GPA problem revisit :)

[clockwork247]

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I've posted a thread a while ago asking for opinions. and here I am again.

I've graduated at UCSD with a management science BS. However I ended up with a super low GPA.

2.42 overall and 2.75 upper division.

That alone leave me with the question if I should pursue anything related to pharmacy school.

As I've understand the requirement to pharmschool is a package of

GPA
PCAT
Experience

I'm in the process of attempting to take Prereq classes and getting a pharmtech license as well as studying for the PCAT.

I'm almost certain that my GPA for the prereq will be in a decent zone (3.5+). However with the GPA on my degree looking like that, should I just drop this idea and move on? thanks.

PS: I've heard that some school will use prereq GPA, is that true? and how many of them are out there? thanks.

 

[PonderingChoice]

See the Recent Graduate thread which is still on the first page. With 4 years of school with a GPA of 2.4, it's going to take a 4.0 over a year or more of classes to bring your GPA up to the minimum required by some schools.

2.4 x 4 years = 9.6, 4.0 x 2 years = 8.0, 17.6 / 6 = almost a 3.0

So, even then, I think some schools which require a 3.0 won't let you in. Also, if you ever re-took any classes and only the second score was calculated into your GPA (and not the first), then your PHARMCAS GPA becomes even lower.

 

[clockwork247]

See the Recent Graduate thread which is still on the first page. With 4 years of school with a GPA of 2.4, it's going to take a 4.0 over a year or more of classes to bring your GPA up to the minimum required by some schools.

2.4 x 4 years = 9.6, 4.0 x 2 years = 8.0, 17.6 / 6 = almost a 3.0

So, even then, I think some schools which require a 3.0 won't let you in. Also, if you ever re-took any classes and only the second score was calculated into your GPA (and not the first), then your PHARMCAS GPA becomes even lower.

so there's no school that will take prereq class GPA only?

 

[Passion4Sci]

so there's no school that will take prereq class GPA only?

I really doubt it...

 

[cdpiano27]

Actually, University of Southern Nevada pharmacy program has some type of grade forgiveness program. Check it out.

 

[Passion4Sci]

Actually, University of Southern Nevada pharmacy program has some type of grade forgiveness program. Check it out.

Grade forgiveness isn't ONLY looking at JUST pre-requisites, is it?

Kinda cryptic:

"To improve your overall and/or science/math prerequisite GPA's, anyone who has taken coursework five (5) years or longer since the date of applying to USN is eligible. However, applicants making this request must complete all ten required prerequisites within the last five years, including English Composition I and Speech. Transcripts from all post-secondary education institutions are still required. Pharmacy applicants requesting academic forgiveness are then evaluated using the same admissions formula. There is no deduction of points for requesting this option."

So I guess that's about as close as you can get.

 

[clockwork247]

Grade forgiveness isn't ONLY looking at JUST pre-requisites, is it?

Kinda cryptic:

"To improve your overall and/or science/math prerequisite GPA’s, anyone who has taken coursework five (5) years or longer since the date of applying to USN is eligible. However, applicants making this request must complete all ten required prerequisites within the last five years, including English Composition I and Speech. Transcripts from all post-secondary education institutions are still required. Pharmacy applicants requesting academic forgiveness are then evaluated using the same admissions formula. There is no deduction of points for requesting this option."

So I guess that's about as close as you can get.

that actually might work for me, but wow, only 1 school, slim/no chance IMO... I'll have to look into this.

 

[Carboxide]

that actually might work for me, but wow, only 1 school, slim/no chance IMO... I'll have to look into this.

I am going to be fully honest with you here. You have two choices.

Choice 1: Give up on pharmacy school. Your grades are ABYSMAL. You know this. Those grades will not allow you to get into pharmacy school unless you get a 99 on the PCAT...and that is unlikely. Even then you will not meet the bare minimum requirements for most schools. Find a new career.

Choice 2: Spend several years retaking classes in an attempt to raise your GPA, especially in prerequisites. If you are going to do this you must get A's in them. Your GPA is too poor to allow for Bs or Cs.

Pick wisely.

 

[Passion4Sci]

that actually might work for me, but wow, only 1 school, slim/no chance IMO... I'll have to look into this.

I think there is one other school which offers a similar forgiveness/amnesty type program, but yeah you're looking at really rough choices, sorry to say it.

I mean, if you did get straight As on the pre-requisites and applied to USN w/ A-Forgiveness then you could stand a good shot, but like Carboxide said you'd also be looking at needing a really high PCAT score. =/

 

[diastole]

Grade forgiveness isn't ONLY looking at JUST pre-requisites, is it?

Kinda cryptic:

"To improve your overall and/or science/math prerequisite GPA’s, anyone who has taken coursework five (5) years or longer since the date of applying to USN is eligible. However, applicants making this request must complete all ten required prerequisites within the last five years, including English Composition I and Speech. Transcripts from all post-secondary education institutions are still required. Pharmacy applicants requesting academic forgiveness are then evaluated using the same admissions formula. There is no deduction of points for requesting this option."

So I guess that's about as close as you can get.

With USN, they just throw out your classes past five years. You get to replace it with your new classes that you have taken within the past five years. You only need to take their ten classes so you can just have a pre-req GPA. I believe that if you take more classes that aren't on the list, they also count that in your GPA as well. It really is a do-over. The only catch is that I believe the GPA of accepted students is something like a 3.7 so unless a person really has changed, they aren't going to get in.

 

[diastole]

that actually might work for me, but wow, only 1 school, slim/no chance IMO... I'll have to look into this.

How long ago did you graduate? I think that if it was a while ago, that will open up your possibilities a bit. There are schools that require that your pre-reqs be taken within the last five to seven years. Now if they aren't even going to count your old classes in your favor, I would imagine that they aren't going to count them too heavily against you. Of course, that means you need to have a drastic turn-around. You need mostly all As. You need to be able to say that you were young and directionless but now that you have matured and know what you want, look at what stellar work you can produce.

If you got your degree recently, then this is more problematic. You might need to go do something else, excel at it, pick up great LORs, come back in a few years and then start working on getting into pharmacy school. You'll need something to make you stand out from the other applicants so they don't look too closely at the old GPA. I think that you still have a chance to get into pharmacy school but you have a very tough road ahead. You might need to look at it as a long-term goal and you will have to make the rest of your application look stellar. Just looking like the rest of the applicants from here on out most likely isn't going to do it.

 

[Passion4Sci]

From his other thread, in April:

I'm about to get my BS in management science at UCSD (really really really soon, like in 3 months).

You yourself even replied to it, Diastole, questioning his motivation for going to pharmacy school at all. (All his friends are/were doing it and the idea doesn't seem half bad).

Personally, OP, I think you should explore other options. You don't sound really enthused about pharmacy, and doing the pre-requisites and working, like you want to do, in your academic dire straits, just won't work. For whatever reason, you have trouble managing your time, and having work compete with studies when you need a full 4.0 seems like a horrible idea to me.

If you want to stay the course, then Diastole's right. You'll need to drop the idea of applying any time in the next year, maybe two... And doing your pre-requisites aiming for at the very least a 3.80, getting pharmacy experience, etc. You know, so you can actually have a good reason for going INTO pharmacy school in the first place.

How long ago did you graduate? I think that if it was a while ago, that will open up your possibilities a bit. There are schools that require that your pre-reqs be taken within the last five to seven years. Now if they aren't even going to count your old classes in your favor, I would imagine that they aren't going to count them too heavily against you. Of course, that means you need to have a drastic turn-around. You need mostly all As. You need to be able to say that you were young and directionless but now that you have matured and know what you want, look at what stellar work you can produce.

If you got your degree recently, then this is more problematic. You might need to go do something else, excel at it, pick up great LORs, come back in a few years and then start working on getting into pharmacy school. You'll need something to make you stand out from the other applicants so they don't look too closely at the old GPA. I think that you still have a chance to get into pharmacy school but you have a very tough road ahead. You might need to look at it as a long-term goal and you will have to make the rest of your application look stellar. Just looking like the rest of the applicants from here on out most likely isn't going to do it.

 

[diastole]

Oh yeah, I remember now. I graduated when there was a recession (though not nearly as bad as the one now) and I remember a lot of people going on to more school who wouldn't normally just because it was a tough environment to find a job. The OP brought this memory back from the recesses of my mind for some strange reason. Can't imagine why.

 

[clockwork247]

How long ago did you graduate? I think that if it was a while ago, that will open up your possibilities a bit. There are schools that require that your pre-reqs be taken within the last five to seven years. Now if they aren't even going to count your old classes in your favor, I would imagine that they aren't going to count them too heavily against you. Of course, that means you need to have a drastic turn-around. You need mostly all As. You need to be able to say that you were young and directionless but now that you have matured and know what you want, look at what stellar work you can produce.

If you got your degree recently, then this is more problematic. You might need to go do something else, excel at it, pick up great LORs, come back in a few years and then start working on getting into pharmacy school. You'll need something to make you stand out from the other applicants so they don't look too closely at the old GPA. I think that you still have a chance to get into pharmacy school but you have a very tough road ahead. You might need to look at it as a long-term goal and you will have to make the rest of your application look stellar. Just looking like the rest of the applicants from here on out most likely isn't going to do it.

I fall into the problematic category, just graduated. I'm not planning to apply 2 years after this, but I rather have a plan ahead and figure out how to approach it...

Hopefully things changes a bit in the next few years.

 

[clockwork247]

From his other thread, in April:

You yourself even replied to it, Diastole, questioning his motivation for going to pharmacy school at all. (All his friends are/were doing it and the idea doesn't seem half bad).

Personally, OP, I think you should explore other options. You don't sound really enthused about pharmacy, and doing the pre-requisites and working, like you want to do, in your academic dire straits, just won't work. For whatever reason, you have trouble managing your time, and having work compete with studies when you need a full 4.0 seems like a horrible idea to me.

If you want to stay the course, then Diastole's right. You'll need to drop the idea of applying any time in the next year, maybe two... And doing your pre-requisites aiming for at the very least a 3.80, getting pharmacy experience, etc. You know, so you can actually have a good reason for going INTO pharmacy school in the first place.

it's doable IMO, i just need to show up to class (which is a requirement now that I'm attending a CC). 5 years of college, i showed up to class 1 year max (all together) = crappy grades. Just didn't want to do crap, I was honestly a little depressed after highschool, and college just added more into the problem. I had a little breather in the last year of college, feels like I can go back to work now.

 

[Passion4Sci]

it's doable IMO, i just need to show up to class (which is a requirement now that I'm attending a CC). 5 years of college, i showed up to class 1 year max (all together) = crappy grades. Just didn't want to do crap, I was honestly a little depressed after highschool, and college just added more into the problem. I had a little breather in the last year of college, feels like I can go back to work now.

Well ,if you've gotten yourself back into shape then much luck to you. No one will be forcing you into class in pharmacy school, so if you completely lack self-motivation and ambition, you might be in for a tough time.

I'm curious. Of those 5 years of college with only 1 year total of class attendance, what the hell were you doing with your time?

 

[clockwork247]

Well ,if you've gotten yourself back into shape then much luck to you. No one will be forcing you into class in pharmacy school, so if you completely lack self-motivation and ambition, you might be in for a tough time.

I'm curious. Of those 5 years of college with only 1 year total of class attendance, what the hell were you doing with your time?

i'm not sure. mostly not doing much (it's clearly showing). i had alot of side interests, and to be honest, i don't even remember what I ate this morning, so if I have to sit down and think what I did 5 years ago, it's not gonna be pretty. But until last year, my goal wasn't going to the profession of pharmacy.

 

[Passion4Sci]

i'm not sure. mostly not doing much (it's clearly showing). i had alot of side interests, and to be honest, i don't even remember what I ate this morning, so if I have to sit down and think what I did 5 years ago, it's not gonna be pretty. But until last year, my goal wasn't going to the profession of pharmacy.

And it's only pharmacy now because most of your friends are doing it and hell, the money's not bad right?

Or have you changed your mind since your last post? Honestly, you need to get some pharmacy experience before you set your mind to this. And only you can honestly know for sure if you're just telling yourself that you can do it, or that you're committed TO doing it, you know?

Let me ask you this: What makes you a different Clockwork247 now than the last 5 years where you mostly did nothing? Did you have an addiction to take your time (e.g., video game, gambling, drug/alcohol) or was someone occupying your time, like a family member or girlfriend/boyfriend?

I understand that you were "depressed' before but that's so nebulous and really, if it's a serotonin or norepi. imbalance then it's probably not miraculously "gone", and might come back with a vengeance.


Not trying to impugn you here, but I am curious.

 

[clockwork247]

And it's only pharmacy now because most of your friends are doing it and hell, the money's not bad right?

Or have you changed your mind since your last post? Honestly, you need to get some pharmacy experience before you set your mind to this. And only you can honestly know for sure if you're just telling yourself that you can do it, or that you're committed TO doing it, you know?

Let me ask you this: What makes you a different Clockwork247 now than the last 5 years where you mostly did nothing? Did you have an addiction to take your time (e.g., video game, gambling, drug/alcohol) or was someone occupying your time, like a family member or girlfriend/boyfriend?

I understand that you were "depressed' before but that's so nebulous and really, if it's a serotonin or norepi. imbalance then it's probably not miraculously "gone", and might come back with a vengeance.


Not trying to impugn you here, but I am curious.

I entered college because my parents wanted me to, I had no desire and no plans. Just wanted to finish and get out.

I'm not much different, the only different is that I have a goal and I'm trying to reach it, that's all.

Why I want to do pharmacy? the money is not bad, the job isn't too bad, better than alot of other jobs out there, and alot of my friends are in there, so hopefully I can learn from what they do and makes my life easier.

And, if i'm taking science classes, with the additions of my other classes from my degree, perhaps it can open some options for other things in the healthcare field other than pharmacy.

 

[Passion4Sci]

Why I want to do pharmacy? the money is not bad, the job isn't too bad, better than alot of other jobs out there, and alot of my friends are in there, so hopefully I can learn from what they do and makes my life easier.

The job isn't too bad? How much actual in-person pharmacy time have you spent? Are you just going by what your P1 or P0 pharmacy student friends are telling you? The money is not bad, that's true, but there's a lot more to being a pharmacist than clocking in at 9, collecting 55 bucks an hour until 5, then clocking out. A whole helluva lot more than I thought there was before I started this journey, that's for damn sure.

True, that you're taking the classes anyway and might as well line up for SOMETHING, I agree. But, I wholeheartedly encourage you to get some pharmacy experience before jumping head first. Shadow a clin.pharm, mix a few IV bags, listen to a day of "CONSULTATION WINDOW 1 - SCREAMING WOMAN" and such, and you know, get your feet wet. Better yet if you can, get PTCB certified (not hard, at all) , and punch some hours in as a CPhT somewhere, anywhere.

Just my advice from someone who more or less sat in your very seat a year and some months ago.