Good Candidate?

[zombiesarebad]

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hi guys. I'm wondering if you can give me any advice at all on becoming a better candidate for a PharmD program, and maybe assess my chances of getting in. I'll be graduating a two year Med Lab Tech program next month and finishing a BA in Biology in Spring 2013.

Currently my GPA is only 3.2; I plan to have brought it up to a 3.4ish by the time I graduate... I have had to maintain work throughout school as well as raise a daughter (now 4), so it's been rough. I'm still feeling things out, but have decided that if my chances are good I will take the plunge and focus solely on school.

There are a few variables I worry about:

- I'll have done the whole MLT thing (which is NOT for me) and finished up a bio BA, and they will think I can't commit to something.

-I have no community service or extracurriculars under my belt since time has not permitted. Maybe I could look for something now (but being almost 30 with a family it's hard to imagine having the time).

-I have no pharmacy experience.

On the other hand, I test well (PCAT shouldn't be a problem), interview pretty good, and I'm a great essay writer.

Sorry about the length of this but I am really nervous and desperately seeking any advice and or information I can get. Thanks.

 

[358265]

hi guys. I'm wondering if you can give me any advice at all on becoming a better candidate for a PharmD program, and maybe assess my chances of getting in. I'll be graduating a two year Med Lab Tech program next month and finishing a BA in Biology in Spring 2013.

Currently my GPA is only 3.2; I plan to have brought it up to a 3.4ish by the time I graduate... I have had to maintain work throughout school as well as raise a daughter (now 4), so it's been rough. I'm still feeling things out, but have decided that if my chances are good I will take the plunge and focus solely on school.

There are a few variables I worry about:

- I'll have done the whole MLT thing (which is NOT for me) and finished up a bio BA, and they will think I can't commit to something.

-I have no community service or extracurriculars under my belt since time has not permitted. Maybe I could look for something now (but being almost 30 with a family it's hard to imagine having the time).

-I have no pharmacy experience.

On the other hand, I test well (PCAT shouldn't be a problem), interview pretty good, and I'm a great essay writer.

Sorry about the length of this but I am really nervous and desperately seeking any advice and or information I can get. Thanks.

For all new applicants going into pharmacy, I strongly advise you to get some experience (in any pharmacy setting) just to see how you fare in the real-world pharmacy profession. Then you know if you like it or not. Sometimes concepts taught in school do not necessarily translate directly into the real-world. If you get ample experience (not just a day or two of shadowing, but actual hands-on), then that make you a more competitive applicant, and ultimately reinforce your passion and drive for pharmacy school. Be 100% sure to know why you chose pharmacy.

 

[asdfsad]

If it makes you feel any better, I don't have much pharmacy exp and almost no volunteering exp, but I got accepted into two pharmacy schools that I interviewed at, although, my GPA was just a tad bit higher than what you expect to finish with. It's not impossible, just nail those the apps, personal statement and the interview.

 

[358265]

If it makes you feel any better, I don't have much pharmacy exp and almost no volunteering exp, but I got accepted into two pharmacy schools that I interviewed at, although, my GPA was just a tad bit higher than what you expect to finish with. It's not impossible, just nail those the apps, personal statement and the interview.

Indeed. A lot of students have been accepted despite little experience/volunteering. However, I was just trying to emphasize making sure you actually like the pharmacy work, hence that is where experience comes in. I've seen too many students enter programs where their lack of experience made them regret the career choice, ultimately hating the profession and what it really entails. Just too many of them. 😱

 

[zombiesarebad]

thanks guys. I will try to get some shadowing and volunteering in. Glad to hear I don't have to like.... get a job as a tech or something.

Another quick question. I realize organic chem is really important, but what about the level of the class? My degree requires Introductory Organic & Biological Chemistry with lab. Do they usually look for a 200 level class, or will introductory cut the mustard?

 

[Twentytwelve2]

thanks guys. I will try to get some shadowing and volunteering in. Glad to hear I don't have to like.... get a job as a tech or something.

Another quick question. I realize organic chem is really important, but what about the level of the class? My degree requires Introductory Organic & Biological Chemistry with lab. Do they usually look for a 200 level class, or will introductory cut the mustard?

Hmm. If the schools you plan on applying to require organic chemistry, I think you must take the class that has the course title "organic chemistry." I think your class equivalent of the one we have for intro to o. chem is Basic Organic Chemistry & Biochemistry. I took the O.Chem I and II series.

 

[deleted205891]

thanks guys. I will try to get some shadowing and volunteering in. Glad to hear I don't have to like.... get a job as a tech or something.

Another quick question. I realize organic chem is really important, but what about the level of the class? My degree requires Introductory Organic & Biological Chemistry with lab. Do they usually look for a 200 level class, or will introductory cut the mustard?

Everywhere I've seen, organic that pharmacy school required was a 200 level course.