How didn't SHE get in??????

[Maestrojo]

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I work with a fellow employee whose daughter was trying to get into pharmacy school (Loma Linda)

She had a 3.4 (science GPA!) took the PCAT even though she didn't have to, and got in the 89%tile and while she had no pharmacy experience, she works for a epi center which is a chemical plant that makes tubings and syringes for hospitals. and she belongs to all sorts of clubs and community programs

Oh, she also has her B.S. in Chemistry.

So, what went wrong?

because the only thing I have over her is that i'm a Pharmacy Technician. and i'm in the process of applying....

 

[doublehh03]

I work with a fellow employee whose daughter was trying to get into pharmacy school (Loma Linda)

She had a 3.4 (science GPA!) took the PCAT even though she didn't have to, and got in the 89%tile and while she had no pharmacy experience, she works for a epi center which is a chemical plant that makes tubings and syringes for hospitals. and she belongs to all sorts of clubs and community programs

Oh, she also has her B.S. in Chemistry.

So, what went wrong?

because the only thing I have over her is that i'm a Pharmacy Technician. and i'm in the process of applying....

for schools that don't require the PCAT, GPA needs to be pretty high. 3.4 is he avg at loma linda i think so she doens't really stand out.

also, the lack of pharm experience hurts.

im in the process of applying an i think my lack of pharm exp will hurt me alot. so ima try to get some in b4 interviews.

 

[guytim]

I agree with the above - for schools that don't require the PCAT, your GPA has to stand out.
From experience, the people I see that got in pharmacy schools this year all had either above the school's average GPAs/PCATs (low GPAs and high PCATs or vice versa or high in both). A 3.4 science GPA isn't exceptional. An Applicant with higher than the average GPA for a certain school doesn't mean the applicant Should get in, but instead, the applicant simply has a better chance of getting in.
Also, I have seen people with lower GPAs/PCATs getting accepted to the same schools over applicants with higher stats, so it's hard to tell exactly what schools are looking for. My advice - obvious and though easy to say but harder to accomplish - is simply appear to the school as a well rounded individual and it's up to the school to make the decision.

 

[Requiem]

a) If you're in the states why are you only applying to one school

b) 3.4 (Science GPA!) needs to be replaced with 3.4 (Science GPA 🙁 )

get that to a 3.6 or so, 3.6 is a nice number.

btw making tubings and syringes for hospital is like saying, "oh yeah I also mow my lawn" as an EC.

 

[NuclearFission]

Yeah, i'd have to say a 3.4 isn't a high GPA considering the sheer number of applicants for most pharmacy schools.

But then, what do the stats of Loma look like?

 

[doublehh03]

but most schools in cali don't really have a high avg GPA

western - 3.2
pacific - 3.4
USC - 3.47
UCSD - 3.6
UCSF - 3.57
Touro - 3.2
Loma Linda - 3.3

so 3.4 is avg so ur friend should still be able to get in if he has pharm exp which i think hurt him. but ur always more competitive when ur stats are ABOVE the school's average.

some schools w/ PCAT have higher GPAs avg than cali schools

 

[NuclearFission]

but most schools in cali don't really have a high avg GPA

western - 3.2
pacific - 3.4
USC - 3.47
UCSD - 3.6
UCSF - 3.57
Touro - 3.2
Loma Linda - 3.3

so 3.4 is avg so ur friend should still be able to get in if he has pharm exp which i think hurt him. but ur always more competitive when ur stats are ABOVE the school's average.

some schools w/ PCAT have higher GPAs avg than cali schools

Maybe they didnt like her interview? Did she mention she wanted to be a Medical doctor instead of a pharmacist or maybe she's a commited felon?

 

[Pharmcdc]

Some people seem to think that a high GPA/PCAT garantees acceptance. It should assure you for an interview, then it is all up to you. Your stats can only show an adcom that you deserve to be considered. You have to show them that you should be accepted, at your interview. There are people(I will admit its rare) that have 4.0 and 90%PCAT that dont get accepted. There are also people with 3.0 and <80% PCAT who get accepted. You have to stand out in some way ie. GPA, PCAT, Volunteer work, experience, something to GET an interview, then let them see why they should choose you AT the interview. Most schools want "Well-rounded" individuals.

 

[pharmd4me@510]

Isn't Loma Linda a really religious school? I heard that at the interview if they found out you're not a hard core Christian, then they will not accept you. Of course this is unconstitutional, but they will come up with other excuses to reject you.Is this true? This is why I didn't apply to Loma Linda because I'm an atheis and there is no way in hell they're going to accept me.

 

[a504n]

Some people seem to think that a high GPA/PCAT garantees acceptance. It should assure you for an interview, then it is all up to you. Your stats can only show an adcom that you deserve to be considered. You have to show them that you should be accepted, at your interview. There are people(I will admit its rare) that have 4.0 and 90%PCAT that dont get accepted. There are also people with 3.0 and <80% PCAT who get accepted. You have to stand out in some way ie. GPA, PCAT, Volunteer work, experience, something to GET an interview, then let them see why they should choose you AT the interview. Most schools want "Well-rounded" individuals.

I agree with what you said. I only had a 3.1 GPA and I was accepted into pharmacy school. My school even said that GPA is not the number one factor in determining who gets accepted. They said GPA does not determine whether or not you'll be a sucessful pharmacist.

 

[confuseddd]

I agree with what you said. I only had a 3.1 GPA and I was accepted into pharmacy school. My school even said that GPA is not the number one factor in determining who gets accepted. They said GPA does not determine whether or not you'll be a sucessful pharmacist.

Which school is that?😱

 

[Maestrojo]

Which school is that?😱

X2

What school is that?

 

[WVUPharm2007]

GPA isn't the huge dealmaker people think it is. Interview is just as if not more important, IMO.

GPA. The empiric measurement of how willing a person is to jump through ridiculous, pointless hoops.

 

[NuclearFission]

GPA isn't the huge dealmaker people think it is. Interview is just as if not more important, IMO.

GPA. The empiric measurement of how willing a person is to jump through ridiculous, pointless hoops.

Very try but honestly, how often do you hear that happening? It is a very rare occasion in which a student with lower the average GPA can actually show a pharmacy school they are made up of much more then just their grades. I'm guessing there are one or two per school who is capable of this.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

I had a 3.27 and beat out a whole bunch of people with higher GPAs based on my interview.

 

[a504n]

Which school is that?😱

Xavier Univeristy in New Orleans.

 

[NuclearFission]

I had a 3.27 and beat out a whole bunch of people with higher GPAs based on my interview.

Nice! Throw me some pointers please.

 

[shanepark]

Isn't Loma Linda a really religious school? I heard that at the interview if they found out you're not a hard core Christian, then they will not accept you. Of course this is unconstitutional, but they will come up with other excuses to reject you.Is this true? This is why I didn't apply to Loma Linda because I'm an atheis and there is no way in hell they're going to accept me.

The school has a strong christian background but they do not discount other religions or atheists. In fact, the school of pharmacy has the most diverse group of people in terms of religion and ethnicity. So to answer your question...No they do not reject you based on your religion. I was accepted to their program this year with a GPA of 3.4 ( doubled in chemistry and biology, had volunteer experience in the pharmacy and in the ER and did research on Alzheimer's). GPA is just to get your foot in that door!!! You want in? Prepare for the interview if invited. I looked up all the general questions all the pharmacy schools asked and answered them beforehand. Want good answers? Get involved!!! Pharmacy experience will provide that and so well other activities that you seem fit and enjoy above all. They want a person whose intentions are pure as a future pharmacist. Wish you the best for the future class of 2011. Cheers.

 

[jemc2000]

It totally depends on the school. I didn't get in with a 3.35 gpa, a 94 PCAT, Certified Pharmacy Tech, lots of quality volunteer work, BS degree in Biomedical.

Depends on the competition at the particular school.

 

[PolarBear21]

b) 3.4 (Science GPA!) needs to be replaced with 3.4 (Science GPA 🙁 )

get that to a 3.6 or so, 3.6 is a nice number.

While I don't think a 3.4 science gpa warrants an apostrophe.. I also don't think it warrants a sad face.

This thread is scaring me because my science GPA is only a 3.17

I'm applying to all six CA schools and my cum GPA is 3.45 and I have done volunteer work at UCD veterinary teaching hospital pharmacy and Rite aid. I am also in a service fraternity and pre-pharmacy club.

Another good thing is my upward trend, my science GPA the past 2 quarters and past summer session is 3.69 and my cum GPA those quarters/summersession is 3.75.

The bad thing though is I have yet to turn in my application 🙁

Do you guys think I'll even get interviews? My prereq GPA is only around 3.25ish

 

[ombastic]

that just means i won't be getting in with a 3.2..lol

 

[genesis09]

A good GPA/PCAT will get you an interview, but after that, it is up to you.
But again, I know someone who had about the same GPA as me, and a higher PCAT than me, but did not get an interview. As we talked about this, we wondered if the fact that I had leadership experience in an EC helped. It is so hard to say what will get you in sometimes.

 

[jacketwrestler]

Isn't Loma Linda a really religious school? I heard that at the interview if they found out you're not a hard core Christian, then they will not accept you. Of course this is unconstitutional, but they will come up with other excuses to reject you.Is this true? This is why I didn't apply to Loma Linda because I'm an atheis and there is no way in hell they're going to accept me.

Totally untrue. One of my classmates is from Saudi Arabia and wears the veil over her head in class and at clinicals all the time. I've yet to see what her hair looks like. But I do know that if you grew up 7th day Adventist and get a good recommendation from a SDA pastor, that it'll really help you get in.

 

[DownonthePharm]

The admissions commitee member is an interesting breed. Sometimes there is no way to tell what they were thinking.

I see several people in my class that we ahead/behind of me in line for my interview room. Perhaps that room contained generous interviewers compared to others. Im not complaining. 🙂

Just tell your coworker to encourage her daughter to contact the school and see if they can offer any indication of where she should strengthen her application for next year. Was this the only school she applied to?