I need help on what I should do PLEASE HELP!!!

[SS9901]

---

Members don't see this ad.

First and foremost I take full responsibility for my failures. I'm a sophomore (should be a junior ) at a university currently. The first two years I had no direction as to what I should be doing I just took classes simply because going to college seemed like a great idea. My problem is that last year I got a job as a Pharmacy tech and I like it therefore leading me to want to study pharmacy I have looked at the classes required and I know I can do it if I focus.

Biggest Issue!!! I have taken Biology 1 two times and have received F both times. I was going to take it for the second time but family needs made me withdraw. I have also taken Chem 1 got a D-, C- and retaking now and should get a B (fingers crossed!!). I know most people are like " Wow, he is stupid!" but really the reason I got those grades was because I didn't know what to study so I was going from classes to classes with no real goal.

Now that I know what I want with life I feel as if it's to late. And of the people I've talked to about this I've gotten mixed answers. I am currently stuck seriously out of energy and motivation I feel as if though my failures in Bio and chem will be the death of me. So really what I need are honest answers whether them being " Yeah, man you can still get in to Pharmacy!!" or "No you've doomed yourself" I feel as though until I hear one or the other I will just be stuck and will cont to waste time and money.

With all that being said I can't explain how much I want this!! I've made an appt to meet with the asst dean of Pharmacy this coming week to also hear from him, also will be starting to volunteer next semester. Also a lot of my struggles had to do with multiple deaths in family and financial issues.

And I mean this with the most respect.. Even if you are to tell me It's to late for me to pursue pharmacy I will make it my goal to prove you wrong. I am a firm believer in the ideology of achieving whatever you put your mind to.

But also believe that it is good to hear the opinions of others and respect them which is why I came here. So please do help if you can. I am tired of feeling like I'm just wasting time and money.

AND ALSO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH IN ADVANCE!!

GPA- 2.48
EC- I did some volunteering freshmen year(150hrs) but had to stop and work more to help out around the house.
Pharmacy- been working for a year I am PCTB certified.
LoR- none yet I didn't think I should be asking yet since I have only taken two science classes (biology 1 and chemisty 1). I plan on just doing the pre-pharmacy courses.
schools- KU, UT the two im seriously considering anyways!
Reasoning- Honestly because I didn't have goal set in mind. I was just going to college because well parents wanted to. But then with the pharmacy job I got interested in pharmacy and decided to study it. Also a lot of family matters took place but main reason is that I just didn't really have a goal.
So know having a set goal its much easier to make myself study and such.
THANKS AGAIN!!!

 

[xtsukiyox]

Could you give us more information about the rest of your application? What is your cumulative & science GPAs? What kind of ECs? Pharmacy experience? LoRs? Which schools are you going to apply to?

Also, have you figured out why you did poorly in those classes?

 

[SS9901]

Hey sorry about that! But I edited the post!

 

[SS9901]

Please do give your opinion!! I really need the help thank you!!

 

[amd123]

My problem is that last year I got a job as a Pharmacy tech and I like it therefore leading me to want to study pharmacy I have looked at the classes required and I know I can do it if I focus.

So the problem is that you got a job as a pharmacy tech...or the fact that you liked it?

Biggest Issue!!! I have taken Biology 1 two times and have received F both times. I was going to take it for the second time but family needs made me withdraw. I have also taken Chem 1 got a D-, C- and retaking now and should get a B (fingers crossed!!). I know most people are like " Wow, he is stupid!" but really the reason I got those grades was because I didn't know what to study so I was going from classes to classes with no real goal.

I need to know if you took bio two times or thrice times...if thrice times, then you are doomed

Have you ever thought about studying you know what the class you are taking discusses?

Now that I know what I want with life I feel as if it's to late. And of the people I've talked to about this I've gotten mixed answers. I am currently stuck seriously out of energy and motivation I feel as if though my failures in Bio and chem will be the death of me. So really what I need are honest answers whether them being " Yeah, man you can still get in to Pharmacy!!" or "No you've doomed yourself" I feel as though until I hear one or the other I will just be stuck and will cont to waste time and money.

And I would be too if I couldn't remeber if I took bio twice or thrice times and if wether or not my problem was the fact that I got a job as a tech or the fact that I liked it

So confuze! Why do you confuse!

With all that being said I can't explain how much I want this!!
And I mean this with the most respect.. Even if you are to tell me It's to late for me to pursue pharmacy I will make it my goal to prove you wrong. I am a firm believer in the ideology of achieving whatever you put your mind to.

I know, you really can not explain how much you want this...whatever this is.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED
















also....
its too late to pursue pharmacy

 

[kcwang]

2.48 is just a number. All you got to do is prove to them that you are capable of performing well academically, and there are couple of ways to do this.

Are you still having trouble in classes? You need to figure out why you did so poorly in both biology and chemistry. But it seems like you are doing much better now (getting a B from D- is a huge improvement). Also, you are half way through college, you still got time to fix your grade. You just probably wont be sleeping well for the next 2 years.

Volunteering for 150 hrs looks good, keep up the EC. You need to start getting LOR. Personaly, I believe a good LOR comes from someone who knows you more than a year.

You should also start obtaining leadership experience, and accomplish something great for your community.

If you have that much determination, dont let a number prevent you from pursuing pharmacy. Think right now as if you just started college, and do your best for the rest of your undergrad.

 

[PharmD for Me]

You probably have a chance if you turn things around right now. Like waaaay around and right now. If you take the prerequisite courses and do awesome in them from here on out, it will show both through your GPA and through your commitment. Most pharmacy schools have an open-ended essay (I think PharmCAS has this as well) for you to explain anything that didn't come up in the standard application. For you, it would probably go something like "I screwed up big time, but then I figured out what I wanted to do with my life and turned my act around." ... only longer and more eloquently stated.

Basically, get awesome grades from here on out and strive to become "well-rounded." Volunteer, research, leadership, extracurriculars, shadowing, good grades, good PCAT score, experience in the pharmacy field, etc. You can always call a pharmacy school's admissions office and get their advice one what you can do to best improve your chances.

Honestly though, if you're having a hard time grasping bio and chem now, just know that it's only going to get harder from here on out. You will need that knowledge for your undergrad coursework and PharmD coursework. Work on your study skills, prioritize your time and your life. Family and health come first, then school, then whatever else floats your boat.

A bit of encouragement: we had an alumus (who is now a surgeon) come speak to us in my undergrad. She did not get great grades, she took O Chem three times, and she still made it. She had to take a non-traditional route and work extra hard because of her slacking in undergrad, but she wanted it to happen so she made it happen. Now we all challenge you to do the same. Good luck 👍

 

[SS9901]

thank you guys so much! It really helps to here what you guys have to say! Also I met with my academic adviser today and she also told me to keep trying but its only possibly if I change for the better RIGHT NOW! which is exactly what I will do. I also will be meeting with the Asst Dean to a pharmacy school to hear what he has to say. The reasoning for my grades being so bad was because I had no goal and now that I know what I want to study I am able to study more and actually focus. Before with no goal in mind or what to be in life made me basically just not pay attention/ really care about the classes I took.

Once again THANK YOU SO MUCH! 🙂

 

[xNeenax]

thank you guys so much! It really helps to here what you guys have to say! Also I met with my academic adviser today and she also told me to keep trying but its only possibly if I change for the better RIGHT NOW! which is exactly what I will do. I also will be meeting with the Asst Dean to a pharmacy school to hear what he has to say. The reasoning for my grades being so bad was because I had no goal and now that I know what I want to study I am able to study more and actually focus. Before with no goal in mind or what to be in life made me basically just not pay attention/ really care about the classes I took.

Once again THANK YOU SO MUCH! 🙂

👍👍👍

 

[amd123]

thank you guys so much! It really helps to here what you guys have to say! Also I met with my academic adviser today and she also told me to keep trying but its only possibly if I change for the better RIGHT NOW! which is exactly what I will do. I also will be meeting with the Asst Dean to a pharmacy school to hear what he has to say. The reasoning for my grades being so bad was because I had no goal and now that I know what I want to study I am able to study more and actually focus. Before with no goal in mind or what to be in life made me basically just not pay attention/ really care about the classes I took.

Once again THANK YOU SO MUCH! 🙂

you welcome!

 

[SS9901]

Thanks again guys! I met with the asst dean of a pharmacy school that im interested in and he gave me much much need words of encouragement also laid out a schedule I should follow so I'll be ready to apply come next fall!!!! Thank you so very much!! I know I can do this and if I don't I have nobody to blame to but myself.

 

[xtsukiyox]

Thanks again guys! I met with the asst dean of a pharmacy school that im interested in and he gave me much much need words of encouragement also laid out a schedule I should follow so I'll be ready to apply come next fall!!!! Thank you so very much!! I know I can do this and if I don't I have nobody to blame to but myself.

Hey, good luck, keep us updated.

Out of curiosity, which school was the helpful assistant dean from?

 

[kcwang]

Hi SS9901,
Hopefully you still check this thread. I got this from Washington University School of Pharmacy website. This should help you figure out which area you need to improve on to increase your chance of acceptance. Good Luck, and keep us posted. =]
--------------------------------------
Criteria for screening and selection of intereviewed applicants for offer of admission

Academic preparedness
Academic intergrity in accordance with student conduct code, completion of prerequisite coursework, credit load, withdrawals, recent completion of prerequisites, prerequisite GPA, cumulative GPA, PCAT Scores, TOEFL scores (if applicable), academic achievement (degrees earned), Academic letter of reference.

Oral, written and interpersonal communication skills
Application essays, leadership roles, interview

Motivation to study pharmacy Awareness of issues facing pharmacy and society with regard to health
Pharmacy and/or other healthcare experience, Research experience, community services, personal attributes, interview

Critical-thinking ability, decision making ability, problem solving ability, creativity, resourcefulness
Academic achievement (degree earned), leadership roles, community service, personal attributes, interview

Leadership
Leadership roles, extracurricular activities, community service , personal attributes, academic and professional letters of reference, interview

Personal attributes: compassion, integrity, sensitivity, maturity, judgement, initiative, self-discipline, responsibility
Application essays, leadership roles, extracurricular activities, community service, academic and professional letters of reference, interview

 

[SS9901]

hey thanks about the info for Washington university! it was def helpful! and also the dean was from University of Kansas