How can I improve my application within 6 months

[CareDD]

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Hi everyone,

Let me say thank you for trying to help me out. I am really appreciated your advises.

I graduated from UC Davis with a B.S degree in Biotechnology. My GPA is 3.92. I haven't taken any anatomy or physiology, economic and public speaking which I am planning on taking these classes in the Fall 2012 while applying. I volunteer in the ER department for about 40-50 hours, have 2 yrs of undergrad research exp, 2 presentations, currently work as a staff research for almost a year now.

I 've been trying to understand more about pharmacy in general. I have no other interests in applying in med, dental, opt watsover, just pharmacy because I feel like it is a good fit for me.

With your experience, how can I improve my application?

By the way, I plan to apply to only 5 schools: UCSF, UCSD, UOP, Touro and Western because I haven't taken PCAT.

 

[armorking]

Hi everyone,

Let me say thank you for trying to help me out. I am really appreciated your advises.

I graduated from UC Davis with a B.S degree in Biotechnology. My GPA is 3.92. I haven't taken any anatomy or physiology, economic and public speaking which I am planning on taking these classes in the Fall 2012 while applying. I volunteer in the ER department for about 40-50 hours, have 2 yrs of undergrad research exp, 2 presentations, currently work as a staff research for almost a year now.

I 've been trying to understand more about pharmacy in general. I have no other interests in applying in med, dental, opt watsover, just pharmacy because I feel like it is a good fit for me.

With your experience, how can I improve my application?

By the way, I plan to apply to only 5 schools: UCSF, UCSD, UOP, Touro and Western because I haven't taken PCAT.

My biggest tip is to work at a pharmacy. If you cannot find a position, try and volunteer at a pharmacy. Based on everything you have mentioned, getting an interview won't be a problem, but it doesn't hurt to make sure this is the field for you. I wasn't sure until I worked at a pharmacy and I really loved the atmosphere. Take a test drive. If it's for you, go for it. If not, then you won't regret the decision. Hope this helps!

 

[PharmacyWarrior]

Hi everyone,

Let me say thank you for trying to help me out. I am really appreciated your advises.

I graduated from UC Davis with a B.S degree in Biotechnology. My GPA is 3.92. I haven't taken any anatomy or physiology, economic and public speaking which I am planning on taking these classes in the Fall 2012 while applying. I volunteer in the ER department for about 40-50 hours, have 2 yrs of undergrad research exp, 2 presentations, currently work as a staff research for almost a year now.

I 've been trying to understand more about pharmacy in general. I have no other interests in applying in med, dental, opt watsover, just pharmacy because I feel like it is a good fit for me.

With your experience, how can I improve my application?

By the way, I plan to apply to only 5 schools: UCSF, UCSD, UOP, Touro and Western because I haven't taken PCAT.

With your current GPA, I'm sure that you will get invited and accepted into most of the schools in CA. You just need to shadow or volunteer at a pharmacy to get a really great LOR. Good luck.

 

[CareDD]

Thank a lot armorking and PharmacyWarrior!!

 

[CareDD]

Should I start taking pre-req right now or just focus on volunteering? I have a full-time job, and so I imagine it can be exhausting if I do both.

 

[PharmacyWarrior]

Should I start taking pre-req right now or just focus on volunteering? I have a full-time job, and so I imagine it can be exhausting if I do both.

I would take care of the prereq first, then start working in a pharmacy for experience and LOR. How many more courses do you have left?

 

[CareDD]

I have Anatomy, Physiology, Public Speaking and Economics. I have a friend taking both Public speaking and Economic in the summer. I am thinking if I should take it in the summer before school starts. In regard to anatomy and physiology, I am planning on taking physiology in the Fall, and anatomy in the Spring. But then again, I read PharmCAS, and it says some schools may not consider your application if you don't finish all pre-req by the end of the Fall term.

If I took the pre-req now, then I wouldnt have time to do volunteering, it can be hard for me to write a convincing personal statement of why pharmacy ... right?

 

[Rouelle]

I have Anatomy, Physiology, Public Speaking and Economics. I have a friend taking both Public speaking and Economic in the summer. I am thinking if I should take it in the summer before school starts. In regard to anatomy and physiology, I am planning on taking physiology in the Fall, and anatomy in the Spring. But then again, I read PharmCAS, and it says some schools may not consider your application if you don't finish all pre-req by the end of the Fall term.

If I took the pre-req now, then I wouldnt have time to do volunteering, it can be hard for me to write a convincing personal statement of why pharmacy ... right?

It can be harder to write without experience, but it can certainly be done. A full 40% of my class (including myself) had no pharmacy experience before starting pharmacy school, yet we were able to provide acceptable personal statements. You will just have to justify your decision a little better than some of the other applicants. That said, I agree with the previous posters: getting some experience will be the single quickest and easiest thing you could to to improve your chances in the next 6 months.