so i just graduated hs and i'm going to be a sophomore this fall. i had about 35 dual enrollment credits and i got an A in all of them so i guess i have a 4.0 so far? anyways so they moved me up to a soph. so now it will take 3 years to get my chem b.s. my dual enrollment credits are pretty much all liberal arts stuff: history, psych, soc. but i do have anat and phys and calc credits. should i take them again my junior year, so they'll be fresh for the pcat? ok so my question is should i apply to pharm schools after 2 years or get my chem b.s. and stay the 3rd year (which i kind of want to do because it'll give me more time to study and all)? either way, when should i first take the PCAT? does it look bad to stay the extra year and get the chem bs? thanks
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Started by chemgirl35
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In my opinion... the pcat really wasn't all too bad. Since it seems you've taken some of the basics already, you might just want to wait to take the pcat after you've finished o.chem & bio. Also-- getting a bachelors supposedly makes you more competitive and well-rounded.
i agree. the PCAT was cake. remember, its just a review of what you know. If you got good grades, dont worry about taking the classes again as a review. I took AP Bio and took the PCAT 2 years after I was out of high school and I remembered what I needed to. just buy review/practice books if you want to.
i would suggest applying to pharm school after your second year, see if you get in, and if you do, just transition in. If you dont, continue to get your BS in chem and apply again, seeing if the BS will help you. If you do plan to do this, take your PCAT in october of your second year, or the summer before then.
It's up to you how important that chemistry B.S. is to you. If you are dead-set on becoming a pharmacist, then you really won't need that B.S. degree once you're accepted. If you've taken basic chemistry courses, you'll be fine for th PCAT. I know several 3rd year acceptees who don't even get their BS degrees and move straight into their PharmD programs. It doesn't look bad at all. With a good GPA and a solid PCAT score you will not be penalized if you don't have your B.S. degree. If you are going to complete it, it won't hurt either.
the only thing is, if i take them next summer i won't have had org. chem or physics yet
also, i'm not even sure where i want to apply. i live in pennsylvania, is it better to pick PA schools or is it just as fine to pick schools in other states as far as acceptance goes?
when should i start studying vocab for it? (from a GRE verbal book?) if i do take it next summer
also, i'm not even sure where i want to apply. i live in pennsylvania, is it better to pick PA schools or is it just as fine to pick schools in other states as far as acceptance goes?
when should i start studying vocab for it? (from a GRE verbal book?) if i do take it next summer
You could take the accelerated Organic Chem over next summer and then you would have some Ochem under your belt before the August Pcat that summer, just an idea. Otherwise just buy a PCAT study guide and learn the organic info in the book and the general physics concepts. I never took the PCAT but from reading these forums it depends on how confident you are with remembering your coursework. Some people start a month before and others the week of brushing up on things.
Nice work coming out with 35 credits all As by the way! I was a lazy fella in high school and basically did nothing.
