Help me please~

[Vero]

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I'm 27 yrs old with BS degree in biochemistry.
I wanted to go to pharm school right after undergrad,
but.. too many things happened and I had to work for my family. 🙁

I never gave up my dream, a pharmacist.
Fortunately things got better and I want to try, but I am really worried...

If you guys can give me some tips/advice, I would really appreciate that!

Here are my questions.

1. I heard pharm school wants an applicant who has continued studying. It's been a while I've been out of school. Even though I go back to CC to take some classes, I have a huge gap. Is this OK?

2. Because of my family, I need to stay in California and pharm shools in ca don't require PCAT. But if I get a good score on PCAT, does this make me a better applicant? or just don't bother at all?

3. I do not have any extra curricular activities. I've been too busy, supporting my family. (or I was lazy...🙁) volunteering at hospital, working as a pharm-tech, this is all I can think. But everyone's doing it. Is there any ideas for extra curricular?

4. What will make me a better applicant?

Thank you in advance and sorry for my poor Eng.

 

[talkativeDP]

I'm 27 yrs old with BS degree in biochemistry.
I wanted to go to pharm school right after undergrad,
but.. too many things happened and I had to work for my family. 🙁

I never gave up my dream, a pharmacist.
Fortunately things got better and I want to try, but I am really worried...

If you guys can give me some tips/advice, I would really appreciate that!

Here are my questions.

1. I heard pharm school wants an applicant who has continued studying. It's been a while I've been out of school. Even though I go back to CC to take some classes, I have a huge gap. Is this OK?

2. Because of my family, I need to stay in California and pharm shools in ca don't require PCAT. But if I get a good score on PCAT, does this make me a better applicant? or just don't bother at all?

3. I do not have any extra curricular activities. I've been too busy, supporting my family. (or I was lazy...🙁) volunteering at hospital, working as a pharm-tech, this is all I can think. But everyone's doing it. Is there any ideas for extra curricular?

4. What will make me a better applicant?

Thank you in advance and sorry for my poor Eng.

well I can tell few things and I have same situation where you are right now?
I am supporting my family, married and will have kids in next few years.
well I have Bachelor of Pharmacy degree.
Above that I have completed following courses:
General chemistry and Biology I & II.
Organic chemistry I and II
Physice I and taking Physics II
Anatomy and physiology I and II.
math (calculus)
general requirements like sociolgy, anthropology, logic, business, human genetics, psychology, economics, humanities.
all these classes you need to take, it doesn't matter where you applied for pharmacy school.
I am also working as Pharm.Tech in hospital pharmacy. I have done some volunteer work in hospital and private pharmacy for atleast 6 months. I am also a active member in my community.
Though my PCAT score is not good as others has it. it is around 40.
I sent few application these year for pharmacy school around the US universities. I already interview couple school.
try doing more as much as you can. Built your resume beyond the requirements.

Hope all these thing help.

 

[Project2015]

1. Not true. As long as you have legitimate reason(s) to be out of school and were still productive, it should be fine.

2. Forget the PCAT. They won't even look at it.

3. What ECs did you have during undergrad? What kind of work have you been doing? It doesn't matter if everyone's doing it if you can make the experiences work for you. There isn't really much else you can do besides the usual community service orgs as you're no longer a student.

4. Depends on your CV.

 

[PharmEXP]

1. Not true. As long as you have legitimate reason(s) to be out of school and were still productive, it should be fine.

Agreed, granted your GPA is decent. Also, some schools require those classes be taken in the last 5-10 years, so make sure to re-take any classes that will not be accepted.

2. Forget the PCAT. They won't even look at it.

👍

.

 

[Pharmacist Zoom]

I'm 27 yrs old with BS degree in biochemistry.
I wanted to go to pharm school right after undergrad,
but.. too many things happened and I had to work for my family. 🙁

I never gave up my dream, a pharmacist.
Fortunately things got better and I want to try, but I am really worried...

If you guys can give me some tips/advice, I would really appreciate that!

Here are my questions.

1. I heard pharm school wants an applicant who has continued studying. It's been a while I've been out of school. Even though I go back to CC to take some classes, I have a huge gap. Is this OK?

2. Because of my family, I need to stay in California and pharm shools in ca don't require PCAT. But if I get a good score on PCAT, does this make me a better applicant? or just don't bother at all?

3. I do not have any extra curricular activities. I've been too busy, supporting my family. (or I was lazy...🙁) volunteering at hospital, working as a pharm-tech, this is all I can think. But everyone's doing it. Is there any ideas for extra curricular?

4. What will make me a better applicant?

Thank you in advance and sorry for my poor Eng.

I think a lot of pharmacy schools look things with different prespectives, some do want their students to have continuous education without any gaps, but some schools understand that a lot of things could be happening in a student's life, making them take classes parttime or leading to a gap. Most schools want your science prereqs done within 5 years of applying. another thing I heard about schools in Cali is that they don't consider PCAT .....so doesn't make your application better than others by nailing PCAT, but if u are considering applying elsewhere it does matter. Extracuricullar activities can be participating in community service projects or participation in ur school groups and organizations like SGA etc. Good Luck👍👍

 

[seventhgirl]

I think that as long as you can say what you were doing in the time you have been away from school it shouldn't matter. (As long as your pre reqs are the certain time frame as well) I started school pretty strong but then dropped to half time and eventually had to take a break from school for a year and a half to work and had a few financial withdrawls on my transcript. I went back three years ago to finish my degree and will be graduating in Aug. Even though I had sort of a rocky, off-on undergrad I got accepted to pharm school so it sounds like you have a chance as long as you have a decent GPA and maybe a stellar personal statement about why you are interested in pharmacy and how your experiences (in school and out) will help you.

I don't know anything about Cali schools other than they are competitive and like you said don't require the PCAT.

Good Luck

GPA: 3.25
PCAT 64
BS in Chemistry (will have)
Total years in school 7 (including time off)

 

[Passion4Sci]

2. Because of my family, I need to stay in California and pharm shools in ca don't require PCAT. But if I get a good score on PCAT, does this make me a better applicant? or just don't bother at all?

I have to disagree with Project on this. Touro states that they will look at the PCAT and it could very well be the thing that tips the scales in your favor as an applicant.

Painting in broad brushes in science is bad... the second you say "It's ALWAYS like [this]" there is ALWAYS someone ready to prove you wrong with an example to the contrary...

So while the PCAT should not be a priority, I would take it. First of all, if you DO apply to a school(s) that WILL look at it, awesome. And if you DO need to apply to out of state schools at some point (E.g., 2 years elapse and you've gotten rejected each cycle) to achieve your dream, then having the PCAT will be an almost complete necessity. Better to have it done now than later.

 

[Project2015]

Did not know that, Passion. I suppose I should have known better since pharmacy schools vary so much with their criteria.

 

[Muangz]

I'm 27 yrs old with BS degree in biochemistry.
I wanted to go to pharm school right after undergrad,
but.. too many things happened and I had to work for my family. 🙁

Here are my questions.

1. I heard pharm school wants an applicant who has continued studying. It's been a while I've been out of school. Even though I go back to CC to take some classes, I have a huge gap. Is this OK?



2. Because of my family, I need to stay in California and pharm shools in ca don't require PCAT. But if I get a good score on PCAT, does this make me a better applicant? or just don't bother at all?

3. I do not have any extra curricular activities. I've been too busy, supporting my family. (or I was lazy...🙁) volunteering at hospital, working as a pharm-tech, this is all I can think. But everyone's doing it. Is there any ideas for extra curricular?

4. What will make me a better applicant?

Thank you in advance and sorry for my poor Eng.

Age shouldn't matter. I was 27 when I applied last fall; I'll be 28 when school starts this fall.

1. I finished my undergrad in 2004. I worked in biotech industry and did research for the past 5 years. I finally decided to go back to school for a professional degree. As long as you have been doing something productive, then that is OK. Life-enriching experiences are a PLUS! (I took time off from school too because of family/financial reasons).

2. If you only want to apply to CA schools, I don't think PCAT matters so much as your GPA. Hopefully, you have a decent GPA? I would rather spend that extra time on the application essays.

3. 'Too busy' is an excuse to adcom. You always gotta make time.

4. Expand your ECs outside the realm of pharmacy. Any community service base activity will look good. You want to be well-rounded.

Lastly, believe in yourself. You can do it! 👍