I'm a little lost with...

[littlebracesboy]

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Hey guys,

I'm a new member, and I'm a little lost with what to do for applications. I'm currently finish up my second year at an undergraduate college. I want to attend a pharmacy school right after I graduate.

What should I be doing?

Also, should I take the PCAT for insurance of getting into a pharmacy school? If yes, when should I start studying?

What are the general GPA requirements for schools inside of California (this is where my interest of schools are, and I currently live/attend school here). My GPA is currently 3.25 both science and cumulative, but I can bring it up to a 3.5 by the end of this summer. What GPA should I be striving for?

In addition, I'm also interning for a pharmacy. This has been going on for about 2 months. Should I also be doing other extra curricular activities such as research?

For letters of recommendations, how many should I get and from whom?

Thanks!!!

 

[diastole]

The sticky at the top has a lot of useful information. Here it is:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=198059

I would start there and then repost if you have specific questions that you couldn't find answers to or were unsure about.

Have you taken your pre-reqs yet? Most California schools don't require the PCAT but I think if your GPA stays the same, you might have to apply out of state. In that case, you will want to take the PCAT. You also want your GPA to be as high as possible. A 3.5 is a good goal to try to get it to but higher is better. Don't worry too much if it is a bit lower. If you are well rounded, a lower GPA is not a death blow but I would try not to let it drop from where you are at now.

Getting pharmacy experience is a good start. Adding ECs like research or other community service is also helpful. In my interview, they asked questions about leadership, compassion, and teamwork so ECs can help out in those areas. Hopefully, this is enough to get you started.

 

[inquirer89]

You may want to double check on me and search the boards, but I've heard that California schools are more competitive than any other state's, so a 3.5 should be your goal at a bare minimum. A 3.7+ is where many California schools prefer you to have.

 

[255942]

You may want to double check on me and search the boards, but I've heard that California schools are more competitive than any other state's, so a 3.5 should be your goal at a bare minimum. A 3.7+ is where many California schools prefer you to have.

I think it is important to interject that my experience with California schools of pharmacy is that because the PCAT is not required, they place a much greater emphasis on the GPA of the applicant. It has become the one objective piece of data available for comparing applicants. So, I'm not sure they always admit the best applicants, but they probably have a higher overall GPA compared to other schools (if that makes sense).

 

[aboveliquidice]

The sticky at the top has a lot of useful information. Here it is:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=198059

I would start there and then repost if you have specific questions that you couldn't find answers to or were unsure about.

Have you taken your pre-reqs yet? Most California schools don't require the PCAT but I think if your GPA stays the same, you might have to apply out of state. In that case, you will want to take the PCAT. You also want your GPA to be as high as possible. A 3.5 is a good goal to try to get it to but higher is better. Don't worry too much if it is a bit lower. If you are well rounded, a lower GPA is not a death blow but I would try not to let it drop from where you are at now.

Getting pharmacy experience is a good start. Adding ECs like research or other community service is also helpful. In my interview, they asked questions about leadership, compassion, and teamwork so ECs can help out in those areas. Hopefully, this is enough to get you started.

Quoted for truth...

 

[jasonbourne]

Hey guys,

I'm a new member, and I'm a little lost with what to do for applications. I'm currently finish up my second year at an undergraduate college. I want to attend a pharmacy school right after I graduate.

What should I be doing?

Also, should I take the PCAT for insurance of getting into a pharmacy school? If yes, when should I start studying?

What are the general GPA requirements for schools inside of California (this is where my interest of schools are, and I currently live/attend school here). My GPA is currently 3.25 both science and cumulative, but I can bring it up to a 3.5 by the end of this summer. What GPA should I be striving for?

In addition, I'm also interning for a pharmacy. This has been going on for about 2 months. Should I also be doing other extra curricular activities such as research?

For letters of recommendations, how many should I get and from whom?

Thanks!!!

Strive for 3.5 gpa and score at least 80 on your pcat in order to be guaranteed admission. Also talk to your prepharmacy advisor

 

[aboveliquidice]

Strive for 3.5 gpa and score at least 80 on your pcat in order to be guaranteed admission. Also talk to your prepharmacy advisor

My friend - there is no such thing as a "guaranteed admission"...