How many pharmacy schools to apply to???

[Brandie28]

I am working on my application on Pharmcas and I have picked out about 30 schools to apply to because my GPA is only like a 3.2. What is the average number of pharmacy schools students apply to?

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[Lurkerkat]

I'd say 10-12 is the high range I've seen on this board, on average maybe 5-6. Quite a few only apply to one school since that's the only one in their area. A 3.2 isn't great, but at least you're above a 3.0 and you can balance that out with extracurriculars and the PCAT.

Hopefully you didn't mean that you wanted to apply to all 30 schools because that would be expensive madness. I can't even imagine how to cover 30 different sets of pre-reqs and making sure they're all completed.

 

[RxINform]

I am working on my application on Pharmcas and I have picked out about 30 schools to apply to because my GPA is only like a 3.2. What is the average number of pharmacy schools students apply to?

i am applying to 3 or 4, 3 in state, 1 out.

 

[StringTheorist]

i applied to 4 in state, 2 public, 2 private

 

[Farmercyst]

I've seen as high as twenty, as low as one, the average seems to be between 4-6.

I applied to 4: 3 instate, 1 out of state. 2 public, 2 private.

 

[nerv12345]

i'm applying to about 12...MAYBE up to 15...
i'm in the same situation as you...i have a 3.2'ish and i want to increase my chances by applying to many schools

 

[Brandie28]

i'm applying to about 12...MAYBE up to 15...
i'm in the same situation as you...i have a 3.2'ish and i want to increase my chances by applying to many schools

Have you applied yet? Or have you taken the PCAT yet?

 

[Brandie28]

i applied to 4 in state, 2 public, 2 private

I see you got accepted to UF thats where I really want to go. Are you from florida?? What was your stats??

 

[Omegadramon]

This year I'm going to apply to 2. Mercer and UGA.

 

[PharmDY]

I am working on my application on Pharmcas and I have picked out about 30 schools to apply to because my GPA is only like a 3.2. What is the average number of pharmacy schools students apply to?

I just want to warn you that almost every school require supplemental applications that are unique to the school, and each of them require an additional 1-3 essays. I applied to 14 through pharmcas last year but ended up finishing only 8 because it was too tiring. Good luck! Happy writing!

 

[nerv12345]

yeah the supplementals are going to be KILLER..but then again you have the entire summer to finish that off

Have you applied yet? Or have you taken the PCAT yet?

i'm hopefully applying by the end of july, latest, to all my schools...and i'm taking the pcat on august 25th

 

[alswl]

I'm applying to four in state.. and those four are UCSF UCSD USC UOP..
I'm scared that I'm being too risky.. I haven't taken PCAT so I can't apply out of state... Am I being too risky???😕

 

[Brandie28]

I'm applying to four in state.. and those four are UCSF UCSD USC UOP..
I'm scared that I'm being too risky.. I haven't taken PCAT so I can't apply out of state... Am I being too risky???😕

why cant you apply out of state?

 

[StringTheorist]

I see you got accepted to UF thats where I really want to go. Are you from florida?? What was your stats??

GPA: 2.99 prepharm, 3.47 cum
PCAT: 92
Experience: 2.5 yrs pharm tech
Involved in the Pre-Pharm Society for 2 years

 

[Pharm Buddy]

I'm applying to four in state.. and those four are UCSF UCSD USC UOP..
I'm scared that I'm being too risky.. I haven't taken PCAT so I can't apply out of state... Am I being too risky???😕

Not really, I am on the same boat. If you only want Cal school, why take PCAT? Yet, I will apply to Touro on top of those four.

 

[omnione]

Assuming that money isn't an issue, I would apply to at least three schools if you have good stats and experiences and at least six with an average GPA. If you know that you MUST get in this year, then apply to more to be safe regardless of the possibility of tons of work and travel expenses. Though there's a thread where people have posted that they applied, interviewed, and got accepted to only one school, you should not risk having to bide my time for another year should your dream school reject you.

Since you are from Florida, I would look into every public school there due to the resident preference. With your GPA, you should probably look to the private schools if you pick out-of-state schools.

 

[Asrai]

I applied to 3 schools (was planing on 4, but one was no longer accepting applications). Got interviews at all 3, accepted to one, wait listed for the other, and refused the interview for the last one. Looking back, I should have applied to more, because let me tell you, i was in a panic when i saw that waitlist letter (got it first before knowing about my last *later refused* interview).

I know people who only applied to one school, i know people that applied to 10. I guess its how comfortable you feel with your qualifications. I would suggest applying to about 5 or so. If you wanna apply to 30, go ahead, but the supplemental applications will take forever. I only did 3, but they were long.

 

[jun99]

I originally submitted info to 7 schools through pharmCAS, but ended up submitting the supplemental applications only to my top 4, and in the end even that felt excessive! Of those 4, I went to three interviews before I found out I was accepted to my top choice, and by that point I had already spent close to $2K on the whole process (pharmCAS fees, supplemental app fees, transcript/AP fees, TRAVEL, etc). I don't even know if I would have even been able to afford applying/interviewing at any more schools!

Plus, pharm schools often have a knack for scheduling conflicting and inconvenient interview times. I had an interview in San Francisco on a Friday from about 11:30 to 4 pm, and then one on the next morning in Los Angeles at 9 am! I ended up getting about 4 hours of sleep for the second interview, but by that time I was just glad I had made it in time from one city to the other.

If you are worried about your qualifications, you should definitely apply to a few "safety schools" but applying to 30 schools would be excessive -- you would most likely spend a fortune in both time and money, and possibly realize that you can't even attend all of the interviews you are offered. I would suggesting narrowing the list -- throw out schools that you know you won't be able to get into (maybe talk to admissions people at the school via phone prior to applying in order to assess your chances?). Also, try to see if there are any schools on your list that you wouldn't really go to even if you were accepted -- you have to live in that city/environment for four years, after all!

Good luck!

 

[terse]

I just want to warn you that almost every school require supplemental applications that are unique to the school, and each of them require an additional 1-3 essays. I applied to 14 through pharmcas last year but ended up finishing only 8 because it was too tiring. Good luck! Happy writing!

what were your stats if you dont mind me asking?

 

[Ghettocowboy23]

applied to 24 schools last year, but only managed to turned in 10 supplemental apps. Applied to only 4 this year, one on pharmcas and other 3 are non-pharmcas, got accepted to USN

 

[RoyalBean]

Just pick the one you want to go to and apply to just one. Much cheaper and easier.

If you don't get in the first year you are a shoe in the second year because you know the process.

 

[Brandie28]

Just pick the one you want to go to and apply to just one. Much cheaper and easier.

If you don't get in the first year you are a shoe in the second year because you know the process.

What is involved in the supplemental applications that are so time consuming??

 

[Asrai]

What is involved in the supplemental applications that are so time consuming??

Essays, filling out classes/grades, more essays, making a resume (for some), remembering everything you've done that they'll like, more essays. It just takes time, and its tedious, and can get quite boring. But it is oh so worth it in the end.

 

[binghamkid]

Essays, filling out classes/grades, more essays, making a resume (for some), remembering everything you've done that they'll like, more essays. It just takes time, and its tedious, and can get quite boring. But it is oh so worth it in the end.

Haha, it's worth it for that one school you decide to go to =P Then you realize that you filled out all those other essays and supplementals and sent in a lot of money...only to find out that you're not going there.😱

 

[AMO69657]

I'm only applying to one this year and it happens to be my school. Kind of risky though. Reason is because I won't have to take the pcat and I won't have the reqs done for the other schools.

 

[Positive]

applied to 24 schools last year, but only managed to turned in 10 supplemental apps. Applied to only 4 this year, one on pharmcas and other 3 are non-pharmcas, got accepted to USN

I plan to apply to USN. Could you please let me know your status? Thanks.

 

[omnione]

Haha, it's worth it for that one school you decide to go to =P Then you realize that you filled out all those other essays and supplementals and sent in a lot of money...only to find out that you're not going there.😱

Yeah, that's the risk we accepted when applying to multiple schools.

I only had to fly to one interview, but it was very expensive. The interview notification was short notice and neither of my local airports was a major hub. So, my plane tickets were expensive and I had to pay over a hundred dollars to rent a car because the school was about a hour away. With hotel and expensive airport food along the way, that was an expensive trip. Fortunately, that was my only trip though I was close to heading to Auburn University if I had their prereqs done.

 

[omnione]

I'm only applying to one this year and it happens to be my school. Kind of risky though. Reason is because I won't have to take the pcat and I won't have the reqs done for the other schools.

I would suggest applying to UNMC too, but they now require the PCAT. You could look into out-of-state private schools that don't take the PCAT just in case.

 

[AMO69657]

I would suggest applying to UNMC too, but they now require the PCAT. You could look into out-of-state private schools that don't take the PCAT just in case.

yeah I might try UNMC, but I think they require physics and I am not taking that this year. I will probably look into other schools that don't require the PCAT, it's just that some require physics and other reqs that I don't have yet 🙁