HELP...Kicked out of Pharm School, re-applying...NEED ADVICE

[klampster23]

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[HaleyRX]

Don't be down on yourself. You can use your experiences to help you. Trying so hard just shows how bad you really want it! 🙂 Your GPA is good enough to at least get you an interview somewhere, and from that point..just sell yourself to the adcom!
I don't know much about the schools on your list. Xavier has some interesting prereqs, so check their website to be sure you meet those before you apply. Also, keep in mind that they prefer people who are already Xavier students. There was an interesting post on this forum a little while back about that.
Best of luck!

 

[Farmercyst]

I'd say you definitely have a shot. How many supplemental apps gave you the opportunity to explain academic deficiencies? Everyone knows hard times happen, I don't see how they can exclude Pharmacy school from that. If you want an opinion from an adcom, you could ask LurkerSFJC to see how it looks to an adcom. I doubt you'd get an answer specific to you, but you might be able to get the impression they'd have of an applicant in general that has been in your situation (surely you aren't the only one this has happened to.)

 

[slimcutt]

I don’t know exactly what your chances are but you seem like a pretty competitive applicant. I just wanted to let you know I feel for your situation. At my school you get dismissed for getting put on academic probation three times or getting two Fs, among other things. Well, last year I failed a class after already having one semester of academic probation. The following semester I was well on my way to failing another class from getting 2 Fs on the midterm exams. I was super depressed because I knew I was going to get kicked out of school because there was no way I was going to pass this class. The worst thing was that this was my P3 year and I already had over 100K in debt. It just killed me knowing that I would have nothing to show for it. Anyway, out of nowhere I came down with rheumatic fever and spent almost two weeks in the hospital. This ended up being the best thing that ever happened to me because my school allowed me to take a medical leave and repeat the semester the following year. I’ve got my **** together now and am getting good grades. Best of luck to you.

 

[InsiderSJFC]

Dear Klampster23,

My sincere apologies and empathy to you in your current dilemma.

I do not know much about the UB program at all, but if you have submitted a petition to the school and it was denied, I, as a student would petition it as far as I possibly could. I would petition Dean Anderson - the Provost and the President of SUNY Buffalo if I had to. In the petition, I would include letters from my mother's physicians, professors, etc. It would depend on how bad I wanted to get back into the program.

The unfortuante situation that you will find youself in is that many schools will not be understanding about your circumstances. I am sorry - but that has been my experience over the years.

If you want to apply to other schools, be VERY upfront. Do not hide anyting. And make sure that you write a cover letter that details your situation.

Some schools might consider you based on availabitilty in the second professional year - but since programs vary so much from place to place, if accepted, they may want you to start the curriculum from scratch.

 

[klampster23]

Thanks for all of your advice.The problem was that in the Student Handbook of UB pharmacy, it states that !st year Pharm students cannot petition a dismissmal. I still went ahead and petitoned to Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, Karl Fiebelkorn and then the next day in early June, he told me that my letter of petition will not be reviewed by the committee, and that any further petitioning will not be accepted. By then I knew it was pointless to keep fighting it. I kinda becmae depressed, realizing I basically lost $220,000. ($20,000 in last year's tuition and $200,000 of potential income in 2 years that now have to be wasted)

Believe me, I wanted to be given another chance more than anything. That's how bad I want it. I wasn't even petitioning to advance into second year, as 2.0 GPA is quite a difference from a 2.2. I petitioned to at least be given the opportunity to re-do my first year and show them why they accepted me into their program. With the other schools I'm applying to, I'm not even thinking about 2nd year, I would be jumping for joy if I was given the opportunity to start from P-1. All I need is that opportunity.

You say that schools won't consider my situation. I would be jumping for joy if schools ignored I was ever in a pharm program and just evaluated me on my first 2 years. But I do submit a page of additional info, explaining my situation last year answering all questions schools will have of me, specifically why a school should consider a student who has been dismissed at another pharm program, and if another personal problem were to come up again, how will the student deal with it; would it result in his demise like at Buffalo.

I know schools don't question my perfromance in pre-pharm or my knowledge about pharmacy (considering I've been through first year) All they're thinking is should we take a chance on him....does he have the potential to become a great pharmcist? These are things schools need to look past of, and not think of me as a risk or whether I can uphold the reputaiton of their instiution, because I'm not a risk and I can uphold a school's reputation.

As I'm in the process of applying to St. John Fisher pharmacy, do you really believe that the committee won't consider my situation and just toss away my application, or look solely on my cumulative GPA (including my pharm year)

 

[InsiderSJFC]

Klampster23,

Please read my post above closely. You misread/misquoted me on a couple of things.

I did not say that "schools won't consider your situation."

What I said is "The unfortuante situation that you will find youself in is that many schools will not be understanding about your circumstances." The word 'many' does NOT mean all or most - it just means many. At least that has been my experience.

My post was was made in an effort to make you feel better, and to state honestly the facts. But I do believe that you read it quickly and are already in a 'doom and gloom' thought process - and thought that it was meant to be the same.

I think you should reread the post again closely and look at the advice there. If I were a student and I wanted to continue my education and felt that I was given the short end of the stick - I would be damn determined to petition whoever I needed to.

No matter where you apply, it is imperative that you include your transcripts from all schools attended. Failure to do so, could if discovered down the road, jeopardize your degree and your licensure as a pharmacist.

As I stated in my previous post, include a letter to wherever you apply explaining your circumstances.

As far as speaking specifically about SJFC in this case, I can not speculate as to what the Admissions Committee would do or say. That is why I advised you to write a detailed cover letter to all schools that you apply to. I never said anything about how SJFC would look at it. Therefore, your comments "do you really believe that the committee won't consider my situation and just toss away my application, or look solely on my cumulative GPA (including my pharm year)" is premature and unfounded on what I said.

And please note, advice or suggestions made on this board are not discussed or shared with the Admissions Committee.

 

[Pharm47]

I'm suppose to be 2nd professional year at Univeristy at Buffalo School of Pharmacy, but I dot dismissed because I had 2.0 first year GPA...needed 2.2 to move on. I did really bad last year, beacuse my mind wasn't fully focused, because my mom got diagnosed with Parkinson's and I had to go back home frequently. Buffalo didn't accept my petition and I don't want to go there anymore...need a new scenary. So I'm applying to like 14 schools.....I need to get back into pharmacy....any pharmacy school in the U.S.

I've done 3 years of undergrad....no degree (don't plan on it...taking year off this year) My first two years GPA that got me in was a 3.65. I took 3 online classes this fall (All A's) If you don’t count last year, my cumulative is 3.75. My overall cumulative inlcuding last year in pharm is 3.29...

I think every applicant who plans on bypassing their bachelor's in order to go straight to pharm school should read this. If he had actually followed through with his first degree, at least he could say he's a college graduate. If no pharmacy school will re-admit him, the lack of bachelor's degree makes him a "college dropout" at this point.

 

[sdn1977]

Thanks for all of your advice.The problem was that in the Student Handbook of UB pharmacy, it states that !st year Pharm students cannot petition a dismissmal. I still went ahead and petitoned to Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, Karl Fiebelkorn and then the next day in early June, he told me that my letter of petition will not be reviewed by the committee, and that any further petitioning will not be accepted. By then I knew it was pointless to keep fighting it. I kinda becmae depressed, realizing I basically lost $220,000. ($20,000 in last year's tuition and $200,000 of potential income in 2 years that now have to be wasted)

Believe me, I wanted to be given another chance more than anything. That's how bad I want it. I wasn't even petitioning to advance into second year, as 2.0 GPA is quite a difference from a 2.2. I petitioned to at least be given the opportunity to re-do my first year and show them why they accepted me into their program. With the other schools I'm applying to, I'm not even thinking about 2nd year, I would be jumping for joy if I was given the opportunity to start from P-1. All I need is that opportunity.

You say that schools won't consider my situation. I would be jumping for joy if schools ignored I was ever in a pharm program and just evaluated me on my first 2 years. But I do submit a page of additional info, explaining my situation last year answering all questions schools will have of me, specifically why a school should consider a student who has been dismissed at another pharm program, and if another personal problem were to come up again, how will the student deal with it; would it result in his demise like at Buffalo.

I know schools don't question my perfromance in pre-pharm or my knowledge about pharmacy (considering I've been through first year) All they're thinking is should we take a chance on him....does he have the potential to become a great pharmcist? These are things schools need to look past of, and not think of me as a risk or whether I can uphold the reputaiton of their instiution, because I'm not a risk and I can uphold a school's reputation.

As I'm in the process of applying to St. John Fisher pharmacy, do you really believe that the committee won't consider my situation and just toss away my application, or look solely on my cumulative GPA (including my pharm year)

klampster.....I see a few problems with your scenario, which you may inadvertently be making worse. This isn't going to sound nice, but I'm saying it to you honestly in the hope you can find in yourself what you need to fix it.

First....your 2.0 gpa didn't come as any surprise. Likewise, your mom's diagnosis didn't come as any surprise. As soon as you got into academic trouble, there were resources to go to - every school has them. Did you utilize them? To you and everyone at this level of education, you WILL NOT be able to teach yourself material you inheriently don't understand. That is why tutoring, early academic interventions & remediation are available.

Likewise, if you were on academic probabtion at the end of the first semester....did you go to the academic dean & explain the situation? I have found, in my own school, altho years ago...but also in my daughter's medical class, the deans to be very understanding of family &/or medical issues. However, it does not come at some compromise - what was the compromise required of you & what were you not willing to do?

Finally, you don't want to go back - need a change of scenery. You know that won't help! Scenery had nothing to do with you inability to stay focused & study. It sounds as though you'rre pissed off - not contrite as you should be.

It also sounds as though you were/are young and have just been presented with a family changing event. If they won't reconsider your petition, with the cover letter as Lurker suggested, then, I think you're out of luck. However, you may be able to make your case more strong if perhaps you were your mothere's only caregiver or this precipitated a depressive event in your life which resulted in a medical leave condition for you which should have been requested as it occurred. So....I'd pursue a medical consultation for yourself.

As for the rest of the time, while you wait for applications....go on and finish your bachelor's. At this point, you have no education at all. A BS will give you something. At this point, you have wasted time & $20,000 only. The potential $200K was never yours to have until you finally finished - so it doesn't count. As for California schools - don't bother with the public schools - we have far too many applicants for even our own state's students, your's would be rejected outright. I can't say about the privates.

But...I would say...this is a time to learn from this & grow up. I learned of my sister-in-law's death in a plane crash while working in the ICU. I left about 4 hours later - earlier than my shift should have ended, but stayed to finish what needed to be done. The last two deaths in my family (last week & 1 month ago) I learned about while working. There was no one to cover, so I just worked. I do not mean to diminish your mom's illness (I have a brother in law with Parkinson's x 10yr - so I know the path)....but, this experience does not contribute to your overall sense of responsibility & maturity.

I'm sorry for the blunt statements, but if, by any chance, you can seek out yet one more consultation with your school......be humble, be contrite, acknowledge your lack of direction & forethought about the consequences - they will be your very best chance of re-entering the program. Mend any bridges you might have burned and be willing to accept any penalties they might place.

Otherwise...on your application essays, you wil need to explain something besides my mom got sick & I couldn't study - that won't fly.

Good Luck!

 

[Swanchick84]

klampster23 ,

Like a few ppl have mentioned on this forum, my advice to you is to go back and complete your bachelor's before applying again.

I can speak for the CA schools and MCPHS-Worcester. Over 90% of the acceptees in all the CA schools will have a bachelor's before they marticulate. In MA, I believe the percentage of degree holders is about 70-80%.

Pharmacy school gets more competitive every year, there are increasing numbers of applicants, not to mention the reapplicants also. You have an awesome GPA, but a degree will make you all the more competitive.

Best,
Swanchick84

 

[klampster23]

Thanks for all of your advice. I know a degree would really help my chances...I needed only like 3-4 more classes for a biomedical science degree. It was just tough mentally to return to Buffalo this year. Everyday walking on campus would make me think that I'm suppose to be a 2nd year student, and now I'm basically fighting just to get back in. Especially after wasting $20,000, it would have been hard to spend another $20,000 for this year, knowing I['m not in phamracy. It's a toss up either way I guess. Those additional 3-4 classes wouldn't make me feel liek I accomplished a whole lot, but I do see your view in the impotance of a degree

I realize in life everyone gets one chance, but I feel the one chance I had, I wasn't able to demonstrate my true capabilities due to my personal problems. But the good thing is that I didn't let this defeat me. I could have just stayed depressed and given up. But I believe my determination will get me back to where I was; because I refuse to let what happen last year academically, stop me from becoming a great pharmacist.

And I don't consider myself a college dropout! My first and only major is Phamracy, as I was offered admission into several 0-6 schools back in 2003. I took 10 credits last semester online, so I believe that doesn't classify me as a college dropout!!!!!!!