I had an epiphany today regarding gpa/pcat

[jackal head]

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The main purpose of your GPA/PCAT is to get you to the interview.

Once you make it to the interview, sure it's nice to have a good gpa/pcat but you've already proven that you are a well qualified applicant, from that point on it's your real life experience that will come into play.

At my school (Wayne State), roughly the top 20% of applicants are interviewed, and roughly 11% accepted.

So you have a 2/10 chance of getting interviewed and this is determined by your gpa/pcat.

If you are interviewed, then you are only competing with others who were interviewed. At my school, the odds of being accepted after an interview are very close to 50/50.

WHAT THIS MEANS
GPA/PCAT matter but only up to a certain point, for example, a 3.7-80pcat with a ton of actual experience in pharmacy may be chosen over a 3.9-83pcat who shows very little knowledge of the profession.

Interview can play a BIG PART. You're supposed to show your passion but how else can you show it if you haven't done anything?

Something to consider.

 

[lola87]

The interview is a big part of the decision process. But if you have two applicants who interview equally well, then the deciding factors are gpa, pcat scores, and extracurriculars.

 

[austinblnd]

my epiphany was go to a 0-6 school and focus on education instead of admission to pharm school 😛

 

[jackal head]

my epiphany was go to a 0-6 school and focus on education instead of admission to pharm school 😛

Congrats, though you should be careful not to confuse hard work with luck

 

[twinspharm]

It depends on the school. Pitt only puts about ten percent on the interview. I feel the interview is just a component of many. Give a good interview, it will surely help, but its not a guarantee. They still look heavily at:

Science GPA
Non-Science GPA
LORS
Extracurricular
Job Experience
Overall Character

 

[cheeseboy2]

so partying and chilling with friends during the undergrad years was worth it... builds your people skills -> better interview.

feels good huh.

 

[jackal head]

so partying and chilling with friends during the undergrad years was worth it... builds your people skills -> better interview.

feels good huh.

good point, I've become extremely anti-social over the years, that might be problematic

 

[austinblnd]

so partying and chilling with friends during the undergrad years was worth it... builds your people skills -> better interview.

feels good huh.

 

[MrMeowphers]

That isn't really an epiphany at all...

This truly varies by admissions committee, who does the interviewing, and the overall interview process.

Some schools really prefer high scorers across the board (those that have braved the waters and maintained excellence for along time).

Other schools prefer a decent applicant, but care more for drive/purpose/passion shown in actual pharmacy experience or volunteering/community service.

Interview processes are also all different... some require a written prompt/short essay on the day of the interview while others don't. Some are closed file (only personal statements are given to the interviewer), while others are open file (everything is available to the interviewer, resume, GPA, pcat, LoR, etc...).

However, someone with a 4.0 GPA + Bachelors degree + a 99% PCAT composite will more than likely beat out a student with a 3.2 GPA + 70% PCAT + 2 years of pharm experience.

 

[Namishin]

Getting to the interview process doesn't mean everyone's on equal footing. I've heard from an adcom that even when selecting applicants coming in for an interview, they have a pretty good idea if they'll accept them based on their stats already or if this person might be more of a waitlist material.

Keep in mind that all schools are almost obligated to do interviews, whether they genuinely want to or not so they may just go through the motions for a 4.0 gpa 99% PCAT app. I don't know what the policy is for closed file interviews.

 

[laweerdo]

That isn't really an epiphany at all...

This truly varies by admissions committee, who does the interviewing, and the overall interview process.

Some schools really prefer high scorers across the board (those that have braved the waters and maintained excellence for along time).

Other schools prefer a decent applicant, but care more for drive/purpose/passion shown in actual pharmacy experience or volunteering/community service.

Interview processes are also all different... some require a written prompt/short essay on the day of the interview while others don't. Some are closed file (only personal statements are given to the interviewer), while others are open file (everything is available to the interviewer, resume, GPA, pcat, LoR, etc...).

However, someone with a 4.0 GPA + Bachelors degree + a 99% PCAT composite will more than likely beat out a student with a 3.2 GPA + 70% PCAT + 2 years of pharm experience.

someone with a 4.0 + 99% PCAT sounds like someone who probably has no social life/interpersonal skills. i mean, there are those few individuals who rock at everything, but that's still pretty rare. i think that the interview process is VERY important for the admissions committee to make their final decision, esp for the field of pharmacy. who would want a clinical pharmacist that had a problem communicating with doctors on meds/dosages? if i were running a pharmacy, i'd rather have someone with less impressive stats, but the ability to maintain a balanced life of social/extracurriculars/grades/etc. also, as an applicant, it's during the interview that you can SHOW your enthusiasm for the profession to further convince them of your passion. idk...that's what i think at least.

 

[philoiz]

someone with a 4.0 + 99% PCAT sounds like someone who probably has no social life/interpersonal skills. i mean, there are those few individuals who rock at everything, but that's still pretty rare.

I'm glad you put that qualifier in as there are some of us that can manage the 3.95 - 4.0 GPA, 99% PCAT and still not be a social troglodyte. I fit that bill and am married with many friends outside of college and work. However, I do agree that it is a small minority. I have had the displeasure in the past to meet up with several straight-A students that test extremely well and they either come off as lumps of coal or gratingly annoying.

I recently had my interview at Midwestern CPG and it went really well (I and the other 2 students with me thought) though I got waitlisted. My extracurriculars were extremely lacking, however, and this is probably why I wasn't accepted.

I know several people with grades/scores below mine that have received their acceptance to pharm school (not just Midwestern). I guess what I'm trying to say is, you're right. Scores are certainly not everything....not by a long shot. Not only do you need to show your passion for Pharmacy and community service in the interview, but also in your past experiences. It's what really puts an applicant over the top.

Do your EC's, get some experience in the field, then get your foot in the door. Once you're at the interview, you're 90% there, just show them in person that you are as committed as you are on paper. Good luck to everyone!

 

[laweerdo]

I'm glad you put that qualifier in as there are some of us that can manage the 3.95 - 4.0 GPA, 99% PCAT and still not be a social troglodyte. I fit that bill and am married with many friends outside of college and work.

well then you are one of the lucky few (and humble, might i add lol) but seriously props to you and good luck on your applications!

 

[pharmD eighty7]

That isn't really an epiphany at all...

 

[chemguy79]

That isn't really an epiphany at all...

This truly varies by admissions committee, who does the interviewing, and the overall interview process.

Agreed! I thought that it was common sense that having great statistics means nothing if you have the social skills of a mute.

 

[297point1]

That isn't really an epiphany at all...

This truly varies by admissions committee, who does the interviewing, and the overall interview process.

Some schools really prefer high scorers across the board (those that have braved the waters and maintained excellence for along time).

Other schools prefer a decent applicant, but care more for drive/purpose/passion shown in actual pharmacy experience or volunteering/community service.

I could not have said it better myself. There's wisdom in these words...

 

[sUrface]

good point, I've become extremely anti-social over the years, that might be problematic

that sucks.

I can't imagine being a recluse like I was in highschool. Now Im always busy, around and about seeing people. feels good man.

 

[MrMeowphers]

Agreed! I thought that it was common sense that having great statistics means nothing if you have the social skills of a mute.

👍

Yea I kind of thought that was understood... especially in our line of work...

Also, I had a 3.9 undergraduate GPA and a 95% PCAT and a slew of degrees, yet I'm not a person with "no social life/interpersonal skills" as laweerdo claims... albiet I'll acknowledge that there are some who might fit that bill. But if you take a large enough sample size, then there are bound to be people who meet your criteria...

You're overstating a common misguided belief... it's as ignorant to say as saying "All <insert nationality here> are great at math and science."

 

[Darkthrone]

👍

Also, I had a 3.9 undergraduate GPA and a 95% PCAT and a slew of degrees, yet I'm not a person with "no social life/interpersonal skills" as laweerdo claims...

Wow, me too. I also am a professional athlete, musician, and a model.

 

[phathead]

Agreed! I thought that it was common sense that having great statistics means nothing if you have the social skills of a mute.

I know far too many people who are in pharmacy school, or who just graduated, that are like that. Sadly many schools place too much emphasis on the statistics portion of an applicant.

At least it's not as bad as it was a few years back

 

[poox]

The main purpose of your GPA/PCAT is to get you to the interview.

Once you make it to the interview, sure it's nice to have a good gpa/pcat but you've already proven that you are a well qualified applicant, from that point on it's your real life experience that will come into play.

At my school (Wayne State), roughly the top 20% of applicants are interviewed, and roughly 11% accepted.

So you have a 2/10 chance of getting interviewed and this is determined by your gpa/pcat.

If you are interviewed, then you are only competing with others who were interviewed. At my school, the odds of being accepted after an interview are very close to 50/50.

WHAT THIS MEANS
GPA/PCAT matter but only up to a certain point, for example, a 3.7-80pcat with a ton of actual experience in pharmacy may be chosen over a 3.9-83pcat who shows very little knowledge of the profession.

Interview can play a BIG PART. You're supposed to show your passion but how else can you show it if you haven't done anything?

Something to consider.

How far are you in your studies? People realize this in their first years of college...

 

[jackal head]

How far are you in your studies? People realize this in their first years of college...

I'm near the end. One way to look at it would be if you have a high gpa/pcat you can get in with an ok interview. This may be true for some schools but the university I'm going to be applying to weighs the interview as heavily as gpa or pcat.

I've never given the interview much thought until now, I've always kept my focus on gpa/pcat in my first year because that's where most people screw up.

So to summarize, top 20% gpa/pcat = interview, after that your chances are nearly 50/50 (varies by your gpa/pcat depending on the school, the more important the school thinks the interview is, the less your gpa/pcat will help/hurt you for it).

For me the epiphany was I can't rely on just having a good gpa/pcat to get me through because it will just get me up to the interview.

 

[phathead]

I'm near the end. One way to look at it would be if you have a high gpa/pcat you can get in with an ok interview. This may be true for some schools but the university I'm going to be applying to weighs the interview as heavily as gpa or pcat.

I've never given the interview much thought until now, I've always kept my focus on gpa/pcat in my first year because that's where most people screw up.

So to summarize, top 20% gpa/pcat = interview, after that your chances are nearly 50/50 (varies by your gpa/pcat depending on the school, the more important the school thinks the interview is, the less your gpa/pcat will help/hurt you for it).

For me the epiphany was I can't rely on just having a good gpa/pcat to get me through because it will just get me up to the interview.

so..... did you just have an epiphany that the sky is blue as well?

 

[jackal head]

so..... did you just have an epiphany that the sky is blue as well?

The overall idea is obvious, the reasons behind it are not so obvious.

Many people look at a high gpa/pcat and think their in. I'm sure there are schools who don't care much about the interview so they will get in somewhere but perhaps not where they would like to.

 

[phathead]

The overall idea is obvious, the reasons behind it are not so obvious.

Many people look at a high gpa/pcat and think their in. I'm sure there are schools who don't care much about the interview so they will get in somewhere but perhaps not where they would like to.

If you work in pharmacy, the reasons behind it become blatantly obvious. I mean I figured that part out when I was 16.

 

[ValeRx]

The overall idea is obvious, the reasons behind it are not so obvious.

Many people look at a high gpa/pcat and think their in. I'm sure there are schools who don't care much about the interview so they will get in somewhere but perhaps not where they would like to.

Wow, what a free thinker! You should major in philosophy, not pharmacy!

 

[jackal head]

well kudos to you if everything is so "blatantly obvious"

it was an exaggeration to call this an epiphany but at least from my observations, most people don't seriously start thinking about interviews until they are a couple of weeks away, by that point there's not much you can do to give yourself any sort of edge

and when the odds are near 50/50, I would feel very uncomfortable with nothing to tip them in my favor