HELP please

[humtum]

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hey guys.

I am very very very very lost. now this should tell you how lost I AM. i want to do pharmacy so badly but my GPA is 2.5, please tell me anything tht would help me get into pharmacy school. do you guys think i have better chances gettting in for new pharmacy schools? I work in a pharmacy as a tech, I have learned so many things, and I think it will be easy for me to get through the pharmacy school, but the problem is getting in it? anyone knows any schools tht is kind of easy to get in. I live in New Jersey, which has only one pharmacy school. They only take in 4.0 students b/c it's state school..they are just so bad.
I will appreciate your help guys. Please help me.
Thank you in advance

 

[Trancelucent1]

To be honest, after almost finishing up my first semester, I have realized that if you don't have a good GPA in undergrad coursework it's going to be hard to get A's and B's in pharmacy school. Our entering class average was a 3.4 or something along those lines and the averages on most of our tests are C's. If you were getting C's before and trying your hardest, then just because you get in doesn't mean that you will be successful. I'm not saying it's impossible and I'm sure there are exceptions! I think you should go back and retake some of the classes that you got the lowest grades in. It really will make a difference when you start pharmacy school. Many of my classes assume that you have a strong background in all the pre-req courses and they don't stop to explain rudimentary things. If you really want to go to pharmacy school, then I suggest going back and raising your GPA, not just because it will help you get in, but also because it will help you in pharmacy school.

 

[humtum]

hey
thank you there, see the problem is tht my school does not replace the grades, they average it. Lot of my friends told me not to re-take courses b/c it does not make any difference. I understand what you are saying, but I am willing to give up everything to become a pharmacist, even if it means not to have a life or not to sleep for days n days. I will work very very hard. But thank you for your reply.
I really appreciate it.
by the way which shcool u go to?
and good luck for rest of your semesters.
Thank You

 

[Trancelucent1]

I'm at the University of Florida. I understand your determination too. I'm sure that some school's are different as well and maybe they do start from the ground up with some classes. I really just wanted anyone reading this to maybe understand why the selection committee is so tough. I never understood it before either. Most of my pharmacy friends also had a great GPA and I can tell you that we don't have a life!! Even with our background, we're still studying pretty much from 9-9. We do find time to go out though and that's definately what keeps us sane!! Also, do you have your bachelor's?? If not, and you don't get accepted, I think that it might be beneficial to just stay and get your bachelor's and then reapply. At least then you'd have a chance to bring up your GPA. Also, which school averages the two classes? If it's the one you're attending then that shouldn't matter when you apply through Pharmcas b/c I *think* that they take the highest of the two. Good luck and don't give up!!

 

[humtum]

I'm at the University of Florida. I understand your determination too. I'm sure that some school's are different as well and maybe they do start from the ground up with some classes. I really just wanted anyone reading this to maybe understand why the selection committee is so tough. I never understood it before either. Most of my pharmacy friends also had a great GPA and I can tell you that we don't have a life!! Even with our background, we're still studying pretty much from 9-9. We do find time to go out though and that's definately what keeps us sane!! Also, do you have your bachelor's?? If not, and you don't get accepted, I think that it might be beneficial to just stay and get your bachelor's and then reapply. At least then you'd have a chance to bring up your GPA. Also, which school averages the two classes? If it's the one you're attending then that shouldn't matter when you apply through Pharmcas b/c I *think* that they take the highest of the two. Good luck and don't give up!!

I am applying to some of the new pharmacy schools, maybe i have better chances to get in. i go to RUTGERS STATE UNIVERISTY IN NEW JERSEY. if i take a class again my school will average it and tht's wut will appear on the transcript. I don't know why bad ****s happenes to me. My parents will start telling me to stop going to school b/c i have been in school for five years. Oh ya by the way I do not have BA/BS degree. see my situation was tht I came to U.S.A. without speaking a word of english. I had to take some ESL classes in high school which never gave me chace to have regular english classes, so it just kept on pulling me back in college. Now I am at a point where I can speak and unerstand english well I can't get into pharmacy school b/c it's hard to get in. My luck is just not working. it's like "wrong thing wrong time"
Thank you though,

 

[imperial frog]

What Pam said. The semester's half over and I'm having to study like I've never studied before. Of course, she's in a couple of my groups so she might be the problem and not me. Pharm experience alone isn't going to get you through the first year, maybe not the second one either, at least not at UF. You're still going to need a pretty solid understanding of the chems and A&P and if you're on shaky ground there, you're gonna wind up reviewing as well as learning the new stuff.

 

[afablej]

hey humtum~ i go to RUTGERS too, I tried getting in last year for the pharmacy program wit a 3.2 gpa, that was a waste of time lol. it's the RU-Screw, im tellin ya, i even went to the Pharmacy Dean at RU and they just fed lots of sugar-coated BS =P well neway, I suggest that you get a BS in something that you can finish quick, and minor in a science such as Chemistry. Then apply to pharmacy schools asap, and get some work experience while you're at it...

as for me, i learned my lesson, i currently volunteer at a hospital pharmacy, currently employed in Pfizer, worked in shoprite pharmacy in high school, ..... n i just found my first white hair this week lol. 🙄

gluck to ya~

 

[DrPharm]

to tell you the truth, it's going to be hard getting an interview at all with a 2.5. There are A LOT of ppl with 3.0s and higher. It would be unfair (and wouldn't you think too) to chose you (a 2.5) over those ppl with at least a 3.0? I'm not trying to be rude or mean...I hope you understand. But I see your motivation...the problem is, the Adcoms won't see that unless you interview-which is going to be hard to get with a 2.5. Take more classes and I would definitely retake courses you got below a C in. Most schools don't accept courses below C. Also, start volunteering and maybe start talking to pharmacy school deans, etc so that they can get to know you and see your determination.

Best of luck. It's not going to be easy. That's Life.

 

[melt36]

I agree -- try retaking some courses.. I retook a few chem classes (I already passed them so I didn't receive credit for any of them) just so that the pharm schools could see it on my transcript. Pharmcas will average your scores no matter what -- get an F in chem, retake it & get an A, you'll end up w/ a C in Pharmcas. Most important thing is to have faith & try your best in college! 🙂

 

[humtum]

I agree -- try retaking some courses.. I retook a few chem classes (I already passed them so I didn't receive credit for any of them) just so that the pharm schools could see it on my transcript. Pharmcas will average your scores no matter what -- get an F in chem, retake it & get an A, you'll end up w/ a C in Pharmcas. Most important thing is to have faith & try your best in college! 🙂

HEY melt36
thank you for your reply and support. I really want to get into pharamcy scool. I do not what the hell I am going to do.

thank you

 

[kwakster928]

i would def say try to boost your GPA by staying in the school and getting your BS or BA. GPA is first cut off point in almost every application process. in temple alone, last year if you dont have 3.3 or 3.35 you won't even got a chance to interview. I am also sorry to tell you that some of the school's minimum GPA is 2.75 to apply. I am sorry to bring you the bad news, but your GPA isn't competitive. try work little bit harder and bring those GPA up. no matter the cost, if the pharmacy is what you really want to do .

 

[humtum]

i would def say try to boost your GPA by staying in the school and getting your BS or BA. GPA is first cut off point in almost every application process. in temple alone, last year if you dont have 3.3 or 3.35 you won't even got a chance to interview. I am also sorry to tell you that some of the school's minimum GPA is 2.75 to apply. I am sorry to bring you the bad news, but your GPA isn't competitive. try work little bit harder and bring those GPA up. no matter the cost, if the pharmacy is what you really want to do .

pharmacy is really what I want. lemme ask you something kwakster928, I am applying to Temple for fall 2005, and I think I will bring my GPA up to 2.7 do you think I should apply to temple or not? I mean do they consider anythingelse besides GPA.

Thankx

 

[ultracet]

i don't know about all schools but i think at some schools they don't even receive the application for review if your GPA is below a certain level.
i think pharmcas may allow them to do this or something...
perhaps they can select certain GPA cutoffs where they don't get any applications below that range.

 

[kwakster928]

pharmacy is really what I want. lemme ask you something kwakster928, I am applying to Temple for fall 2005, and I think I will bring my GPA up to 2.7 do you think I should apply to temple or not? I mean do they consider anythingelse besides GPA.

Thankx

Here is how temple works.. i think but i may be wrong.

1. they look at your pre-req GPA, if you dont have the GPA that they set, you are out.

2. if you meet the gpa, you will get an interview. they interview tons of people. group interview format, approximately 400 to 500 people.

3. they consider interview scores and other credentials (recommendation and etc) if you have a tie, overall gpa could be a tie breaker.


unfortunately, you will get a rejection letter if you dont meet the interview gpa which was 3.3 ~ 3.35 last year, and this year is even higher. good news is that those GPA is just for the pre-reqs i think. however, generally applicants tend to have lower pre-req GPA than their overall GPA. to answer your question, you can apply but i dont know how good the chances are. but you never know.

 

[Glycerin]

HEY melt36
thank you for your reply and support. I really want to get into pharamcy scool. I do not what the hell I am going to do.

thank you

humtum, your best bet is to apply to brand new schools. With that said, even newer schools may get exceptional applicants who have GPAs higher than yours. It's worth a shot, though. In the meantime, just continue to take classes and score highly in them. Be sure you do well on the PCAT. Get more pharmacy experience and/or community service. Do what you can to be more "well-rounded."

Another thing - if you don't get in for this coming fall, then during the next pharmacy application cycle that will begin in June 2005, apply first thing. Don't wait until now, because even though most school deadlines aren't until sometime in early 2005, there have already been more applicants this year than last (for this time of the year). You need to apply VERY early in the cycle if you want to increase your chances.

 

[kwakster928]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=149698&highlight=LECOM

from my previous post

Does anyone know which pharmacy schools that don't require pcat are relatively new in the past year? I heard they were easier to get into.

this logic however works against you most of the time. since majority of the applicants apply these schools as safety schools, the application number at these schools are surprisingly large thus making them somewhat hard to get into. LECOM (relatively new, unqualified admission people) for example, got close to same number of application as my school (LECOM got like 1300 our school got like 1500 + but stopped at 1300). be confident. even though it is quite hard sometimes, and try to apply to as many school as possible. including these so called new schools would not hurt your chances either.