How many time did it take?

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ForumHangout

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10+ Year Member
When you applied to pharmacy schools, how many time did it take before you were accepted?

If you were rejected the 1st time, how did you feel and how did you recover from it?

Thank you for your answer.
 
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Went on 12 interviews, got into 4 schools. The only time I was not happy with a rejection letter was for the school near my house where my grandfather had once attended. I did not get into the 3 schools near my house, and that's what really bothered me.
 
Angela1234 said:
Went on 12 interviews, got into 4 schools. The only time I was not happy with a rejection letter was for the school near my house where my grandfather had once attended. I did not get into the 3 schools near my house, and that's what really bothered me.
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Oh okay, so you got accepted 1st try.
 
Suburbs, middle of nowhere , job market is bad everywhere. I wanted to live in the middle of nowhere Ohio when I graduated. Less desirable, and still no jobs.
 
if you didnt get in the first time you either applied to way too few, top notch schools or youre not a qualified candidate. sorry this isnt med school lol. its pretty easy to get into at least some pharmacy schools.
 
Applied to one, got into one. Same school I did my undergrad at. Backup plan was to get bachelor's in the pre-med route. Probably should've gone the pre-med route.

Oh well, two years left. Hopefully I can find a job then go back for an MD.
 
What do you think the problem is, Owlegrad? Besides the job market and all these new pharmacy schools opening, I can tell it is bothering everyone. I went on a job interview the other day and the pharmacy director kept talking about the 3 new pharmacy schools and how there aren't any jobs anywhere for them. I am ready, willing, and able to work. At this point I'd even take a part time job to pay the bills.
 
Angela1234 said:
What do you think the problem is, Owlegrad? Besides the job market and all these new pharmacy schools opening, I can tell it is bothering everyone. I went on a job interview the other day and the pharmacy director kept talking about the 3 new pharmacy schools and how there aren't any jobs anywhere for them. I am ready, willing, and able to work. At this point I'd even take a part time job to pay the bills.
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Maybe it's you? I mean, you ARE getting interviews so it's not like there are ZERO jobs. From your other posts it sounds like you're not providing the answers they want. ? 😕 Just a thought...

What about mail order? Try Caremark or Express Scripts.
 
I was going to apply to four programs in Texas this cycle, only actually completed two and got into both of them and didn't pursue the other two because they were bottom of totem pole for me. First time applicant, BS-bio, >4 yrs pharmacy experience.
 
rxlea said:
Maybe it's you? I mean, you ARE getting interviews so it's not like there are ZERO jobs. From your other posts it sounds like you're not providing the answers they want. ? 😕 Just a thought...

What about mail order? Try Caremark or Express Scripts.
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You mean employers DON'T have interviews just so they can tell people that there are no jobs?!
 
It's me, rxlea. Everyone hates me. No, actually for every 1 rare interview I find, there are 10 people trying out for it. One's bound to have more experience even when I give it my all.
 
Angela1234 said:
It's me, rxlea. Everyone hates me. No, actually for every 1 rare interview I find, there are 10 people trying out for it. One's bound to have more experience even when I give it my all.
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Angela....it's obvious from your posts that you despise retail. Even though you know you desperately need a job, employers can pick up on your subconscious cues that you really don't want to do the job they offer. No one is immune to it, I've also lost opportunities, that looking back I'm sure was because of subconscious signals I was sending that I really didn't want that opportunity. There is also the possibility of being too desperate--just like potential lovers run from desperation, so will employers. When someone is giving the impression in a job interview that they will literally do anything--an employer is going to run.

My heartfelt suggestion to you...practice interviewing with someone who has some experience in the area. Don't be desperate, I don't think you would really do anything for a job, so you want to convey to your employer that you are a team player and willing to do most reasonable things asked, but not that you are so desperate that you would do anything for a job. Also, don't interview for jobs if you can not find anything redeeming in them. Are their any aspects of retail that you enjoy? Can you focus on those aspects, and really believe in your heart that you can enjoy a retail job, because of those aspects? Because if you can't, you will be subconsciously sabotaging yourself at interviews.
 
It was not just the customers and the violence in the workplace at retail. I was also getting physically sick from not eating and standing for 15 + hours a day. I was not feeling well. However, I am applying to all types of jobs regardless.
 
This thread was intended for people who failed to apply the first time to talk about how they deal with it, recovered, and how they got in after X tries.

...Omg.

1898-8cf859c0fa3471c4afad6b061d3dee4c.jpg


Seems like everyone here apply with 3.8, got in first try, and now care more about work.
 
Angela1234 said:
It was not just the customers and the violence in the workplace at retail. I was also getting physically sick from not eating and standing for 15 + hours a day. I was not feeling well. However, I am applying to all types of jobs regardless.
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Are you talking about these negative things in your interviews? Negativity (even if it's about a competitor) is no good in interviews.
 
I applied this application cycle. It was my first time applying, and I got into at least one very good school despite a very low (< 3.0) GPA. As someone else in this thread said, it's not med school. If you don't get in the first time around, either you applied too narrowly or had an application that didn't put you in the best light.
 
y0ssarian87 said:
I applied this application cycle. It was my first time applying, and I got into at least one very good school despite a very low (< 3.0) GPA. As someone else in this thread said, it's not med school. If you don't get in the first time around, either you applied too narrowly or had an application that didn't put you in the best light.
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Man, I think it's bull**** how you have a 2.96 something GPA, close to 3.0, after taking some science prereq course that you screw up in and getting a 2.43 GPA for PharmCAS.

...then the one University I applied to immediately disqualify your canditacy. I felt confident with a 2.96 science GPA... on my transcript.

I thought 2.96 transcript GPA ish was acceptable in applying to get int othe 2nd year.

I applied to only 1 school. If it disqualified me for 2.43 then I'm going to safely assume all other school do the same thing... and it was best to not waste so much money.
 
What the hell are you complaining about? Your GPA is pretty low. It is disgusting how it is so easy to get accepted to a pharmacy school nowadays. The future of pharmacy, ladies and gentlemen.
 
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ForumHangout said:
Man, I think it's bull**** how you have a 2.96 something GPA, close to 3.0, after taking some science prereq course that you screw up in and getting a 2.43 GPA for PharmCAS.

...then the one University I applied to immediately disqualify your canditacy. I felt confident with a 2.96 science GPA... on my transcript.

I thought 2.96 transcript GPA ish was acceptable in applying to get int othe 2nd year.

I applied to only 1 school. If it disqualified me for 2.43 then I'm going to safely assume all other school do the same thing... and it was best to not waste so much money.
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If your science is as good as your English and spelling, I think we all dodged a bullet.
 
BMBiology said:
What the hell are you complaining about? Your GPA is pretty low. It is joke how it is so easy to get accepted to a pharmacy school nowadays. The future of pharmacy, ladies and gentlemen.
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What the hell am I talking about? I'm talking about how its bull**** that your college transcript GPA is a 2.96 and your PharmCAS GPA is 2.43.

That's what I'm talking about, the bull****.
 
Carboxide said:
If your science is as good as your English and spelling, I think we all dodged a bullet.
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Not sure what point you're trying to make...

...I have seen PhD Organic Chemistry professor with thick English accent. And?

You're griefing for those student who couldn't dodge that bullet?

Well too bad cause administration put him in lecture in an American Unversity anyways.
 
ForumHangout said:
What the hell am I talking about? I'm talking about how its bull**** that your college transcript GPA is a 2.96 and your PharmCAS GPA is 2.43.

That's what I'm talking about, the bull****.
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I am sorry you don't get to do it over. If that's the case, then why don't I just keep on retaking the class at a junior college until I get an A.

I still can't believe students with < 3.0 GPA are getting accepted to a "good" pharmacy school. It has become a total joke. Good luck getting a job 3-4 years from now.
 
ForumHangout said:
Man, I think it's bull**** how you have a 2.96 something GPA, close to 3.0, after taking some science prereq course that you screw up in and getting a 2.43 GPA for PharmCAS.

...then the one University I applied to immediately disqualify your canditacy. I felt confident with a 2.96 science GPA... on my transcript.

I thought 2.96 transcript GPA ish was acceptable in applying to get int othe 2nd year.

I applied to only 1 school. If it disqualified me for 2.43 then I'm going to safely assume all other school do the same thing... and it was best to not waste so much money.
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Wow, I'm not sure I understand all of what you wrote. But a 2.43 is below the minimum GPA most schools consider. I've never heard of a school accepting < 2.5. And, trust me, I did my homework on minimum GPA requirements.

With a low GPA < 3.0, you are already showing the schools that there is a major blight in your academic history. If you want them to take you seriously with a low GPA, you need to give them a reason to. You need your most recent grades to be stellar. Despite my low GPA, my post-bacc GPA is a 4.00, and I killed the PCAT. Also, I made sure to have plenty of experience (work, extracurriculars, leadership, research, volunteer, and pharmacy) under my belt.

Also, while a sub-2.5 is below every school's minimum requirements, just assuming that all schools would reject you just because one school rejected you is silly. I didn't even get an interview invite from one school, but another school that is higher ranked (not that ranking means anything) invited me for an interview. I'm just trying to say, I guess, that trying to extrapolate on how other schools would handle your application based on one rejection is foolish.

Use this as a learning experience. I applied to 6 schools, was rejected from 1,and interviewed at the other 5. I have been accepted to 3, waitlisted at 1, and have yet to hear from the last one. All I can say is apply broadly.

Best of luck in the future.
 
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BMBiology said:
I am sorry you don't get to do it over. If that's the case, then why don't I just keep on retaking the class at a junior college until I get an A.

I still can't believe students with < 3.0 GPA are getting accepted to a "good" pharmacy school. It has become a total joke. Good luck getting a job 3-4 years from now.
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Cause extreme loan.
 
ForumHangout said:
What the hell am I talking about? I'm talking about how its bull**** that your college transcript GPA is a 2.96 and your PharmCAS GPA is 2.43.

That's what I'm talking about, the bull****.
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Hopefully you can understand the reasoning behind the PharmCAS GPA calculation. The purpose is to standardize GPA calculations across many different schools. I think the first step is to realize and own up to the fact that you did poorly and screwed up. That kind of maturity is necessary to move forward. Own up to it, and change because of it. Good luck.
 
y0ssarian87 said:
Hopefully you can understand the reasoning behind the PharmCAS GPA calculation. The purpose is to standardize GPA calculations across many different schools. I think the first step is to realize and own up to the fact that you did poorly and screwed up. That kind of maturity is necessary to move forward. Own up to it, and change because of it. Good luck.
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Yah I guess... I wish I knew that I wanted to be a pharmacist... like during sophomore or junior year of highschool... then I'll be more serious and get straight As in every class at the end of highschool and in doing pre-pharm prerequisite.

...For me, school up to now was really a process of doing what was just annoying, graduating with a BS and like a 2.75 was okay to me it seemed.... then you realize you want to become a Pharmacist and you get good grade recently... but still end up with a 2.43.

Life sucks... why does life have to be such a hassle? make you not want to be a Pharmacist then but now... when the preparation for your credential is all screwed up.
 
Applied to 2 schools my first try. Denied at both, no interviews.

I realized that I needed to improve my application, so I went out and did that. Worked harder and got better grades, started the application sooner, got a job at the university hospital as a student tech, networked with the pharmacists there, worked extra shifts and tried not to slack while I was at work. Was able to get introduced to an associate dean, who put in a good word with the dean of admissions at one of the schools.

2nd time I applied, I applied to the same two schools. I was accepted at my safety school, wait listed at my first choice. Met the associate dean, he spoke with the dean of admissions, and I was off the wait list in about a week, accepted.

My advice... get a tech job, and don't just show up to it, make sure everyone knows you wanna be there. Networking will be your best bet. My grades improved very little, and it was the networking that put me over the edge, imo. Having strong backing from your letter of rec writers and demonstrating that you are academically competent will go a long way.

Good luck.
 
ForumHangout said:
I applied to only 1 school. If it disqualified me for 2.43 then I'm going to safely assume all other school do the same thing... and it was best to not waste so much money.
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Dude, you did piss poor in your classes. Don't get mad at the system. Even in modern pharmacy school admissions, they have to draw the line somewhere. 2.5 is achievable by just going to class every day and minimal studying. You didn't put in the minimum effort to do that and now you're paying the price.
 
PharmDHawkeye said:
Applied to 2 schools my first try. Denied at both, no interviews.

I realized that I needed to improve my application, so I went out and did that. Worked harder and got better grades, started the application sooner, got a job at the university hospital as a student tech, networked with the pharmacists there, worked extra shifts and tried not to slack while I was at work. Was able to get introduced to an associate dean, who put in a good word with the dean of admissions at one of the schools.

2nd time I applied, I applied to the same two schools. I was accepted at my safety school, wait listed at my first choice. Met the associate dean, he spoke with the dean of admissions, and I was off the wait list in about a week, accepted.

My advice... get a tech job, and don't just show up to it, make sure everyone knows you wanna be there. Networking will be your best bet. My grades improved very little, and it was the networking that put me over the edge, imo. Having strong backing from your letter of rec writers and demonstrating that you are academically competent will go a long way.

Good luck.
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Networking heh?... yeah

Well, I'll never become a tech because I want to be a Pharmacist not a technician. Being a tech is a waste of my time.
 
eagles22 said:
Dude, you did piss poor in your classes. Don't get mad at the system. Even in modern pharmacy school admissions, they have to draw the line somewhere. 2.5 is achievable by just going to class every day and minimal studying. You didn't put in the minimum effort to do that and now you're paying the price.
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I didn't get piss poor grade, I got a 2.96 on my college transcript. It's cause PharmCAS decide to make my grade bad.

Paying the price hmmm? let me go and throw up at your saying that society's glorifying those who got it right the first time... those who did "hard work". (sarcasm)
 
ForumHangout said:
Networking heh?... yeah

Well, I'll never become a tech because I want to be a Pharmacist not a technician. Being a tech is a waste of my time.
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Um, are you aware that in most states you have to have to log so many intern/technician hours as a prerequisite to getting your license?
 
ForumHangout said:
I didn't get piss poor grade, I got a 2.96 on my college transcript. It's cause PharmCAS decide to make my grade bad.
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Pharmacy school is difficult compared to many other majors. If you are having trouble with your pre-reqs, then chances are pharmacy school will be a struggle. This is why schools have a minimum GPA. They are really doing you a favor, but not accepting you, rather than admitting you & taking your money for a few years before they flunk you out. If there was a life situation or adjustment problem that caused your lower grades, then just retake the classes.
 
BidingMyTime said:
Pharmacy school is difficult compared to many other majors. If you are having trouble with your pre-reqs, then chances are pharmacy school will be a struggle. This is why schools have a minimum GPA. They are really doing you a favor, but not accepting you, rather than admitting you & taking your money for a few years before they flunk you out. If there was a life situation or adjustment problem that caused your lower grades, then just retake the classes.
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There's a different between not wanting to do something and being afraid/intimidated of doing something.

1) Learning science (chemistry/bio/physics) - I'm not intimidated but I don't really care about what I am expected to learn so I learn it less then what an institution prefer. I ask myself, why do I need to give myself COMPLETELY over learning chemistry, biology, physics when I know some wanker who's naturally good at the subject will be the one applying it at the end game level, basic PhD research, and it's not going to be me? I'm just learning this more to be familar with... but society isn't going to make me use it. So I'm stuck with learning things I know I'm not going to use or help me get a job.

2) Learning coding - I am INTIMIDATED by this subject. It scares me to no end... like how Pharmacy scares some other student to no end and they wont enter the field.

My point? Pharmacy is similar to science rather than coding. I'm not intimidated by it, and I'm more willing to give myself over to it because I know what I learn I will use, and it's gonna help me find a job.

The fact that pharmacy school judges a person ability, if they do, to succeed in pharmacy glass by judging how they well in GENERAL science class is just rediculously ******ed. They need to skip all this crap about the prerequisite and put student straight into Pharmacy. If it work, they move on, if it fails they drop out, seriously.

If they make general science part of the curriculum and say to student you need to understand this to understand higher up pharmacy concept and apply them in the real world... then fine. I'll be willing to learn then.

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The most significant thing is the willingness to give yourself over COMPLETELY to learning something. Then you'll read material pages for pages as many time as you need, go to office hours, and use all available resource to understand the material. If you're not willing to give yourself over to something completely... you're not going to learn it as well as the Dean of your science school wants you to.
 
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ForumHangout said:
There's a different between not wanting to do something and being afraid/intimidated of doing something.

1) Learning science (chemistry/bio/physics) - I'm not intimidated but I don't really care about what I am expected to learn so I learn it less then what an institution prefer. I ask myself, why do I need to give myself COMPLETELY over learning chemistry, biology, physics when I know some wanker who's naturally good at the subject will be the one applying it at the end game level? basic PhD research? I'm just learning this more to be similar... but society isn't going to make me use it. So I'm stuck with learning things I know I'm not going to use or help me get a job.

2) Learning coding - I am INTIMIDATED by this subject. It scares me to no end... like how Pharmacy scares some other student to no end and they wont enter the field.

My point? Pharmacy is similar to science rather than coding. I'm not intimidated by it, and I'm more willing to give myself over to it because I know what I learn I will use, and it's gonna help me find a job.

The fact that pharmacy school judge's a person ability in pharmacy glass by judging how they well in GENERAL science class is just rediculously ******ed. They need to skip all this crap about the prerequisite and put student straight into Pharmacy. If it work, they move on, if it fails they drop out, seriously.

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The most significant thing is the willingness to give yourself over COMPLETELY to learning something. Then you'll read material pages for pages as many time as you need, go to office hours, and use all available resource to understand the material. If you're not willing to give yourself over to something completely... you're not going to learn it as well as the Dean of your science school wants you to.
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They are also assessing maturity level. Saying you did not do well because you were not interested is not a justification. In life we all do things we do not want to do and I guaranty you will not care for all of the course work or assignments in your professional program. The application is also an assessment of your personality and character and obviously they were not receptive to what you demonstrated. Learn from that, adjust and move on.
 
Haymaker said:
They are also assessing maturity level. Saying you did not do well because you were not interested is not a justification. In life we all do things we do not want to do and I guaranty you will not care for all of the course work or assignments in your professional program. The application is also an assessment of your personality and character and obviously they were not receptive to what you demonstrated. Learn from that, adjust and move on.
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I mean they need to be reasonable and put context into view. That might be you who did not cared when you study your proffesional program but you're not me.

In my head, I already knew everything I learn in Pharmacy school is important because I'm going to be applying them in the real world. These knowledge can kill a person if I do something wrong... so I cannot just not care for something. I'll be completely willing to learn them.

It's like you're saying that the pharmacy school think If I'm not going to learn general science willingly... then I'm not going to learn the nonmedical part of Pharmacy willingly... like doing insurance paper. Ofcourse I will! I can't let people down geeze.

...Learning general science aren't going to put this kind of responsibility on me. The more the responsibility that involve the livelihood of people is put on me... the more I'm willing to give myself over completely... otherwise, I'm just half assing crap that i know i'm not going to use.
 
If you think technician work is beneath you, pharmacy school is a waste of time. You won't get a job after you graduate with zero work experience anyway. Go do something else.

And to answer the original question, I got in to a couple schools on my first try, but got rejected by some of my "safety" schools. Admissions aren't always predictable.
 
I'm sorry that you feel tech work is beneath you. But if you ever do get into school, you will find that the best students are the ones with work experience. I am thankful for my tech experience, it has been a huge asset in classes this year. Oh, and the point of the thread, I applied to 4 schools, got waitlisted at my two safety schools and accepted into the two top programs in my state. One of these programs was a top 10 school.
 
I learned a lot of important skills working as a tech during school. If you think it is a waste of time, you are crazy. Maybe you should work and see if you still really want to be a pharmacist. It might actually not be what you have envisioned.

For the record, I applied once and got in.
 
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