If I am rejected :-(

[ckv34l]

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Hi everyone. I am an undergrad psych major and will finish my degree next July. By this time I will have attented 3 years of college and take the GRE. I work as a Pharmacy Tech in Walgreens. I have no business or internship experiences. I am planning to go to pharmacy school next year, but incase I dont get in next year, I will reapply the following year. So incase I have to wait a whole year, I was planning on doing an MBA. Do you think this is smart/dumb/I wont even get in? What do you think I should do. Should I stay an extra year in Loyola and pick up a minor in business and bioethics----that is something I can do. I dont know what to do next year if I dont get in......can you guys please post your comments and suggestions. Thanks. 🙂
Kevin

 

[Glycerin]

Hi everyone. I am an undergrad psych major and will finish my degree next July. By this time I will have attented 3 years of college and take the GRE. I work as a Pharmacy Tech in Walgreens. I have no business or internship experiences. I am planning to go to pharmacy school next year, but incase I dont get in next year, I will reapply the following year. So incase I have to wait a whole year, I was planning on doing an MBA. Do you think this is smart/dumb/I wont even get in? What do you think I should do. Should I stay an extra year in Loyola and pick up a minor in business and bioethics----that is something I can do. I dont know what to do next year if I dont get in......can you guys please post your comments and suggestions. Thanks. 🙂
Kevin

Why have you taken the GRE? Were you planning to do a dual degree or go to some other graduate program prior to pharmacy? You need to take the PCAT if you haven't already taken it. Start applying now, because the longer you wait, the smaller your chances are of getting in (to schools with rolling admissions, that is). Some schools have deadlines as early as November 1, so depending on which schools you wish to apply, you may have little time to complete the process for 2005 entrance.

Read the links in the FAQ. Bananaface and others took time out of their busy schedules to research and compile useful information for pre-pharmacy students. If you have questions that cannot be answered there, feel free to ask the forum.

And about what to do if you don't get in? It seems that you have a couple of back-up ideas already. I'd stick with those in the event that you aren't accepted this year.

 

[ckv34l]

Hi. I am taking the PCAT in 2 weeks. My application is fine. But Im worried because I have an overall GPA of 3.2....and a science GPA of 2.6.....because I got a D in physics once...but I retook it and got a B+....by this July I could graduate with my bachelors in psychology in 3 years because I took a lot of summer school. I need a backup or something to do incase I dont get in next year. I was wondering if going straight ahead starting MBA classes would be a wise idea. I am very interested in business. I could stay a fourth year at Loyola and get 2 minors instead in business administration and biethics. Would you all please advise me, or give me some suggestions. Thanks.
Kevin

 

[Leah27]

kev, I applied last year and didn't get in. I don't know if I took the right path, because I haven't gotten any word back from schools this year yet. However, I chose to work fulltime in a pharmacy this year. I am working as a tech, and getting crudy pay, but i think it is worth it. I'm learning a lot which I am sure will help me in pharmacy school. I think MBA's are loosing a lot of face currently, becasue any school is willing to churn one out in a year. I think a year of pharmacy experience will be a better pay off in the long run than a MBA from East Bumble University. However, if it something you really want to learn about (business that is), maybe you can do it while also getting some real world work experience in pharmacy. Just a suggestion!

 

[jemc2000]

I can only say what my back up plan is. With an AA and the prereqs for Univ of FL COP, it will only take me one year at USF to get my Bachelor's in Chemistry. So that is my back up plan. Of course, I would also be reapplying to UF COP. I want to be a pharmacist, not a chemist.

My advice would be to first decide if your back up plan is an "instead of" or an "until", then look 5 or 10 years down the road and decide from there. Good luck with your decision.

 

[Glycerin]

I can only say what my back up plan is. With an AA and the prereqs for Univ of FL COP, it will only take me one year at USF to get my Bachelor's in Chemistry. So that is my back up plan. Of course, I would also be reapplying to UF COP. I want to be a pharmacist, not a chemist.

My advice would be to first decide if your back up plan is an "instead of" or an "until", then look 5 or 10 years down the road and decide from there. Good luck with your decision.

Did you confirm that with USF? I go there now, and they require students to take 48 hours worth of upper level courses (3000+) AT USF (including degree requirements). You'd have to take major full loads to be able to crank that out in three semesters (fall, spring, and summer).

By the way, there are way more requirements for a BA in Chemistry at USF than a BS in Biomedical Sciences. If you are looking to just get a degree, the Biomedical Sciences degree is the way to go. There are many pre-professionals on that path. If you have any question about it, just ask me. 🙂

 

[Tuck]

I actually would recommend going ahead with the MBA. I think it would be quite helpful to you in the long run. PharmD/MBA degrees typically get paid a higher salary. In addition to getting the MBA though I would do at least some part time work as a tech to flesh out your application for the following year. Just my 2 cents.

 

[jemc2000]

Did you confirm that with USF? I go there now, and they require students to take 48 hours worth of upper level courses (3000+) AT USF (including degree requirements). You'd have to take major full loads to be able to crank that out in three semesters (fall, spring, and summer).

By the way, there are way more requirements for a BA in Chemistry at USF than a BS in Biomedical Sciences. If you are looking to just get a degree, the Biomedical Sciences degree is the way to go. There are many pre-professionals on that path. If you have any question about it, just ask me. 🙂

Hmm, I'll have to check out Biomedical Sciences. As for the 48 hours, I will have to check my transcript, my AA is from USF. Thanks for the info. I hope I don't need it, but if I do, I will certainly consider Biomedical Sciences. I'll check out the website tonight.

Thanks!

 

[Glycerin]

Hmm, I'll have to check out Biomedical Sciences. As for the 48 hours, I will have to check my transcript, my AA is from USF. Thanks for the info. I hope I don't need it, but if I do, I will certainly consider Biomedical Sciences. I'll check out the website tonight.

Thanks!

The USF student handbook lists the Biomedical Sciences degree by its old name, Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences.

http://www.ugs.usf.edu/catalogs/0304/ins.htm

The 48-hour rule isn't mentioned on this page, but it's required of all students planning on graduation. It's the reason why I won't have my BS by the end of this spring. I'll be about 18 hours too short.

 

[jemc2000]

The USF student handbook lists the Biomedical Sciences degree by its old name, Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences.

http://www.ugs.usf.edu/catalogs/0304/ins.htm

The 48-hour rule isn't mentioned on this page, but it's required of all students planning on graduation. It's the reason why I won't have my BS by the end of this spring. I'll be about 18 hours too short.

At least 12 hours of upper division required science courses must be completed as USF.

I guess I will have to email and see what their specific requirements are for that degree. But it would be about 8 hours less for me than the BA in Chemistry.

Thanks for the advice. I hope I don't need it. (As in, I hope I make it to UF this year so I don't have to use a "fall back" plan.) 🙂

 

[Glycerin]

At least 12 hours of upper division required science courses must be completed as USF.

Yeah, the 12 hours of upper-level science courses comes from that Biology/Chemistry part. It'll say "At least 6 hours of upper-level chemistry, and at least 7 hours of upper-level biology with one lab" (usually 2 3-hour UL Bio's and a 1-hour lab). Anyway, like I said, the 48-hour thing isn't listed on that page as it is not as updated as the sheet of paper they give to degree-seeking students. But hopefully you won't have to worry with it. 🙂