Hello! This is my first time posting on here. I was wondering if I could get some advice from pre-pharmacy students on here since I don't have anyone around me who can advise me on what to do (my school doesn't have a health professions advisor anymore and our biology advisors are jokes). I am a biology major at a university in Texas. I have taken most of my pre-req classes with the exception of Organic Chemistry II. My science GPA is beyond horrible and with how bad it is it has brought down my overall GPA to a 2.01. If I were to retake all my pre-req classes at a community college and get all A's in them I could bring my GPA up to a 2.5 overall. I understand that it would be better to retake the classes at the university I'm already attending, but it is too much money to spend on a plan that might not even work. I started working as a pharmacy technician two weeks ago and I know that some schools prefer that students have experience as a pharm tech so I have one good thing going for me. Essentially, if I were to retake all my science pre-req classes, do extremely well on the PCAT and get good letters of recommendations could I have a chance at being accepted into a pharmacy school? Please, please, please no mean comments. I don't want comments saying that I'm stupid or that I'm a failure or that there is no way that I can do well. I know the situation I'm in is horrible and I'm extremely ashamed of myself for letting it get this bad, but I want to fix my mistakes and I am determined to do so. I know myself and I know that I can get good grades. I just need to know if I have a chance and if I'm not wasting my time. I'm tired of feeling lost and not knowing what to do with myself.
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I need advice!
Started by jessie133
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I understand your frustration, my sGPA isn't the best (it's about 2.87) and my cumulative GPA is below average (~3.3).
But I applied to 8 schools and have gotten interviews to 6 of them so far. I think you still have a chance if this is really what you want to do. The rest of your app has to be stellar. Make sure your extracurriculars are good--maybe get some research experience and do some community service. And it's absolutely crucial for you to do well on your PCAT. I talked to my advisor (who is an admissions officer at a pharm school) and they said that they look more at whichever you scored higher in, either your GPA or PCAT score. But to be safe, I would still retake those classes.
tldr; GPA isn't all that pharmacy schools look at. My advice: be a well-rounded applicant.
But I applied to 8 schools and have gotten interviews to 6 of them so far. I think you still have a chance if this is really what you want to do. The rest of your app has to be stellar. Make sure your extracurriculars are good--maybe get some research experience and do some community service. And it's absolutely crucial for you to do well on your PCAT. I talked to my advisor (who is an admissions officer at a pharm school) and they said that they look more at whichever you scored higher in, either your GPA or PCAT score. But to be safe, I would still retake those classes.
tldr; GPA isn't all that pharmacy schools look at. My advice: be a well-rounded applicant.
