help!!

[heylainey]

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I recently got accepted into UH pharmacy school which was my first choice. I had a really tough semester though, and ended up getting a D in my organic chemistry class. The grade was a result of a number of factors - work, labs, heavy course load (trying to do prereqs for two schools in two years), organizations, and a horrible professor from the first half of the course, but basically I spread myself too thin. It is pretty much guaranteed that I will not be getting in anymore. I tried talking to my professor, but he was not very understanding. I even went to UH earlier today and spoke with the head of admissions, and explained to her my extenuating circumstances and asked if I would be allowed to take organic in the summer. UH has a rule that you are not allowed to take organic in the summer, especially the summer before your entrance into pharmacy school. I also asked if acceptance could be deferred, but I know that this is stretching it and have yet heard a response (although I already know what it is). I'm so upset with myself and the situation at hand. This completely ruins my plans for the summer and the fall. I don't even know what school I will be attending. Also, do you have an edge over other applicants if you do undergrad at the school you want to attend? I went to UT for my undergrad, but hated it and am thinking of UH for the fall. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[sweetcalie08]

I know this doesn't really help you any, but I needed a B- or higher in ochem and I got a C+. *sniff* So, I don't exactly know what's happening with me either. I'm trying to do everything possible to work things out, but things are totally up in the air right now for me as well.

 

[Longhorn23]

heylainey, I don't think going to undergrad at UT would help you get into their pharmacy school. It's not mentioned anywhere on their website- in fact they clearly say that getting admitted to the university is NOT a guarantee that one will be accepted to their pharmacy school. It is a totally separate admission process. But they do say that Texas residents clearly have an edge over nonresidents.
If you noticed their admission statistics from last year- UT students and non UT students were pretty much admitted in equal numbers

 

[heylainey]

Thanks for the replies. Yeah, I figured that it didn't really matter where I did my undergrad as long as it was at a 4-year accredited university. I attended UT for the last 2 years, and think I will start my 3rd year at UH. The thing is, UH has several campuses and the application deadline for the main campus was May 1. They told me I can apply at another location - UH Downtown. I was told that it is the same campus, but only in a different location. How can this be though if the application deadline for UHD isn't until August 1? Does anyone know about UHD? I'm confused about where to attend school in the fall. I have the choice of going back to UT, but I feel as though I can get better grades going to UH. I also hope to work out some type of correspondence with the pharmacy school next year if I'm there. I'm also registered at LSU, but I don't want to return to Louisiana (I'm a resident of Louisiana) b/c I think this will just hurt my chances of getting into a pharmacy school in Texas. Is it your residency status they consider or the state in which you did your undergrad? I've definetly learned a lesson from all of this, but I think in a way this will work out for the better. As of right now, I feel that my academic background is very weak and that I would really have a tough time in pharmacy school. I am also getting certified this summer so I can gain experience all next year. Hopefully this works out for me. What is your take on where I should go to school in the fall? And sorry for this book of an email!

 

[Brill]

UH pharmacy doesn't seem to give any preferential treatment to people who went to UH for undergrad. There are plenty of people here from UT, A&M, UH, etc., all with similar stats and experience. Our class is mainly composed of people who went to undergrad in Texas because they do admit more residents than non-residents. I think we have a couple of people from LA.

UHD is a separate campus from UH-Main, but it is part of the University of Houston system (it's like UT-Arlington vs. UT-Austin)

 

[Longhorn23]

Is it your residency status they consider or the state in which you did your undergrad?

I think it is your residency status because if you are a Louisiana resident that means you are probably classified as a nonresident in Texas unless you've stayed in TX for a year without going to school.
Non residents do get accepted at public schools as Brill said so don't give up hope! Good luck!

 

[emogrrrrl]

I have the choice of going back to UT, but I feel as though I can get better grades going to UH. I also hope to work out some type of correspondence with the pharmacy school next year if I'm there.

I received my degree from UT and was attending UH for the last 4 semesters to complete the prerequisites. If you think you can get better grades b/c it's an easier school I wouldn't go so far as saying UH is easier than UT academically. Grades are what you make of them whether you have a class of 600 students or a class of 25. I think I've learned more at UH than I did at UT as far as my bio classes and chem classes went, but I don't think it has anything to do with the classes being easier. I think some of it has to do with growing up and wanting to study on my own accord. I think UH is way underrated (spelling?) as far as how difficult it is academically. I'm sure all the colleges at UH are different. I can't say much for the administration and staff at UH, they are frustrating as hell. But all my profs for the past 2 years have been excellent.
Just my .02.

 

[nguyenkd]

i totally agree with emogrrrrl. i think many people have the misconception that UH is an easy school. i did my pre-reqs at UH and let me tell you....it was no walk in the park. i've come to notice that the people who claim UH is "easy" don't even attend the school. i've even had several of my friends undermine my grades, even when they're A's, because they think i didn't have to work hard for it. i can see why people compare UH to high school, but i personally love the school. go coogs! lol.

 

[djbacklash]

heylainey~

I totally feel your pain. I'm in a similar boat, though I have not yet been accepted to UT (unfortunately the only school I applied to). I did HORRIBLY in genetics this past semester and as a result am now retaking it. I got all A's in my other classes but obviously this is a biggie. I don't know how this will look to the admissions committee, who I promptly emailed (not with an excuse, but rather to show them it was a mistake and one that was uncharacteristic of my academic abilities).

To be honest, I feel I am more qualified than many, if not most, candidates (extensive leadership/service experience, work experience/research, decent pcat/grades, bachelors degree, post-bac, blah blah blah), which makes this an INCREDIBLY disheartening blow 🙁

Are you 100% certain you've got no chance at starting UH pharm this Fall?

 

[Longhorn23]

I did HORRIBLY in genetics this past semester and as a result am now retaking it. QUOTE]

Genetics- Don't remind me!! I totally sympathize you-never worked so hard for a B in my entire life

 

[DaveyDoo]

heylainey, I don't think going to undergrad at UT would help you get into their pharmacy school. It's not mentioned anywhere on their website- in fact they clearly say that getting admitted to the university is NOT a guarantee that one will be accepted to their pharmacy school. It is a totally separate admission process. But they do say that Texas residents clearly have an edge over nonresidents.
If you noticed their admission statistics from last year- UT students and non UT students were pretty much admitted in equal numbers

So UT students and students from several different universities (not just UT) were admitted in equal numbers...sounds to me like UT students have the advantage...also why wouldn't u have the advantage if u did your undergrad at "their" pharmacy school...professors at "their" university are going to think they're more prestigious than a diff. university, so of course they give precidence to their students...so if 2 students have same gpa, same pcat, etc....one goes to UT, one goes to another university...the UT student will most definitely get in!!! no brainer

 

[UT-Frank]

So UT students and students from several different universities (not just UT) were admitted in equal numbers...sounds to me like UT students have the advantage...also why wouldn't u have the advantage if u did your undergrad at "their" pharmacy school...professors at "their" university are going to think they're more prestigious than a diff. university, so of course they give precidence to their students...so if 2 students have same gpa, same pcat, etc....one goes to UT, one goes to another university...the UT student will most definitely get in!!! no brainer

That's not the case. I spoke with one of the faculty and they do not at all favor UT students. They believe in having a diverse groups of students from all backgrounds and schools.

 

[DaveyDoo]

of course faculty will tell u that, but don't u think they will favor a student who has earned an "A" at their school (where they know what the prof. is like) vs. an "A" at another school where they know nothing about...if the big deal was "diversity", wouldn't they take a certain number of students from each school... rather than half from UT and half from other schools...UT students are definitely favored...thats my opinion at least... 😕

 

[Longhorn23]

I didn't do all my prereqs at UT I had about 45hrs of course work from another college so I'm not a 'true UT prepharmacy student'!
Whatever school you go to- what matters is your gpa.
I have also heared that around 30-50 students from UTEP have guaranteed spots in each class if they are enrolled in their prepharmacy program and and maintain a good gpa.(there are extra conditions behind this) The rest of the spots are fought for by 700+ students applying.

 

[heylainey]

hey djbacklash -
i'm really sorry about genetics...that class was a killer for me too. who did you have? saxena? anyway, here is what is happening right now with my situation. the admissions committee at uh told me they would treat my case individually and deliberate over the next 3 weeks and would let me know if i am allowed to take organic in the summer. i was told, however, not to get my hopes up just b/c the admissions criteria does not accept students who take a science course in the summer, especially prior to their entrance in pharmacy school. since i knew this wouldn't happen, i asked for my acceptance to be deferred. i know medical schools allow students to defer their acceptance, but under circumstances such as if they wanted to work or keep their options open. my case is different though b/c i'm basically deferring my acceptance b/c i wasn't able to meet a prerequisite. i talked to someone at uh who basically assured me that i would get in next year if i reapplied just b/c i got in this year (assuming my grades were good). i won't officially know until 3 weeks from now, but i doubt the admissions committee will show me pity and allow me to take the class in the summer. i'm not too sure about deferment either, b/c my situation is a bit different. i hope everything works out for you though and i will keep you posted on what happened.

 

[heylainey]

Oh by the way, I talked to an advisor at UT (b/c I also applied here) about what happened in my Organic Chemistry class b/c I'm pending at this school and he told me to withdraw my application...so I did.

 

[nguyenkd]

Originally Posted by DaveyDoo
So UT students and students from several different universities (not just UT) were admitted in equal numbers...sounds to me like UT students have the advantage...also why wouldn't u have the advantage if u did your undergrad at "their" pharmacy school...professors at "their" university are going to think they're more prestigious than a diff. university, so of course they give precidence to their students...so if 2 students have same gpa, same pcat, etc....one goes to UT, one goes to another university...the UT student will most definitely get in!!! no brainer

my friend spoke to our COP advisor here at University of Houston and out of the 125 accepted, only 24 were UH students. 😱 however, the advisor did say that next year, she'd like to see more UH students get admitted...about 50 or so. key words: like to see.