How competitive am I?

[Citsouca1988]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Calculus A-
Biology B+
Psychology A-
English A
Caluclus II B+
Biology 2 B
Spanish A
English Seminar A-
Chem 1 A
Chem 1 Lab A

Courses in progress
Chem I

Overall GPA 3.61

Pharmacy Technician for one year

Extra Curricular Activities:
Created Intramural Tennis Fall 07
Assistant Coach Tennis Spring 08
Informal Summer Tennis Club Summer 08

Will become Assistant and start summer club next year

I want to apply to Mass College of Pharmacy Boston and Worcester for Fall 09. However, I hear that I am unable to apply to both of them simultaneously. I am planning to get the prerequisites done within 2 years. Which school would be better for me to apply to. Am I even a strong candidate?

 

[Farcus]

there is no need to list all the grades in your GPA lol
I'd say you're in the competitive range depending on your PCAT, but nothing that is a "must have" for any pharmacy school.

 

[GT500]

Your ECs and work experience will definitely boost your application and help you on interview day. Your GPA is also competitive as Farcus said. Unless those schools are early decision, I do not see why you could not apply to both.

 

[Drug Doc]

I think you are definitely a strong candidate. As for MCPHS, you are only allowed to apply to one of the campuses (Boston 4yr, Worcester 3yr, or Manchester 3yr). To determine which school is better I recommend doing a lot of research on SDN about the two campuses. After being accepted to the Worcester program this past cycle, I read through a lot of Worcester threads and saw that the reviews for this program varied greatly. Its a good way to see how current students really feel about that campus. Good luck on apps and try not to stress more than is necessary. Stats wise you are sitting in a super comfy place.

 

[Citsouca1988]

thanks a lot. I feel happier and less stressed now. When should I apply to one of the colleges though? After I finish my second session of chemistry 2 and do an early decision to one of them?

 

[cystapharm]

no A+? shame on you! jk

i think you are .01 point shy of being competitive.

🙂

 

[eric4321]

If you were applying to UF, your prepharmacy gpa [the only one that counts there] is 3.333 now, 3.44 if you get an A- in Chem1. First number almost never gets in, 2nd number might get you in WITH a 90+ composite pcat score. Just a warning: Chem1/2, Organic1/2, Physics1/2 are all quite a bit tougher than Bio1/2 for most people.

If you know the criteria to get accepted at MCPHS, fine, i hope it is overall gpa. There catalog doesn't say very much, other than 2.5 or 2.7 minimums. I would ask an admissions counselor. If you DON'T learn the criteria until you're done with classes, then you're likely on the same road as the vast majority of all pre-pharmacy majors: not getting accepted anywhere.

At which point your options are 1) re-take classes & re-take the pcat and spend 1-2 more years in school; or 2) change majors and make 1 to 2 million less dollars over the course of your career. Sorry to preach but i've seen this many many times.

If science/calculus1 gpa is a big factor, you just need to shift your priorities toward those classes as you've done well in other classes. Learning enough to make A's in sciences [minus physics] will help your pcat score a TON, don't be surprised when more & more schools start to look at pcat score.

 

[Citsouca1988]

If you were applying to UF, your prepharmacy gpa [the only one that counts there] is 3.333 now, 3.44 if you get an A- in Chem1. First number almost never gets in, 2nd number might get you in WITH a 90+ composite pcat score. Just a warning: Chem1/2, Organic1/2, Physics1/2 are all quite a bit tougher than Bio1/2 for most people.

If you know the criteria to get accepted at MCPHS, fine, i hope it is overall gpa. There catalog doesn't say very much, other than 2.5 or 2.7 minimums. I would ask an admissions counselor. If you DON'T learn the criteria until you're done with classes, then you're likely on the same road as the vast majority of all pre-pharmacy majors: not getting accepted anywhere.

At which point your options are 1) re-take classes & re-take the pcat and spend 1-2 more years in school; or 2) change majors and make 1 to 2 million less dollars over the course of your career. Sorry to preach but i've seen this many many times.

If science/calculus1 gpa is a big factor, you just need to shift your priorities toward those classes as you've done well in other classes. Learning enough to make A's in sciences [minus physics] will help your pcat score a TON, don't be surprised when more & more schools start to look at pcat score.

I am currently trying to do that. I did manage to obtain an A in Chem 1 and hopefully will do the same with Chem 2. I was wondering, when should I apply to pharmacy school? After I finish Chem 2?

 

[IrishRxMan]

You should apply when you are at least enrolled in organic 1 and will finish organic 2 in the spring. No school that I know of will look at you until they see that you are at least taking organic already. Of course, as for when to apply depends on the school and if they do rolling admissions or PharmCAS.

 

[inquirer89]

I agree, if you are taking Chem II now (during summer) and take Orgo I in the fall and Orgo II in the spring, then I think you could apply now. That is exactly what I am doing.

 

[Citsouca1988]

If I can only apply to one, which one should I apply to? I know I should take a trip to both of them first but this is what I know thus far.

As a transfer student in MCPHS Boston, you are not guranteed housing. I emailed one of the advisors at MCPHS Worcester and told me 85% get accepted with a degree.

I do want a dorm setting because I have not experienced it and I hate commuting now. However, I feel I will not be a strong enough competitor against those who have a degree for worcester.


Eh....

 

[Drug Doc]

Well, in the end, it never hurts to apply. There is always going to be a general preference from schools (i.e hold degree's already) but like with anything else, there are always exceptions. So, I encourage you to apply. Something in your PS or ec's or something might catch their attention, and your grades are pretty solid if you ask me. If you don't get in right away then you really haven't lost any time because then you will just continue working towards obtaining your BS. Best of luck.

p.s Eric4321, did you really recalculate this persons gpa? too funny

 

[IrishRxMan]

You should apply to more than one school. I got very lucky because I got accepted at the only school I applied to.