raw average.

 

[ALLNuclear]

I'm reading a lot about CA and NY schools and how competitive they are, but I've heard very little about Carolina schools. If anyone can post their stats for MUSC/Columbia, UNC, Campbell, etc., I'd appreciate it. I've got so many credits that unless I pull A's in nursing (I'll try, not holding my breath) it'll be extremely difficult to budge my GPA upwards. I'm hoping my nursing/volunteering/shadowing will give me an edge. Any suggestions for what else to do? (I'm going to call and see if they give you a penalty in your ranking for retaking a science course, and then proceed on that from there). Thanks.

 

[GatorRxGirl]

Remember there is more to applying than your GPA. Schools want the "total package" and not a booknerd. Whatever you do, DO NOT fluff anything. Integrity is a big part of being in health care.

🙂

 

[ALLNuclear]

Thanks for all the replies. I've come to the conclusion that I'm going to do my best, learn as much as I can, and accept my 3.4-3.5 GPA; so be it. Retaking classes is an open option, but I don't know if that will hurt the look of my transcript more than help me. I'm looking into boosting my ECs. Does anyone think getting ASL Certified (signing) would be a good idea? I'm looking into it because I've worked with disabled children in the past as a nurse. I figured I could incorporate my reasoning into an interview to show my commitment to community needs. Other ideas?

 

[GatorRxGirl]

Turning a negative into a positive is a definite plus. Good job! =)

 

[inquirer89]

Campbell has around a 3.4 average for incoming students. UNC and Wingate has a 3.5 and a 3.6, respectively.