How do you handle rejection (from pharmacy school)?

[jackal head]

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I cannot even imagine what it would be like.

Maybe I'll find out in 2 months but atm I'm just trying to mentally prepare myself for that possibility.

I imagine it would take a lot of courage to try again.

I'm only applying to one school, so it's all or nothing for me.

Being rejected means so much more than wasting a year of your life (as if that weren't bad enough).

The longer it takes the more you begin to forget all that you've learned, the less relevant your academic history becomes and your motivation drops like a rock. Unless you use that time to take additional classes to complete a degree but then your risking your gpa. Not to mention the additional cost/stress.

And then there's the interest adding to the loans you've taken out, and there's nothing you can do about that except pay it off or go further in debt by taking more classes!

The list goes on and on, I try not to think about it (this thread is proof I've failed in that regard) but to those that have been rejected, how did you deal with it?

I can imagine one must have so much worry/anxiety built up right before they open that message, what happens if it's a no go? Do you get even more nervous or do you just feel really down and depressed for a while?

 

[Liebensaft]

You bring up a pretty relevant point that is probably overlooked by many people. Confidence is helpful in this field, but you have to understand that it's a competitive entry process, just like any professional program, and if you're not cut out for it, there are 10 other people who will kick and claw to get your spot. Because of that, and because I didn't have my heart set on just one place, I applied to 6 schools total. I had a solid GPA (~3.6) and did well in/enjoyed almost all of my pre-req classes. I have some volunteering and community service experience too. My October PCAT scores, however, were canceled, leaving me just one shot to make my impression and get my foot in the door this cycle. I knew I had to dazzle because of my mediocre (compared to the types of people who apply to these programs) GPA and lack of pharmacy experience. Thankfully, I did, and now I'm declining acceptances and interviews.

Can I ask why you only applied to one school? Was it a financial burden to go out of state? And if so, is there only one school in your state?

I know exactly what you mean about anxiety leading up to decision time. I can't tell you how nervous I was for my round of interviews. I think the most sleep I got before any of them was about 3 hours in Buffalo, and that's only because their program didn't start until about 1pm. I had a backup plan for the scenario in which I didn't get an acceptance, which was an interview question for me at one or two places. I had planned to finish up this summer and next year getting a bachelor's in chemistry before reapplying to even more schools, having now obtained a degree. Have you gotten a bachelor's degree from anywhere? If so, I'd feel a lot better about a rejection knowing that I'm already qualified for work in a field with my degree.

tl;dr - The anxiety sucks, man. I felt it a lot. Take it in stride and make good impressions when you get the few opportunities schools give you. Realize that it's not a very terrible thing to be rejected. Lots of straight-A students are. Have a solid backup plan and remember what a wise adviser once told me: "Pre-pharmacy is NOT a degree-seeking major."

 

[R2pharmD2]

I cannot even imagine what it would be like.

Maybe I'll find out in 2 months but atm I'm just trying to mentally prepare myself for that possibility.

I imagine it would take a lot of courage to try again.

I'm only applying to one school, so it's all or nothing for me.

Being rejected means so much more than wasting a year of your life (as if that weren't bad enough).

The longer it takes the more you begin to forget all that you've learned, the less relevant your academic history becomes and your motivation drops like a rock. Unless you use that time to take additional classes to complete a degree but then your risking your gpa. Not to mention the additional cost/stress.

And then there's the interest adding to the loans you've taken out, and there's nothing you can do about that except pay it off or go further in debt by taking more classes!

The list goes on and on, I try not to think about it (this thread is proof I've failed in that regard) but to those that have been rejected, how did you deal with it?

I can imagine one must have so much worry/anxiety built up right before they open that message, what happens if it's a no go? Do you get even more nervous or do you just feel really down and depressed for a while?

2 more months before you find out? Jesus. I found out in October, less than a month after my interview, and that nearly killed me

Best of luck to you, but man, applying to only one school is hugely risky. As the previous poster mentioned, completing a bachelor's is a good way to use your time if you don't make it this year.

 

[metallideth]

I cannot even imagine what it would be like.

Maybe I'll find out in 2 months but atm I'm just trying to mentally prepare myself for that possibility.

I imagine it would take a lot of courage to try again.

I'm only applying to one school, so it's all or nothing for me.

Being rejected means so much more than wasting a year of your life (as if that weren't bad enough).

The longer it takes the more you begin to forget all that you've learned, the less relevant your academic history becomes and your motivation drops like a rock. Unless you use that time to take additional classes to complete a degree but then your risking your gpa. Not to mention the additional cost/stress.

And then there's the interest adding to the loans you've taken out, and there's nothing you can do about that except pay it off or go further in debt by taking more classes!

The list goes on and on, I try not to think about it (this thread is proof I've failed in that regard) but to those that have been rejected, how did you deal with it?

I can imagine one must have so much worry/anxiety built up right before they open that message, what happens if it's a no go? Do you get even more nervous or do you just feel really down and depressed for a while?

two years ago i applied to only one pharmacy school and didn't get accepted. it was horrible and i felt so lost because i didn't know what my future would be like. in desperation i decided to do an accelerated nursing program cause i had most of the pre-reqs and only had to take a few more and graduate with a b.s.

after taking those pre-reqs and the other requirements for my b.s. degree and seeing how well i did, i started thinking about pharmacy again. i applied after graduating with a b.s. in biology and i got into several pharmacy schools.

point of the story is not to give up even though you don't succeed the first time. if you think pharmacy is right for you give it a second shot. if you get rejected talk to the dean of the school and ask why you got rejected and then work on those problems. at least that's what i did and everything went well.

 

[Prof Farnsworth]

You said you were concerned about your GPA possibly falling and the accumulation of loans. Why not work as a pharm tech or somewhere else in the medical field to give you experience? You can kick some of the loans while keeping your GPA in check and your mind on pharmacy. 2 birds, 1 stone.

But I wouldn't give up hope just yet

 

[Stoichiometry]

Well at times like these I always think of Batman because I love this quote

Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves up again.

Yes it sucks, I am with you there. I only applied to one school as well and got put on the waitlist. My bad. I suffered from a bad fall semester (too much with school and work) because prior to that I had a 3.9, now I am 3.7ish. I wanted to stay local and figured before that semester hit that I had a really good chance with my experience and grades. Well, I got knocked on my butt!

Just make a plan and see that as a challenge or minor setback. Ask them what you can do to improve and move on. It sucks. It really sucks. But the greatest measure is what you do with your time and recovery.

 

[WhiteSnows]

You only have 3 option after you receive the decision:
1) Reapply
2) Change your career
3) Kill yourself

Which one do you think you belong?

 

[PharmDlife]

I cannot even imagine what it would be like.

Maybe I'll find out in 2 months but atm I'm just trying to mentally prepare myself for that possibility.

I imagine it would take a lot of courage to try again.

I'm only applying to one school, so it's all or nothing for me.

Being rejected means so much more than wasting a year of your life (as if that weren't bad enough).

The longer it takes the more you begin to forget all that you've learned, the less relevant your academic history becomes and your motivation drops like a rock. Unless you use that time to take additional classes to complete a degree but then your risking your gpa. Not to mention the additional cost/stress.

And then there's the interest adding to the loans you've taken out, and there's nothing you can do about that except pay it off or go further in debt by taking more classes!

The list goes on and on, I try not to think about it (this thread is proof I've failed in that regard) but to those that have been rejected, how did you deal with it?

I can imagine one must have so much worry/anxiety built up right before they open that message, what happens if it's a no go? Do you get even more nervous or do you just feel really down and depressed for a while?

Jackal head,
Don’t feel bad that you only applied to one school. I made the same mistake twice (needless to say I got rejected twice). I was like WTF?! Yes, yes, I have good stats (MPH with a 3.7 GPA). I just could not understand why that particular university rejected me. So I applied to 6 other school this year and had 4 interviews with 4 acceptances. I must say, I’m loving it! I already know where I will be going and guess what, I’ll be finishing the same time as I would have, had I gone to the first school I applied to (I got into a three year program this year, start next month).
What I am trying to say is, “ everything happens for a reason”
So don’t beat yourself over the head because you don’t get in. Sit down and reevaluate your situation and please apply to at least 6 schools. “A wider net in the right waters will catch more fish”, and your occasional over-catch, but you can throw those back. Lol.
Don’t be afraid of failure; use it as a lesson learned.
Good luck!

 

[1TB4RKSB4CK]

Drink a fifth.
Light a spliff.

 

[Benelli]

Rule #1. Apply to more than one school!

I applied to UW and got an email saying my pre-reqs were all wrong and that I couldn't get an interview. I had my heart set on that school, but I also applied to UC-Denver (due to a lot of family who live there telling me to apply) and I got in.

I am at UM right now and we have a pharmacy school here. I can tell you I know at least 30+ people who have done their prereqs so they could only apply to this school. That is such a huge mistake because you should not limit your options, and a lot of them will wish they hadn't.

Also, always take the high road, even in rejection. Keep those bridges up and hold your head high, there is always next year. Talk to the school and see where you can improve.

 

[pharmdreams02]

Hello - just thought I would add in how I handled my rejection from pharmacy school.
So back while I was an undergrad in 2002, doing a molecular bio degree, I decided on the career of pharmacy. So I quickly became a pharmacy tech, finished my pre-reqs and applied, got an interviewed then denied from 2 schools - Round 1.
Applied a second time, got interviews and denied - by this time I was in upper division of a molecular biology degree that my heart wasn't into. My undergrad gpa was 2.88 after junior and senior year.
After I graduated with Molecular Bio B.S., I still worked in the pharmacy but decided to get a job in biochemical genetics lab with some work including drug studies. While working in the lab over 5 years, I have been able to get my masters degree in Biology (GPA 3.7) and started teaching at the community college. I teach Bio and pharmacy technician trainee courses.
I am 28, just applied to pharmacy school FOR THE FOURTH TIME....FINALLY GOT IT for Fall 2011. 🙂

Use rejection as a chance to better yourself and fight for it!!!!

 

[jackal head]

I applied to this school as my only school because it's the only practical option I have atm.

I just wonder how I've come this far without ever seriously considering that I might actually fail

I'm feeling very humble right now.

It's tempting to fall into the trap of thinking there is some reason or purpose behind any of this.

I just finished my last exam for my last class. Nothing that I think or do matters at this point in time.

Now it's just a game of chance.