Have a very low uGPA trying to get into a PharmD program

[escanoke]

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So here's my background: I have a bachelors in construction mgmt a graduated with a 2.17. I only took basic chemistry during my undergrad. I've been taking pre-reqs for pharmacy school the last year and have a 3.3 GPA but my cumulative is still at a 2.17. Do I even have a chance of being able to get my GPA up to at least a 3.0? If so have any idea how to go about this? I really messed up with my undergrad and had an epiphany my senior year when it was too late. I didn't think pharmacy schools would consider my uGPA since the classes weren't related to Pharmacy at all, but I've already been rejected by MCPHS in Boston (as a yr 2 transfer ) and was told that with my cumulative GPA I don't have a chance of getting in. I'm so worried that I feel if I even hit at 3.5 with the pre-reqs for pharmacy school when I add that to PharmCAS my past is just going to wipe all that hard work out and I won't even be seriously considered at all. Do you guy think my only chance is to apply to schools that require the PCAT and score high?

 

[Rx Jezter]

It might just be too early in the morning for me but can you clarify how it is that your cumulative GPA did not change even with the prerequisite 3.3 GPA? A bachelor's degree includes at minimum 120 credit hours and there are roughly (depending on the school) 50 credit hours of prerequisites to apply for pharmacy school. Your cumulative GPA, the combination of undergraduate and prerequisite GPAs, should be a tad over 2.5. MCPH - Boston has a minimum cumulative and prerequisite GPA of 3.0. Now there are a handful of pharmacy schools who do have a minimum GPA requirement of 2.5 but I should stress that a transcript/history of every class you've ever taken at any educational institution above high school is part of the application requirement.

 

[chemguy79]

I'm a bit confused as well; How many pre-requisite credit hours have you taken so far?

Unfortunately, your previous Bachelor's degree will be factored into your GPA calculations. Fortunately, it doesn't sound like you took many pre-requisite GPA classes during undergrad, so you didn't do completely terrible damage to your pre-requisite GPA. Lots of work to do regarding GPA rehabilitation, but if you score well on the PCAT, you could show that you can learn the material. I'm sure that you will be asked about your poor GPA in most interviews, so prepare a strong answer. It may be something which you need to address in your personal statement as well.

 

[cuddlefish78]

Apply to schools that only have minimum prereq gpa or science gpa. Stay away from those that have a minimum cumulative. Roseman has grade forgiveness. They will look at only your last 5 years

 

[Amicable Angora]

So here's my background: I have a bachelors in construction mgmt a graduated with a 2.17. I only took basic chemistry during my undergrad. I've been taking pre-reqs for pharmacy school the last year and have a 3.3 GPA but my cumulative is still at a 2.17. Do I even have a chance of being able to get my GPA up to at least a 3.0? If so have any idea how to go about this? I really messed up with my undergrad and had an epiphany my senior year when it was too late. I didn't think pharmacy schools would consider my uGPA since the classes weren't related to Pharmacy at all, but I've already been rejected by MCPHS in Boston (as a yr 2 transfer ) and was told that with my cumulative GPA I don't have a chance of getting in. I'm so worried that I feel if I even hit at 3.5 with the pre-reqs for pharmacy school when I add that to PharmCAS my past is just going to wipe all that hard work out and I won't even be seriously considered at all. Do you guy think my only chance is to apply to schools that require the PCAT and score high?

A thing to note, public schools generally will never consider applicants with low GPA.

 

[68quebec]

you need to have AT LEAST 3.0 or above to be safe (with high PCAT score for 3.0 though..). If you have below 2.5, you got a long way to go..

 

[escanoke]

I understand that it's going to take a long time but do admissions really expect me to retake classes that aren't pharmacy related just to boost my cumulative GPA. By the way if I want to ask someone on how I would do this should I ask these question to an advisor from the pharmacy school I am trying to apply to or should I ask an advisor from the local college (not a CC) on how to do this?

 

[escanoke]

Sorry for the confusion but you guys are right I haven't taken all of the pre-reqs yet and that 3.3 is just from (bio 1/2, chem 1/2, psychology, and Calc) those were the only pre-reqs that were needed to apply to transfer into year 2 out 6. MCPHS is unique and they guarantee a spot into the PharmD program at pre-req level, if that makes sense. I still need to take the upper level sciences which I will be doing these next few semesters.

I really did bad in my undergrad, I basically bombed freshman yr and thought I could never bring my GPA up nor did I want to invest the time and effort. I was basically there just to receive the diploma at the lowest requirement thinking I would never be planning on going past my BA. Once I came to the conclusion that I wanted to go to Pharmacy was junior year (I started working as a pharm tech at a in-patient pharmacy) and I thought that my construction management classes wouldn't be a factor due to being a different field and that receiving my diploma would look better than not finishing my degree. If I had known I wouldn't have finished my degree and would have started taking the pre-reqs then I boost my uGPA. It's really disheartening because I finally have found what I really want to do that I am willing to put my heart and soul into. (Sounds very dramatic,yes) but it's really how I feel. I didn't feel this about my Const Mgmt degree. But now it seems like I won't even get a fair shot, I know it's my fault but c'mon just because I severely neglected my academics in one field doesn't mean I'll be doing the same thing especially when this choice I am choosing is costly!!!

 

[cubpanda]

You have no chance if you cannot raise your cumulative to AT LEAST 2.5 and a minimal chance (IMO) if you barely hit that - try to hit as close to a 3.0 as you can. You may not necessarily (shouldn't really) have to re-take your undergrad courses, especially since it was in construction management, but you should finish all your pre-reqs and some more science courses to show that you can dedicate yourself to academics (as well as do some other stuff to show them you care).

I don't know anything about Roseman and grade forgiveness, but if it's true, you should go with that and apply to that school and other private schools that have minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA (are there any? I know some schools are minimum 2.5).

In the meantime, you can calculate what you have to to raise your GPA to an acceptable level. http://academicservices.berkeley.edu/advising/gpa/ Input the classes you have taken from your Bachelor's and factor how many 'Credit Hours' of an A/B you need to have to raise your GPA to that level. I doubt that you can get just get a high (90th percentile+) PCAT and believe that the schools will nullify your poor GPA, so work as hard as you can to take courses and ace them.

It'll be hard, but not impossible. You can still get a 'fair shot' but you will have to work harder to make up for you sub-par grades from before. I don't think AdComs "really expect you" to retake classes that are not pharmacy requirements (as they do accept people that have JUST finished pharmacy pre-reqs), but they will in your case b/c of your past academic history.

It's probably not what you want to hear, but you have to look at it from an AdCom perspective - if they get 1k applicants for ~100 positions in their incoming class, why would they choose a 2.2 GPA vs a 4.0 GPA? If you had amazing extracurriculars and experiences with a 2.8 GPA vs. someone with no experience and a 4.0 GPA, you could still might be in the running, but you have to prove yourself on "paper" before they will allow you to interview and prove yourself in person.

Hope it helps! Good luck.

 

[91Pharmd2017]

You can always "start over" at another institution such as a CC and do your prereqs there and then just submit your transcript from that school. May not work for schools that do background checks but I don't see how pharmcas or Adcom would know unless you tell them.

 

[cuddlefish78]

You are required to submit transcripts from all schools. Dont try to cheat and only submit from a new school

 

[escanoke]

You have no chance if you cannot raise your cumulative to AT LEAST 2.5 and a minimal chance (IMO) if you barely hit that - try to hit as close to a 3.0 as you can. You may not necessarily (shouldn't really) have to re-take your undergrad courses, especially since it was in construction management, but you should finish all your pre-reqs and some more science courses to show that you can dedicate yourself to academics (as well as do some other stuff to show them you care).

I don't know anything about Roseman and grade forgiveness, but if it's true, you should go with that and apply to that school and other private schools that have minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA (are there any? I know some schools are minimum 2.5).

In the meantime, you can calculate what you have to to raise your GPA to an acceptable level. http://academicservices.berkeley.edu/advising/gpa/ Input the classes you have taken from your Bachelor's and factor how many 'Credit Hours' of an A/B you need to have to raise your GPA to that level. I doubt that you can get just get a high (90th percentile+) PCAT and believe that the schools will nullify your poor GPA, so work as hard as you can to take courses and ace them.

It'll be hard, but not impossible. You can still get a 'fair shot' but you will have to work harder to make up for you sub-par grades from before. I don't think AdComs "really expect you" to retake classes that are not pharmacy requirements (as they do accept people that have JUST finished pharmacy pre-reqs), but they will in your case b/c of your past academic history.

It's probably not what you want to hear, but you have to look at it from an AdCom perspective - if they get 1k applicants for ~100 positions in their incoming class, why would they choose a 2.2 GPA vs a 4.0 GPA? If you had amazing extracurriculars and experiences with a 2.8 GPA vs. someone with no experience and a 4.0 GPA, you could still might be in the running, but you have to prove yourself on "paper" before they will allow you to interview and prove yourself in person.

Hope it helps! Good luck.

Thanks cubpanda! My goal is to get to a cumulative 3.0 I'm going to umass Boston to finish my pre-reqs and speak with an advisor there to see what I can do to raise my cumulative, and guys who are considering a CC to fill your pre-reqs speak with an advisor for Pharm schools because I was told by MCPHS that even though they accept credits from a CC they don't see it as an equivalent to credits from a 4yr college (they told me even though I obtained a 3.3 it was from a CC so it isn't something to be proud of)

 

[chemguy79]

You can always "start over" at another institution such as a CC and do your prereqs there and then just submit your transcript from that school. May not work for schools that do background checks but I don't see how pharmcas or Adcom would know unless you tell them.

That is incorrect; It's incredibly easy to find out whether you have attended multiple universities, especially if you received financial aid from the school. Aside from the logistical aspect, it's also dishonest. If this were to happen, your acceptance would be revoked.