I need help! Thank you in advance!

[rphfan2009]

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I am an older student (mid-30's) going back for pharmacy. I still have to take my pre-pharmacy classes--which I plan to start in the fall of 2009. I wanted help with several questions:

1. When is a good time to apply to PharmCas? I would really like to send my transcripts now--especially since it takes so long to process.

2. When is the best time to take the PCAT? I still have a lot of pre-pharm classes to take and I am trying to plan ahead.

3. What kind of volunteer/activities experience are the schools looking for? I was very involved in college (over 10 years ago) with groups and organizations. I am not so much involved with that anymore--due to working full-time and having family obligations.

4. Does past work as a retail manager help with my application? I worked 2 years for CVS as an assistant manager.

5. What kind of recommenders do I need? I am able to get a few pharmacists and some registered nurses to vouch for me. Do you think that 2/2 would be okay--since they are all healthcare professionals? Or should I try to stay away from anyone who isn't a pharmacist? Please give me insight on this issue.

6. Should I try to find a job as a tech somewhere? I have been trying for the last 6 months and have had terrible luck and feel like my search is headed no where--especially with the job market in a slump. What if I can't find a tech position? Is this going to ruin my application?

All comments are welcome...I'm looking for all the help I can get!

 

[trailrider400]

I am an older student (mid-30's) going back for pharmacy. I still have to take my pre-pharmacy classes--which I plan to start in the fall of 2009. I wanted help with several questions:

1. When is a good time to apply to PharmCas? I would really like to send my transcripts now--especially since it takes so long to process.

2. When is the best time to take the PCAT? I still have a lot of pre-pharm classes to take and I am trying to plan ahead.

3. What kind of volunteer/activities experience are the schools looking for? I was very involved in college (over 10 years ago) with groups and organizations. I am not so much involved with that anymore--due to working full-time and having family obligations.

4. Does past work as a retail manager help with my application? I worked 2 years for CVS as an assistant manager.

5. What kind of recommenders do I need? I am able to get a few pharmacists and some registered nurses to vouch for me. Do you think that 2/2 would be okay--since they are all healthcare professionals? Or should I try to stay away from anyone who isn't a pharmacist? Please give me insight on this issue.

6. Should I try to find a job as a tech somewhere? I have been trying for the last 6 months and have had terrible luck and feel like my search is headed no where--especially with the job market in a slump. What if I can't find a tech position? Is this going to ruin my application?

All comments are welcome...I'm looking for all the help I can get!

Your putting the cart in front of the horse a little but I'll give you some short answers cus I gotta get back to studying (prepharm is fun!). And using the search function should give you much more info.

1. Late summer, early fall. Apply as early as possible. I believe pharmcas opens in July. Apply after 2 years of pre reqs. You may not get in the first try but I'd start trying the year that you will have all the prereqs finished by the end of the summer before pharmacy school starts. If you already have a degree thats good but if not keep working towards a bachelors while applying to pharm school and strengthening you app.
2. After you have completed the prereqs. More specifically after you've taken Calc, Ochem 1, and the core bio classes.
3. Any involvement or volunteer is good. Volunteer anywhere you like but try to get a spot volunteering at a hospital pharmacy or anywhere in a hospital.
4. Couldn't hurt. Some kind of pharmacy experience would help too - tech or volunteer.
5. Depends on the school. If it were me I'd do 1 pharmacist for sure, 1 professor from a science course and 1 from someone who knows you best or from a volunteer supervisor or something
6. Yes. Use the search function for tips on finding a tech job. Hand the pharm manager your resume directly and tell them your career goals.

hope this helps

 

[Storm90]

1. PharmCAS opens in early June. It is best to apply between June and August, ideally to a school with early decision or rolling admissions. Send your transcripts during this period, not beforehand as they will probably be lost/thrown out.

2. The best time to take the PCAT is probably in April as everyone will be studying for exams and fewer people take it then because scores are not considered for that year's application cycle (ie. April 2009 PCAT can't be used for fall 09 admission).

3. Volunteer work of any kind is great. If you have work in a pharmacy, it's kind of pointless to volunteer in a pharmacy as well. Do whatever interests you. That way you'll be more interested in talking about it.

4. It probably doesn't hurt.

5. Pharmacists are good references. Also, a professor would be very helpful as some schools want them as a reference. Other healthcare professionals would be fine I think too. Make sure you have at least 3.

6. It's good to have pharmacy experience, but it's usually not required (some schools do require it). With the market as is, getting into a tech position will be challenging. Look into the PTCB test to become certified if you are interested and go from there.

 

[trailrider400]

There is no pcat test date in April. I'd take it in June (They offer it Jan, June, Aug and Oct)... You have much of the summer to prepare for it and don't have to worry about school like you would if you took it in Jan or Oct. And it leaves plenty of time for the scores to be received by the schools. Then if you do poorly take it again in August or October.

 

[Texas PharmDoc]

I am an older student (mid-30's) going back for pharmacy. I still have to take my pre-pharmacy classes--which I plan to start in the fall of 2009. I wanted help with several questions:

1. When is a good time to apply to PharmCas? I would really like to send my transcripts now--especially since it takes so long to process.

2. When is the best time to take the PCAT? I still have a lot of pre-pharm classes to take and I am trying to plan ahead.

3. What kind of volunteer/activities experience are the schools looking for? I was very involved in college (over 10 years ago) with groups and organizations. I am not so much involved with that anymore--due to working full-time and having family obligations.

4. Does past work as a retail manager help with my application? I worked 2 years for CVS as an assistant manager.

5. What kind of recommenders do I need? I am able to get a few pharmacists and some registered nurses to vouch for me. Do you think that 2/2 would be okay--since they are all healthcare professionals? Or should I try to stay away from anyone who isn't a pharmacist? Please give me insight on this issue.

6. Should I try to find a job as a tech somewhere? I have been trying for the last 6 months and have had terrible luck and feel like my search is headed no where--especially with the job market in a slump. What if I can't find a tech position? Is this going to ruin my application?

All comments are welcome...I'm looking for all the help I can get!

Now that it is 2009, you should be PharmDfan2009...

 

[ValeRx]

I am an older student (mid-30's) going back for pharmacy. I still have to take my pre-pharmacy classes--which I plan to start in the fall of 2009. I wanted help with several questions:

1. When is a good time to apply to PharmCas? I would really like to send my transcripts now--especially since it takes so long to process.

2. When is the best time to take the PCAT? I still have a lot of pre-pharm classes to take and I am trying to plan ahead.

3. What kind of volunteer/activities experience are the schools looking for? I was very involved in college (over 10 years ago) with groups and organizations. I am not so much involved with that anymore--due to working full-time and having family obligations.

4. Does past work as a retail manager help with my application? I worked 2 years for CVS as an assistant manager.

5. What kind of recommenders do I need? I am able to get a few pharmacists and some registered nurses to vouch for me. Do you think that 2/2 would be okay--since they are all healthcare professionals? Or should I try to stay away from anyone who isn't a pharmacist? Please give me insight on this issue.

6. Should I try to find a job as a tech somewhere? I have been trying for the last 6 months and have had terrible luck and feel like my search is headed no where--especially with the job market in a slump. What if I can't find a tech position? Is this going to ruin my application?

All comments are welcome...I'm looking for all the help I can get!

I wouldn't worry so much about the volunteer/extra curricular activities. Being in your 30's, ADCOMs will realize that you have more important priorities like your family. You don't have time to go running around in some club/organization at school with a bunch of 18-20 year old kids.

As far as recommendations, most schools require two letters from science professors at your college. Look at the schools you want to go to on PharmCAS and check to see what they want and go from there.

PCAT should be taken after your first year of pre-pharm classes. 95% of the material covered on the PCAT is first year chem, biology, math. The other stuff is verbal and reading comp. There is a section on o-chem in the chem test but it is minimal. Do you NEED to take o-chem 1? No... but I'd buy a Kaplan book to review the possible material.

 

[Storm90]

There is no pcat test date in April.

It's been a while since I wrote the PCAT. 😳

 

[rphfan2009]

Now that it is 2009, you should be PharmDfan2009...

very true--lol 🙂

 

[rphfan2009]

I wouldn't worry so much about the volunteer/extra curricular activities. Being in your 30's, ADCOMs will realize that you have more important priorities like your family. You don't have time to go running around in some club/organization at school with a bunch of 18-20 year old kids.

As far as recommendations, most schools require two letters from science professors at your college. Look at the schools you want to go to on PharmCAS and check to see what they want and go from there.

PCAT should be taken after your first year of pre-pharm classes. 95% of the material covered on the PCAT is first year chem, biology, math. The other stuff is verbal and reading comp. There is a section on o-chem in the chem test but it is minimal. Do you NEED to take o-chem 1? No... but I'd buy a Kaplan book to review the possible material.

I have to take everything--I lack the science and math pre-reqs. I do have a bachelors degree though--non science field though.

What if I send in my transcripts from my first college and end up getting delayed and don't apply until the fall of 2011 class...will my money be wasted? This PharmCas stuff seems to be a real pain 🙁

 

[ValeRx]

I have to take everything--I lack the science and math pre-reqs. I do have a bachelors degree though--non science field though.

What if I send in my transcripts from my first college and end up getting delayed and don't apply until the fall of 2011 class...will my money be wasted? This PharmCas stuff seems to be a real pain 🙁

Yes. Nothing rolls over from year to year. So anyone who doesn't get into school for Fall 2009 will have to do everything over again, including letters of recommendation, transcripts, test scores, AND payments.

 

[xscpx]

I wouldn't worry so much about the volunteer/extra curricular activities. Being in your 30's, ADCOMs will realize that you have more important priorities like your family. You don't have time to go running around in some club/organization at school with a bunch of 18-20 year old kids.

As far as recommendations, most schools require two letters from science professors at your college. Look at the schools you want to go to on PharmCAS and check to see what they want and go from there.

PCAT should be taken after your first year of pre-pharm classes. 95% of the material covered on the PCAT is first year chem, biology, math. The other stuff is verbal and reading comp. There is a section on o-chem in the chem test but it is minimal. Do you NEED to take o-chem 1? No... but I'd buy a Kaplan book to review the possible material.

Where did you get this information? It doesn't make much sense to me. Since when does being an adult allow you special privileges?

"I sure as hell didn't get any and if that's true then I want special consideration when applying to school since I'm an adult and still did volunteer work!"

My point by that rant was that it makes no sense. The cannot fairly give people special options due to things like age and family. You can easily turn it around and say someone in their 30's should do double the volunteer work since they didn't figure out what they wanted to do at a younger age. It all sounds ridiculous.

A school making exceptions like that is, in my opinion, discriminating.

 

[ValeRx]

Where did you get this information? It doesn't make much sense to me. Since when does being an adult allow you special privileges?

"I sure as hell didn't get any and if that's true then I want special consideration when applying to school since I'm an adult and still did volunteer work!"

My point by that rant was that it makes no sense. The cannot fairly give people special options due to things like age and family. You can easily turn it around and say someone in their 30's should do double the volunteer work since they didn't figure out what they wanted to do at a younger age. It all sounds ridiculous.

A school making exceptions like that is, in my opinion, discriminating.

Well lets see. If you are in your 30's and have a family, do you have time to work for free? No, probably not. Your priority is to provide for your family, keep a roof over their head, food on the table. It's not preference, unfair advantage. Your comment about having to do twice the volunteer work because they didn't figure out what they wanted to do earlier is 100% ignorant. Not all of us want to try to woo our interviewers by saying, "Oh I wanted to be a pharmacist since I was three years old." In rph's case, he did his volunteer work years ago and he most certainly shouldn't have to do it again.

 

[rphfan2009]

Yes. Nothing rolls over from year to year. So anyone who doesn't get into school for Fall 2009 will have to do everything over again, including letters of recommendation, transcripts, test scores, AND payments.

That really stinks. I have a friend thats applying to law school and they save their transcripts and LOR's. They just pay as they go for sending the stuff out. I can't believe PharmCas does that to people.

 

[rphfan2009]

Well lets see. If you are in your 30's and have a family, do you have time to work for free? No, probably not. Your priority is to provide for your family, keep a roof over their head, food on the table. It's not preference, unfair advantage. Your comment about having to do twice the volunteer work because they didn't figure out what they wanted to do earlier is 100% ignorant. Not all of us want to try to woo our interviewers by saying, "Oh I wanted to be a pharmacist since I was three years old." In rph's case, he did his volunteer work years ago and he most certainly shouldn't have to do it again.

BTW, I'm with you on your original statement on that 🙂