How many schools...

[pinksparkly]

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should a person with average stats be applying to?

I have a 3.38 GPA and a 92 PCAT. Decent activities, etc. But I am 30, and I want to get in this cycle.

I have a list of about 12 (both established and candidate schools), but that seems like A LOT of supp applications to fill out. Should I narrow down?

 

[Passion4Sci]

should a person with average stats be applying to?

I have a 3.38 GPA and a 92 PCAT. Decent activities, etc. But I am 30, and I want to get in this cycle.

I have a list of about 12 (both established and candidate schools), but that seems like A LOT of supp applications to fill out. Should I narrow down?

First of all, those aren't average stats. A 92th percentile PCAT means only 8 percent of people who take the exam with you scored better than you did. That's not average. A 3.38 cGPA is also not really average IME for pharmacy school admissions.

12, with your stats, seems excessive. I'd narrow it down to schools you really want to go to. I'd start by eliminating schools which are the most expensive or would require the most cost-of-living raise or the longest move.

HTH

 

[appalpharm]

i felt like i had pretty average stats when i applied last year, 3.35 gpa and an 80 pcat. i applied to five schools and probably could have kept it at three or four. your stats will definitely get you interviews, as long as you interview well i dont think there's any reason to apply to twelve. i would narrow it down and stick to no more than seven or eight, IMO. but, its ultimately your decision, whatever makes you feel more comfortable. good luck! 👍

 

[pinksparkly]

Wow. Huh. Ok.

I think I got a little psyched out because nearly everyone on the PCAT forum that took the exam with me in June was in the 90s. Maybe only people with decent scores posted.

I guess I will narrow things down. My original plan was to apply to any school that would be okay with some of my basic sciences being 10 years old. But there are a few on the list that I added not because I really want to go there, but because I thought I might get in.

 

[Carboxide]

I had a 3.3 cGPA and an 82 PCAT and I got into every school I applied to (including a top 5). Apply to no more than 4, UNLESS your personal statement/interview skills are poor.

 

[Passion4Sci]

Wow. Huh. Ok.

I think I got a little psyched out because nearly everyone on the PCAT forum that took the exam with me in June was in the 90s. Maybe only people with decent scores posted.

Self-selection bias.

I guess I will narrow things down. My original plan was to apply to any school that would be okay with some of my basic sciences being 10 years old. But there are a few on the list that I added not because I really want to go there, but because I thought I might get in.

Well, there should be a natural winnowing of schools right there because not all schools will be OK with 10 year-old classes. I know, for instance, UoP wouldn't. But I think with your stats, 10+ schools would be extremely excessive and would amount to a very expensive, not to mention time consuming, cycle.

 

[charfdorn]

A 92th percentile PCAT means only 8 percent of people who take the exam with you scored better than you did. That's not average. A 3.38 cGPA is also not really average IME for pharmacy school admissions.

12, with your stats, seems excessive. I'd narrow it down to schools you really want to go to. I'd start by eliminating schools which are the most expensive or would require the most cost-of-living raise or the longest move.

Ninety-twoth?

should a person with average stats be applying to?

I have a 3.38 GPA and a 92 PCAT. Decent activities, etc. But I am 30, and I want to get in this cycle.

I have a list of about 12 (both established and candidate schools), but that seems like A LOT of supp applications to fill out. Should I narrow down?

I actually agree with Passion, though. Start to narrow your list a little. You might use a filter like, "If all these schools accepted me, how many would I actually consider?" The age of your prereqs is important, though. Make sure three of your schools will definitely accept those old courses. That way you can bomb one interview and still have a nice decision to make later.

 

[Passion4Sci]

Ninety-twoth?

Yep. Learn it, live it, love it!

I actually agree with Passion, though. Start to narrow your list a little. You might use a filter like, "If all these schools accepted me, how many would I actually consider?" The age of your prereqs is important, though. Make sure three of your schools will definitely accept those old courses. That way you can bomb one interview and still have a nice decision to make later.

yeah, I can't emphasize enough how important the age of those pre-req's is. Make absolutely 1800000% sure that they are fine with decade-old pre-requisites.

Although, you had to have taken the PCAT more recently, so obviously you know what you're doing and you can use that as leverage if any schools are on the fence.

 

[pinksparkly]

yeah, I can't emphasize enough how important the age of those pre-req's is. Make absolutely 1800000% sure that they are fine with decade-old pre-requisites.

Although, you had to have taken the PCAT more recently, so obviously you know what you're doing and you can use that as leverage if any schools are on the fence.

Most of my top choices have some sort of policy about it on their websites, or I have asked an admissions counselor. I suppose I better start emailing the few that don't have anything on their websites. My general bio, gen chem, and organic chem is old. I will have more recent upper-division bio and chem work by the time I matriculate, but my physics is old and I really don't want to take any upper-division physics 😱 Especially as I am going to graduate with a nearly 200 cr bachelor's degree.🙄

 

[SHC1984]

Most of my top choices have some sort of policy about it on their websites, or I have asked an admissions counselor. I suppose I better start emailing the few that don't have anything on their websites. My general bio, gen chem, and organic chem is old. I will have more recent upper-division bio and chem work by the time I matriculate, but my physics is old and I really don't want to take any upper-division physics 😱 Especially as I am going to graduate with a nearly 200 cr bachelor's degree.🙄

What year did you graduate from college? I graduated from college in 2007, but most of my pre-pharmacy classes were taken in 2003 and 2004. However, many schools told me that since I have a bachelor's degree and graduated in 2007 they are going to count ALL my classes as taken at 2007. I applied in Jan 2009 and so ALL my classes were counted as 2 years old instead of 6 years old! lol...I think most colleges would count the year you graduated versus the actual year you took the course.

 

[Passion4Sci]

Most of my top choices have some sort of policy about it on their websites, or I have asked an admissions counselor. I suppose I better start emailing the few that don't have anything on their websites. My general bio, gen chem, and organic chem is old. I will have more recent upper-division bio and chem work by the time I matriculate, but my physics is old and I really don't want to take any upper-division physics 😱 Especially as I am going to graduate with a nearly 200 cr bachelor's degree.🙄

Just make sure.

Aside from that, IMO, you're golden.

 

[b1234]

should a person with average stats be applying to?

I have a 3.38 GPA and a 92 PCAT. Decent activities, etc. But I am 30, and I want to get in this cycle.

I have a list of about 12 (both established and candidate schools), but that seems like A LOT of supp applications to fill out. Should I narrow down?

I'll guess based on your location that they're a lot of the same schools I at least considered. I only ended up applying to 4. Without knowing more about how much experience and EC's you have etc. I'd probably say at the very least - unless you have some compelling reason for why you want to go there - don't bother with the candidate school(s). And do apply to the schools where you'd pay in state tuition.

 

[charfdorn]

Most of my top choices have some sort of policy about it on their websites, or I have asked an admissions counselor. I suppose I better start emailing the few that don't have anything on their websites. My general bio, gen chem, and organic chem is old. I will have more recent upper-division bio and chem work by the time I matriculate, but my physics is old and I really don't want to take any upper-division physics 😱 Especially as I am going to graduate with a nearly 200 cr bachelor's degree.🙄

The upper-divsion work in the same field will give you an exception to the 7- or 10-year moratorium at many schools, but make sure you ask first. I know my Calculus was eight years old and my school required 7 but because I took Calc-based Physics the summer before applying they didn't even ask about it. Also, that was just one course, so it's not exactly the same, but obviously if you're doing Physical Chemistry you have a sound foundation in Gen Chem, which is what they care about.

 

[b1234]

The upper-divsion work in the same field will give you an exception to the 7- or 10-year moratorium at many schools, but make sure you ask first. I know my Calculus was eight years old and my school required 7 but because I took Calc-based Physics the summer before applying they didn't even ask about it. Also, that was just one course, so it's not exactly the same, but obviously if you're doing Physical Chemistry you have a sound foundation in Gen Chem, which is what they care about.

Yeah, I didn't think to mention that but I had genChemI, and all my physics and calculus well over a decade ago but didn't have any problem because I was taking PChem. Iowa, WI, MN, and UIC will at least consider any course as taken recently - if you take another course that requires it as a pre req to get into - although I can't remember where I think one of them I had to give a brief explanation.

 

[jnmnh]

Pardon the WAMC but this thread has given me a lot of hope... I'm similar to pinksparkly, a ~3.31 overall (4.0 in the 5 classes I took in the last year) graduated in 2004 but with about 6 W's. I do have a 98 composite (>90 all subtests), and am about to start getting pharm experience. Been in basic research since graduation. Are those W's going to mean I need a safety school?

appalpharm gives me hope since I'm looking at UMD, UNC, and Mercer among others. I mainly want milder winters and a dual degree (to make up for lost time).

My tentative list is SCCP Mercer UNC Maryland Kentucky Washington Shenandoah VCU

 

[Passion4Sci]

As far as I can tell, 6 W's won't hurt you if the remainder of your admissions looks good, and I'd say a 3.3 and a 98th percentile PCAT score would certainly go really far in making the AdCom move your app to the top of the stack.

 

[pinksparkly]

appalpharm gives me hope since I'm looking at UMD, UNC, and Mercer among others. I mainly want milder winters and a dual degree (to make up for lost time).

My tentative list is SCCP Mercer UNC Maryland Kentucky Washington Shenandoah VCU

Have you checked out all of these with regard to prereq time limits? I did have one that I emailed yesterday that did not say anything about it on their admissions website but had a five-year time limit. It looks like Maryland will waive their time limit on bio and chem for a couple of different reasons).

I wonder how strict schools that "recommend" or "strongly recommend" prereqs be taken within a certain time frame feel about it.

 

[PharmaMaya]

Even though I haven't updated my signature yet 🙄 I ended up applying to 11 schools. 4 or 5 of them have supplemental apps that are already complete or just need to be mailed because no essays were necessary. The schools with the essays are some of my top choices, but honestly none of it seems that difficult or time consuming.

Cost is a factor, but I'm 28 in 2 months and I really don't want to go through this again. So its worth the extra money to me.

my opinion: if you can afford it, apply everywhere. 😀 just make sure to withdraw your application as soon as you narrow down your choices (like if you get into one school and there's only 2 other schools that you'd go to instead of the one you got into, withdraw from everywhere else, etc.)

My two cents.

 

[b1234]

Even though I haven't updated my signature yet 🙄 I ended up applying to 11 schools. 4 or 5 of them have supplemental apps that are already complete or just need to be mailed because no essays were necessary. The schools with the essays are some of my top choices, but honestly none of it seems that difficult or time consuming.

Cost is a factor, but I'm 28 in 2 months and I really don't want to go through this again. So its worth the extra money to me.

my opinion: if you can afford it, apply everywhere. 😀 just make sure to withdraw your application as soon as you narrow down your choices (like if you get into one school and there's only 2 other schools that you'd go to instead of the one you got into, withdraw from everywhere else, etc.)

My two cents.

The costs (in both time and money) will really start to add up if you actually interview at all of them. Just interviewing at 4 schools that were all within driving distance for me still cost me a fair amount...

 

[pinksparkly]

The costs (in both time and money) will really start to add up if you actually interview at all of them. Just interviewing at 4 schools that were all within driving distance for me still cost me a fair amount...

This is probably my main concern. Because lord knows my first choice will be the last one to offer me an interview.🙄

 

[b1234]

This is probably my main concern. Because lord knows my first choice will be the last one to offer me an interview.🙄

Well, you can look up when interview dates are and approximately when interview offers are sent out for schools with traditional admissions. For rolling admissions like MN for example you find out within a couple weeks if you have an interview - if I remember right they even post something like now accepting applications for the xxx interview date.

 

[deleted329060]

The costs (in both time and money) will really start to add up if you actually interview at all of them.

not only that, consider the deposits you will have to put down in order to save a seat for your second-choice schools. deposits range from $500 to $1000 and many are not refundable

 

[b1234]

not only that, consider the deposits you will have to put down in order to save a seat for your second-choice schools. deposits range from $500 to $1000 and many are not refundable

A little luck and proper timing of when you submit certain applications can prevent that problem.

 

[PharmaMaya]

I'm a fan of the phrase "throw a plate of spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks"...

If I get too many interviews I'll figure out what to do when the time comes...same with getting accepted.

I just don't want to be turned down by my top choices and suddenly be looking with more interest at the backup choices I had foolishly decided months prior to skip applying to.

 

[Temple2014]

It sounds to me like you have a great shot to get in at most schools. I'd narrow the list down because PharmCAS gets you $50 a school (after the first three I think) and most schools I applied to had a supplemental of anywhere from free to $100. Just make sure you get good LORs from an academic adviser or research adviser, and a couple pharmacists you know. With your credentials I'd pick my top 4 or 5 schools and go from there. My GPA was close to yours and my PCAT was a 68. I had interviews of 5/6 schools I applied too.

 

[b1234]

Really, a lot depends on the rest of your application. Keep in mind though, that for the most part - at schools that are considered to be some of the hardest schools to get into. The average accepted student has a Bachelor's degree, a 3.6 ish GPA, and about an 80 or slightly higher than 80 PCAT. For other schools that are considered to be easier but still fairly hard to get into - expect the average accepted student to have about a 3.3 or 3.4 GPA and about a 75 PCAT.

 

[Dave4468]

I'm a fan of the phrase "throw a plate of spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks"...

I am using this philosophy for this cycle as well😉

my GPA is 3.6, 3.4-3.6sGPA. First PCAT was 60, but just retook it and felt like I got at least an 80+. I will be applying to 11 schools.

 

[GJLaw]

Both my GPA and PCAT were worse than yours (3.21 GPA and 64 PCAT w/ B.S. in Chemistry) and I was interviewed and accepted into 4 of 8 schools I applied to: Ohio State, Rutgers, Temple, MCPHS.

I may have had strong letters of recommendation and personal statement as I also did not have any working experience in a pharmacy, so it would only make logical sense to me.