If I send my application through PharmCAS, how will the pharmacy schools know that I was academically ineligible in my 5th of 9th semester due to low grades? Should I mention this in my personal statement or not?
How will schools know if...
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Some pharmacy schools require that you directly send in transcripts to them prior to matriculation.
I would personally talk about that in my supplemental essays / PS to explain why that happened and what you have done to fix the problem.
I would personally talk about that in my supplemental essays / PS to explain why that happened and what you have done to fix the problem.
Usually you do have to send a transcript once you're accepted. Whether it will make a difference at that point, I can't say. Is there a semester-long gap in your transcript? Because that'll show up for sure.
Request an official transcript from that institution for yourself. This will let you see what it says. I don't think PharmCAS will show it. My big question is whether your grades will be good enough to get in, if they were barely good enough to get through undergrad.
Every semester outside of that one semester is about at the expected gpa for most pharmacy schools. So will the schools understand it was just one bad semester when they see the grades for that semester in my transcript?
Also, in my personal statement should I explain why I had a bad semester?
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One bad semester is understandable, and especially if there is a distinct upward trend in your grades from that trough, you'll be fine.
I would NOT address it in your personal statement unless it was something life-changing that you, as a person or your character as a human being, experienced a drastic change (i.e., you were hit by a car and lost a leg, and you've worked back into shape and can now compete is prosthesis marathons).
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i say...if you have a good reason and can thoroughly explain it, do it.
i feel adcoms look at your app very critically. in other words, they assume the worst when theres an unexplained incident.
but then again, if its because you goofed off or rushed a frat...lol yeah just try to get tthe adcoms focused on something else
i feel adcoms look at your app very critically. in other words, they assume the worst when theres an unexplained incident.
but then again, if its because you goofed off or rushed a frat...lol yeah just try to get tthe adcoms focused on something else
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I agree, do not mention it. Hopefully there is a good upward trend in your grades!
kordjames- I agree with the above on not having to mention a bad semester or two, but it looks like this semester was especially bad. 1.4 is extremely low. 2.3 would be okay to blow off, but not 1.4 and especially if the following semester has a gap due to ineligibility.
Pharmcas requires you to address academic probation and other misconducts in one of the sections. Maybe this qualifies? Who knows.
Its your call to make, but I think addressing this one semester in that section and/or your PS will clear up any confusion ad coms may have, and it'll take like 2 sentences. You can explain how much you matured since then, and you have the positive trend to back you up. Positive trends are always good/
You're fine.
2-3 months is okay too. Mention that experience in your PS and how you grew and learned, etc. etc. youre on the right track.
good luck!
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View from the corner office:
When you fill out your PharmCAS (or other applications), you answer a question that asks if you have ever been subject to disciplinary action in a prior institution. You either answer "yes" or "no". If "yes", there is a text box that allows you to comment on this answer.
Do so. Because, you also certify in this application process that all information you have provided is accurate to the best of your ability to do so. At the moment that you choose to answer any of the questions dishonestly, you have commited an act of technical fraud. All schools should require you to provide official transcripts from all colleges and universitys to which you have attended. In most cases, disciplinary action (academic and, in some cases, non-academic) are recorded. At this point, you now are at risk of void of any offers of acceptance due to falsification of records. Most universities have an institutional policy that provides dismissal from the instution due to falsification of records as a violation of trust.
Don't risk it. For one thing, it's a bad path to start down. For another, you will always have to deal with the possibility that your dishonesty will be discovered at a later date...and be acted upon retroactively. Universities reserve the right to recind degrees based upon such deception.
Transparence and honest....rules to live by....particularly if you aspire to having other peoples' lives entrusted to your hands.
Eric H. Hobson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean
Belmont USOP
When you fill out your PharmCAS (or other applications), you answer a question that asks if you have ever been subject to disciplinary action in a prior institution. You either answer "yes" or "no". If "yes", there is a text box that allows you to comment on this answer.
Do so. Because, you also certify in this application process that all information you have provided is accurate to the best of your ability to do so. At the moment that you choose to answer any of the questions dishonestly, you have commited an act of technical fraud. All schools should require you to provide official transcripts from all colleges and universitys to which you have attended. In most cases, disciplinary action (academic and, in some cases, non-academic) are recorded. At this point, you now are at risk of void of any offers of acceptance due to falsification of records. Most universities have an institutional policy that provides dismissal from the instution due to falsification of records as a violation of trust.
Don't risk it. For one thing, it's a bad path to start down. For another, you will always have to deal with the possibility that your dishonesty will be discovered at a later date...and be acted upon retroactively. Universities reserve the right to recind degrees based upon such deception.
Transparence and honest....rules to live by....particularly if you aspire to having other peoples' lives entrusted to your hands.
Eric H. Hobson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean
Belmont USOP
During the interviews, would they ask about the bad semester I had in which I was ineligible?
Also, does PharmCAS have a section where I state pharmacy experience or will only the people interviewing me ask me about experience?
Also, does PharmCAS have a section where I state pharmacy experience or will only the people interviewing me ask me about experience?
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Have you even looked at the PharmCAS application yet?
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As Ice has mentioned many a time, you need to be prepared for damn near everything at an interview... So yes.
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