gpa dilemma

[harmonidrum]

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Hello everybody,

I'm new to the forum, and I have to say I am very grateful for the vast amount of information provided here. Anyways, here is my situation: I am a junior undergraduate student in pharm/tox. I have always had no trouble absorbing information and getting all A's and B's in my math and science courses but I have had a number of outside circumstances that arose during my sophmore year that cause me to recieve 3 Fs and a D+ on my transcript. After this summer semester all of the Fs should be replaced with A's or B's bringing my science gpa around 3.5. But my pharmcas gpa would be much lower than that. The reason I got the F's was because I was experiencing extreme depression and pretty much stopped going to school for a semester. I am taking the july PCAT and have already been studying hard for over a month for it and assuming I do well on it, would I even have a chance applying to pharmcas participating schools? Or should I just forget about that because of the Fs ruining the gpa?
Thanks

 

[harmonidrum]

Also, I should add that as of now I am doing extremely well in my classes (A's), going to take full time classes this summer as well to try and boost my gpa as high as possible by the end of next fall. So really my main problem is the F's.

 

[cdang89]

Also, I should add that as of now I am doing extremely well in my classes (A's), going to take full time classes this summer as well to try and boost my gpa as high as possible by the end of next fall. So really my main problem is the F's.

As long as youcontact the school directly about your situation, you will be fine. They will put a note in your profile noting it. Just don't bomb the pcat =)

 

[DrDrugs2012]

4 things for you to do... in order

1) Identify which schools are most forgiving of academic transgressions and more importantly, which ones arent. Please contact me via PM.

2) Contact the schools directly and speak with an admissions counselor, preferably the director of admissions, and be candid about your poor semester. Be sure to indicate that you know you made a poor decision by sticking with the classes instead of opting to withdraw for the semester, but that you have learned from it and that academics are your priority (and that you can point to your vastly improved grades).

3) Do NOT overlook this in your personal statement. You have an opportunity to use your personal statement to show much personal growth and maturity through adversity. Resilience, persistence, determination as well.

4) Make sure you rock the PCAT. Since you are getting A's and working hard, I can only assume you are putting equal effort into your PCAT preparation. If you want friendly advice on how best to prepare for the PCAT as well, contact me via PM.

 

[Pojman]

My advice would be the following:

1) Under no circumstance should you state that severe depression is the cause of your bad grades. I would think of something more generic than that. Sometimes honesty is not the best policy. This shows instability, and an overall lack of emotional maturity. This is not an offense to you, we all have challenges in life to overcome, and this is yours.

2.) Show pride that you took lemons and made lemonade with it. Show that although you took a nosedive, you are proud of the fact that you turned those grades around. This can be a great opportunity to show that you have gained the skills in life that prevent you from giving up in the fact of hardships.

3.) In any case, make sure that you steer the interview in the direction that sheds light on your strengths, and not your weaknesses.

Good luck!

 

[owlegrad]

My advice would be the following:

1) Under no circumstance should you state that severe depression is the cause of your bad grades. I would think of something more generic than that. Sometimes honesty is not the best policy. This shows instability, and an overall lack of emotional maturity. This is not an offense to you, we all have challenges in life to overcome, and this is yours.

2.) Show pride that you took lemons and made lemonade with it. Show that although you took a nosedive, you are proud of the fact that you turned those grades around. This can be a great opportunity to show that you have gained the skills in life that prevent you from giving up in the fact of hardships.

3.) In any case, make sure that you steer the interview in the direction that sheds light on your strengths, and not your weaknesses.

Good luck!

NO! Depression is not a lack of maturity of any sort! This is dangerously incorrect thinking. No, no, no.

Everything else I basically agree with.

 

[Pojman]

NO! Depression is not a lack of maturity of any sort! This is dangerously incorrect thinking. No, no, no.

Everything else I basically agree with.

Your right - This is my opinion, which does not make it fact.

This topic would largely depend on who is interviewing you, and what their opinion is. I guess I just think that bringing up depression in an interview is not the best idea.

 

[harmonidrum]

Thanks for the feedback everyone! I guess I am still struggling with the pros and cons of explaining my situation or just banking on my strong (I hope) pcat+science grades.