Help! I need advice!

[Jamesdd]

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Hey i was just searching for pharmD info and i stumbled upon this website. It seems like a really nice community 🙂.

Anyways, heres my situation.

I just graduated with a B.S. in biology in May from the University of Illinois, problem is i sorta sleepwalked through my undergrad (or at least the first 2 years of it). When I set my sights on what i want to do after graduation, my original plan was to work a couple years in general lab tech, then apply to a pharmacy school. But, the job market has been killing me so I'm trying to find a way to get into a pharmD program for the fall of 2009.

Now, as i said before, i sorta sleepwalked through undergrad. My cumulative GPA is a 2.93. I read that most pharm programs have students averaging like a 3.5, and this scares the crap out of me. As for pre-req courses, i have most, but i'm missing a few things. I havent taken microbiology (with lab). I realize some schools requires this and some dont. Also, i havent taken organic chem II. My counselor told me most pharm schools will accept biochem (which i've taken) in place of orgo II. Is this true?

I havent taken the PCAT yet, Im currently studying to take in in August. So basically, I have a few questions.

1. What are my chances of getting into a pharm school? (Any pharm school, i dont care), and what schools would be most likely to take someone like me (below average GPA)
2. what steps should I take before applying (obviously i'm taking the PCAT, but i still have pre-req courses, etc)
3. Does biochem really substitute for organic chem II for most pharm schools? I emailed Midwestern and they said they wouldnt accept it 🙁

Any help is GREATLY appreciated

thanks!

 

[PrepharmKID]

Well, first off the question about your chances of getting into school cant be answered. All you can do is apply. Retake those lower division courses and hopefully you can at least pull your GPA up to a 3.0. Since you can't do much on that though, get a high score on PCAT and practice writing PS's, and speaking for interviews. No one can tell you specifically what your chances are of getting into school. There is a thread that has people click on what their GPA is if they got into pharm school. Check that out. I think it said like 4 percent had below 3.0, not sure though. Thats just GPA though, there are so many other aspects they look at.

I think you should take Human A&P I and II, Ochem I & II, microbiology, biochemistry, etc. Those classes aren't too difficult and it will allow you more schools to apply. Search this forum, I'm sure most questions you can think of have been answered already.

 

[tharper14]

You're chances are not good, but not impossible. Take some classes again... anything that you got a C or less in, just at a community college. You really need to get your gpa up.

 

[RxWildcat]

Hey i was just searching for pharmD info and i stumbled upon this website. It seems like a really nice community 🙂.

Anyways, heres my situation.

I just graduated with a B.S. in biology in May from the University of Illinois, problem is i sorta sleepwalked through my undergrad (or at least the first 2 years of it). When I set my sights on what i want to do after graduation, my original plan was to work a couple years in general lab tech, then apply to a pharmacy school. But, the job market has been killing me so I'm trying to find a way to get into a pharmD program for the fall of 2009.

Now, as i said before, i sorta sleepwalked through undergrad. My cumulative GPA is a 2.93. I read that most pharm programs have students averaging like a 3.5, and this scares the crap out of me. As for pre-req courses, i have most, but i'm missing a few things. I havent taken microbiology (with lab). I realize some schools requires this and some dont. Also, i havent taken organic chem II. My counselor told me most pharm schools will accept biochem (which i've taken) in place of orgo II. Is this true?

I havent taken the PCAT yet, Im currently studying to take in in August. So basically, I have a few questions.

1. What are my chances of getting into a pharm school? (Any pharm school, i dont care), and what schools would be most likely to take someone like me (below average GPA)
2. what steps should I take before applying (obviously i'm taking the PCAT, but i still have pre-req courses, etc)
3. Does biochem really substitute for organic chem II for most pharm schools? I emailed Midwestern and they said they wouldnt accept it 🙁

Any help is GREATLY appreciated

thanks!

You need to take orgo II and the lab, biochem is NOT a substitute. You could retake some courses that you made Cs in to raise your GPA. A 2.9 won't be very competitive at most pharm schools.

 

[fenixtnlfan]

Along with what everyone else has said, I suggest getting pharmacy experience or at least volunteering.

 

[Jamesdd]

Along with what everyone else has said, I suggest getting pharmacy experience or at least volunteering.

would i just go up to pharmacies like walgreens and ask if they need pharm tech help or something?

for retaking courses, would taking courses at a community college affect my overall GPA at my 4 year institution?

 

[PrepharmKID]

Apply online. If you qualify or have openings, they will call. I know my area is really hard to get hired because there are several pharmacy tech programs nearby.

Check to make sure you are taking the proper level courses is all I can say. Also, if you are attempting to transfer credits to a university, i believe the most you can transfer is 64-68 credits from community college. I dont really know how they choose which ones they will accept though. Gonna have to research that on your own!

 

[fenixtnlfan]

Well, if you want to get a job go to the retail stores. But if you want to volunteer or shadow, hospitals and possibly independent pharmacies are your best bet. I've read on here that the retail pharmacies won't let you volunteer or shadow because of privacy issues or something.

 

[PrepharmKID]

I believe I heard the same thing. I live near a childrens hospital and they allow people to work in the pharmacy. Just find out what local pharmacy's there are in your neighborhood. Look them up on the internet and see if they have a volunteer page. I do event volunteering for the hospital, every other weekend or so. I'm supposed to be starting another volunteer(ship) at a disease clinic down the street. Applied online.

A few ideas: Geriatrics hospitals, old folks home, city, hospital, schools, reading to blind or elderly, etc