HELP with application please

[mimosa90]

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Hello everyone, I would like to get as many suggestions as possible please !

so here's the deal:
I'm planning to apply to pharmacy school by the end of this cycle, and i'm done with all my science classes. I just have two general ed classes left that I plan on taking this fall.

My application started looking good i think... I had some volunteer hours in a hospital pharmacy (starting march 2012), I had two letters of recommendation planned that I thought were solid, my GPA is 3.78, and I started studying for the september PCAT in june. One of my writers was my manager, and I had helped him conducting events for the associates and such that weren't included in my duties (I am a deli clerk, but i helped with surveys for the company and other associate events) so i felt he could show my leadership and communication skills.

This is how it is falling apart !!
some family troubles took place starting this summer where I had to take a week off from work and stopped my studying for the PCAT. Also, my family decided to move this summer and I have to help with that too. In the light of these events, volunteering came last and my hours dropped. I even was embarrassed to call the hospital pharmacy to apologize for my absences.
One of my writers (whom was my manager) agreed initially to write the letter gladly, he then declined in the middle of the process because he came across the question: what company did he represent.. and he did not want to continue because he said it was against company policy.

I need advice please ! Is there a way to fix my application? please I need your suggestions :cry:

 

[474671]

Well I'm afraid I won't be much help but here goes....It's ok. First off, relax! Things happen in life sometimes. Your GPA is solid (very solid! 👍) and it's ok to take breaks from studying for the PCAT and works sometimes. Good luck helping your fam. It really sucks about the letter of rec, but perhaps you can find another professor to replace him? With what looks to be a great application already, this will not be an end all as long as your personal statement, the recs you do get, and your ECs as a whole (they won't know you had to take a week off) are still strong.

 

[mimosa90]

Well I'm afraid I won't be much help but here goes....It's ok. First off, relax! Things happen in life sometimes. Your GPA is solid (very solid! 👍) and it's ok to take breaks from studying for the PCAT and works sometimes. Good luck helping your fam. It really sucks about the letter of rec, but perhaps you can find another professor to replace him? With what looks to be a great application already, this will not be an end all as long as your personal statement, the recs you do get, and your ECs as a whole (they won't know you had to take a week off).

Thank you for the response 🙂 I have another professor in mind, or I could ask the pharmacist that I volunteer for too.. I just have to fix my hours there and explain my situation. again, thank you 🙂 luck is needed !

 

[smercer]

Sept is still a month and a half away...you will be fine as you still have plenty to time to study.

As for the Manager, I would be glad he declined you. Saying that writing a LoR is against company policy is BS. What kind of policy prevents you from assisting in someones education by creating a recommendation? is it against company policy to give a reference of you if you had applied for a new job? No. Thus I think the person was unsure of what to write. It is better then them writing a crappy one and wasting one of your slots.

Also they look highly on a LoR coming from an Educated person (ie PhD, PharmD, etc.). Thus I would find a science professor and talk with them about writing one. You should just go visit one of your professors and see what they have to say.

As far as the week off from the volunteer experience. I would simply send an email or apology card and write a brief explanation of your reason for missing time. Here I would just state that due to personal issues that have arouse with your family you needed to take time off. You would like to sincerely apologize for any inconveniences caused by your absences. Also if they still need any help you are willing to assist them in any way possible. (You do not need to get specific, as the exact family issues are none of their business.) I think doing this will show some devotion and even is something you can reflect on in your interview as an experience in humility.

Beyond that your other stats look pretty solid. Crap happens, it is just a fact of life.

 

[mimosa90]

Sept is still a month and a half away...you will be fine as you still have plenty to time to study.

As for the Manager, I would be glad he declined you. Saying that writing a LoR is against company policy is BS. What kind of policy prevents you from assisting in someones education by creating a recommendation? is it against company policy to give a reference of you if you had applied for a new job? No. Thus I think the person was unsure of what to write. It is better then them writing a crappy one and wasting one of your slots.

Also they look highly on a LoR coming from an Educated person (ie PhD, PharmD, etc.). Thus I would find a science professor and talk with them about writing one. You should just go visit one of your professors and see what they have to say.

As far as the week off from the volunteer experience. I would simply send an email or apology card and write a brief explanation of your reason for missing time. Here I would just state that due to personal issues that have arouse with your family you needed to take time off. You would like to sincerely apologize for any inconveniences caused by your absences. Also if they still need any help you are willing to assist them in any way possible. (You do not need to get specific, as the exact family issues are none of their business.) I think doing this will show some devotion and even is something you can reflect on in your interview as an experience in humility.

Beyond that your other stats look pretty solid. Crap happens, it is just a fact of life.

I thought so too about the company policy, I just sensed enthusiasm from the manager that when I asked him to write a letter.. I'm pretty confused about this situation still.

and the suggestion about apologizing also thought about that, I thought I could do that in person, or talk with the volunteer services department of the hospital.

Thank you for the ideas, I feel a bit more confident now 🙂