Anyone have some advice as to where to apply this year? I've done fairly poor on both my PCATs so far, a 47 then a 45... I've applied to LECOM, U of Cincinnati and NEOUCOP. I was somewhat confident before about getting in with a 3.32GPA and a lot of volunteer experience in different pharmacy environments and ERs. I need help, been depressed lately because of this.
In a rut, had two POOR PCATs.
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owlegrad
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Sorry man. Good Luck!
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Touro NY doesn't require a PCAT but they do require a Bachelor's in something.
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People have gotten in with lower PCAT scores. Chin up, d00d. Give it your best. If all else fails, apply to some of the newer schools.
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if you can't get in with your PCAT, finish a 4 year degree and apply to schools in CA and other schools which do not require the PCAT. Problem solved.
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well do you at least know WHY you're getting bad scores - maybe figure that out first, fix it and then retake? it could just be you're not studying properly or enough (or too much)
the schools that do not require pcats tend to be very competitive placing alot of emphasis on GPA - and you've missed the deadline for the cali schools this cycle
the schools that do not require pcats tend to be very competitive placing alot of emphasis on GPA - and you've missed the deadline for the cali schools this cycle
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Re: GPA - A ~3.3 is definitely a competitive GPA for our schools here assuming the sGPA is about the same.
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Take the PCAT again that's is your best bet if you can get around a 65-75 ish it'll show that you are improving and your dedication to pharmacy. GPA is pretty good and as you said you have different pharmacy experience in different setting which is what pharmacy schools love to see.
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One of the schools I applied to may give you an interview. Check out PCOM.
http://www.pharmcas.org/collegesschools/schoolpcompage.htm
http://www.pharmcas.org/collegesschools/schoolpcompage.htm
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👍
Also, UAMS in Arkansas has a minimum PCAT score requirement of 35 I believe.
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Is there something in particular about the PCAT that's giving you a hard time, or are your scores low across the board?
As said above, it looks like your options are: apply to a school that doesn't require the PCAT, or figure out how to score higher. Like rxlea said, people have gotten in with lower scores. How's the rest of your app look? If the EC's you mentioned are sound enough, you might be able to get in despite your PCAT.
As said above, it looks like your options are: apply to a school that doesn't require the PCAT, or figure out how to score higher. Like rxlea said, people have gotten in with lower scores. How's the rest of your app look? If the EC's you mentioned are sound enough, you might be able to get in despite your PCAT.
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People have gotten in with low scores on the PCAT. I know people who got interviews at LIU with a 3.5 GPA and a 20 Composite PCAT while I got denied when I had a 2.9 GPA and a 73 Composite PCAT.
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are you serious!! i thought my pcat scores were horrible for LIU i lost hope! U gave it back to me lol. But do you know if they were a pre-pharm student at their school? i hear they give them more priority over transfer students
Sorry for not responding back to this thread! I forgot I had made this during my depression.
Good news came by today actually, NEOUCOP accepted me! They said everything was strong, obviously besides my PCAT. Definitely feels good to be accepted and not have to partake in a Bio major.
🙂🙂🙂🙂
Good news came by today actually, NEOUCOP accepted me! They said everything was strong, obviously besides my PCAT. Definitely feels good to be accepted and not have to partake in a Bio major.
🙂🙂🙂🙂
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Congratulations! I know how anxious you were before, I'm going through the worrying stage right now. I interviewed for my dream school a week ago and unfortunately I won't know my fate until mid January. It was my VERY first interview and i didn't feel like I did my best. I kept replaying my interview over and over like a bad dream...
I'm sure you did fine, I kept saying veteran instead of veterinarian due to be so light head at first lol
Apparently everything was strong for me, but he didn't mention my PCAT which was obviously fairly poor.
Apparently everything was strong for me, but he didn't mention my PCAT which was obviously fairly poor.
I got a 29 and got in! 3.65 GPA with Tons of experience. I kind of just froze up and have never been the greatest standardized test taker. You may want to consider addressing these score, pharmacy students are not perfect, human error is inevitable.
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I guess just having to endure that 5 hours of testing and countless hours of studying time shows effort... 🙂
It shows your intelligence....
From having over 10 yrs of pharm tech exp and all the Pharmacists I've spoken to w/regards to the PCAT. Its just an another exam to weed people out. It means absolutely NOTHING on whether or not your going to succeed in pharmacy school or even be a good pharmacist once you get into the REAL world.
The PCAT is just another hurdle to jump through and like any other entity....Pearson has to find one way or another to stay in business. But thats why there's options on whether or not one chooses schools that require it or not. 🙂
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Don't lose hope! I took the PCAT this past October and didn't do nearly as well as I had wanted to. Only a 47 comp. It was deflating because I felt I knew the material, but like others froze. I was just accepted into D'Youville Pharmacy yesterday and have an interview at ACP in VT this January. I had a decent G.P.A. of an overall 3.4, nothing stellar, but solid enough. I also feel what helped me was my pharmacy tech. experience for three years and my personal statement. I don't know WHAT they saw or focused in on when they viewd my application, but it really must be true when they say it is a full component process, so keep your head up!
Not sure where you stand now, but the one thing I can take away from this process, which is truly is a process, is to never give up.
Not sure where you stand now, but the one thing I can take away from this process, which is truly is a process, is to never give up.
do you think that not knowing anything about science will help you in the "real world"?? the ppl who fail out of pharmacy school are the ones who get dominated by the pcat, and who cannot handle science, math, or even english.... all the community service/pharm tech experience in the world isnt going to make you a competent student in pharm school/successful in life as a pharmacist.... when it comes down to it, its about proficiency in science; if you are going to be knowledgeable about thousands of vastly different drugs, it is freaking essential that you understand biology, chemistry etc!!! and that is why there is the pcat; it allows schools to see if you can hack it, or if youre going to get dominated in pharm school. what school wants a student who cannot perform in science; people do not want pharmacists who are incompetent!!! why does every freaking person on SDN think the pcat is worthless?!?! wtf!! did you also bitch incessantly about taking the SAT for getting into college?? what about the NAPLEX?? are you ******ed? are yall going to bitch about taking that as well? not necessary??! you have to pass these tests!! and do well if you want to succeed!! without these tests and degrees there would be nothing separating professionals and pharmacy techs, and bums begging for wine....
to the OP, its not the end of the world if you do poorly on a test; we all do from time to time. this one is really important, but you can improve your scores. in your case id reccomend taking bio/chem again to refresh your foundation, maybe even make better grades in the the 2nd time around? that will def. help you improve in those important areas. Its not about cramming close to the date of the test; i dont think that helps much at all, its about keeping the information in your head and consistently using it form when you first learn it to when you have to apply it; something you will HAVE to do for years and years after you finish pharmacy school. info retention is paramount in pharmacy, perhaps more so than even medicine so practice it! think about science alot, live it! get involved in research, make it important to you. if its not, you may be in the wrong place perhaps.. I started a pcat thread awhile back after I took mine with some more detailed info about preparing for the individual sections, i would recommend giving that a read, if youre still searching for some advice. also you can PM me if youd like, ive worked with over 30 students that way and alot have made some serious improvements! Although I do think 'studying for the pcat' in general wont do that much, I think it is possible to get pointed in the right direction to get in the right mindset for these types of things. best of luck
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The only reason you should be worried is if you look at the specific sections on the PCAT and see if your lowest scores compare to those pre-requisite classes you took with low grades. If you did poorly on the Biology & Chemistry sections of the PCAT but have stellar Biology & Chemistry grades then I wouldn't worry to much 👍
WTF? How is this even possible?
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Maybe if I post over one hundred thousand times? I'm not asking for anything....
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You do bring up some good points. Coming from someone who did poorly on the first PCAT....I got ass moving and scored much better the 2nd time around. Congratulations for getting in to school but people can't continue to blow off the PCAT. I'm not going to lie receiving a score lower than 40 should be a HUGE red flag that you are not doing something well. I understand a PCAT score does not reflect how well you are going to do in pharmacy school BUT it is a good indicator to put everyone on the same level.
I hate standardized exams but I understand the importance of them. We are looking to expand this profession and with schools not using the PCAT as a standard seems a little pathetic. I know people will argue with me and you have your opinions. I hope I don't get the doctor that scored lower than a 25 on the MCAT. It's pharmacy school not truck driver school.
1) First paragraph started sounding like, u mad as you went on.
2) I got A/B/A in all three gen bio courses and an A- in microbio. And also got A-/A-/B- in my gen chem classes as well as solid Bs in the harder professors ochem classes at our university. But thanks for the advice/offer, don't intend to waste another two years to become a pharmacist.
Now that I've been accepted to one of the two main colleges I tried for, the PCAT isn't on my mind, at all.
Alright. Since y'all are so quick to discredit my opinion, please, enlighten me as to what the REAL reason were required to take the pcat is.
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You make some good points. But, I don't think you should dismiss prior pharmacy experience, either. Also, you can know every scientific thing there is to know about pharmacy but if you do not possess good communication skills or if you are not personable, you will struggle when working with all types of personalities in the workplace. While I think the PCAT is an important equalizer, I don't think it should hold as much weight as you suggest. It certainly isn't the LSAT or MCAT. Just my opinion.
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Not every pre-pharmacy student is required to take the PCAT.
The PCAT is a hoop, that's all. It may not be as worthless as I have let on, but it just isn't a good indicator of anything important.
You claim that low PCAT = failure in pharmacy school, but I would love to see the data backing that claim up.
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This coming from someone who didnt do great on the PCAT at all, I feel that it proves a few things.
A general understanding of the material
Being able to manage your time to finish the test
and to have the stamina to finsih the test with the level of alertness going in (if any ha)
I ended up HATING the PCAT because I did so bad, but if I had done well I might be sitting here saying, "oh the PCAT is a great indicator".
I have always thought that one test shoulnd't and couldn't determine the knowledge you have. This in reality is just another test. A highly important one, but in the same sense not fair to compare this to the MCAT for the material on it is for more specific and not as general )the MCAT).
Not trying to take sides in this really, I just feel we all have more heartfelt opinions based on how we did, but REGARDLESS of how you did, if you get into a pharmacy school you and only you from there on out can dictate how well you do or do not do. The test is a part of the past and you can write your future.
A general understanding of the material
Being able to manage your time to finish the test
and to have the stamina to finsih the test with the level of alertness going in (if any ha)
I ended up HATING the PCAT because I did so bad, but if I had done well I might be sitting here saying, "oh the PCAT is a great indicator".
I have always thought that one test shoulnd't and couldn't determine the knowledge you have. This in reality is just another test. A highly important one, but in the same sense not fair to compare this to the MCAT for the material on it is for more specific and not as general )the MCAT).
Not trying to take sides in this really, I just feel we all have more heartfelt opinions based on how we did, but REGARDLESS of how you did, if you get into a pharmacy school you and only you from there on out can dictate how well you do or do not do. The test is a part of the past and you can write your future.
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I completely agree with your posts. Standardize exams and grades are important b/c it shows the person has some sense and is good at making decisions. Personally I will be scared to death if I had someone with "testing anixety" or who scored poorly on the PCAT (below a 70) making DECISIONS THAT CAN ACTUALLY CAUSE DEATH. If someone doesn't have the sense to do well on a fairly easy exam like the PCAT then how can you expect them to make the right choice when it comes to deciding what drugs the patient should be on or off? if a person is so careless that they score so low on any exam, how on earth can you trust that person to make a decision that can potentially KILL YOU? I mean that is downright scary. A low test score shows a person is very careless and make a lot of MISTAKES. I don't know about you people but I prefer a healthcare provider that isn't prone to having anxiety and isn't prone to making a million mistakes. Just one mistake can cause someone's life.
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One mistake can cause someone's life I agree.. but in a sense you are saying that you need to be near perfect? We all make mistakes but a low test score in this sense is a comparative mark to others. So I guess what I am asking you is, if you at all in your ENTIRE life have gotten below a 70 on a test, then you are in the wrong field? I just dont agree with your point, or for that matter if ANYONE can fit what you are saying.
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Yeah, to be a good healthcare provider you pretty much have to be near perfect. Making mistakes and having anxiety shouldn't happen. I have never made below a 70 in my entire life. I rarely make B(s). I am very careful in everything that I do. I try my very best not to make mistakes. The point isn't the grade, the point is whether or not the person is careful in not making any mistakes or wrong decisions.
I have people in my class (I can think of two right now) that are struggling to make C(s), getting tutoring, and are doing very poorly. One of them thinks grades are not that important, the other one says she studies 24/7 and is still struggling to pass. Now, think these two people if they graduate will start making decisions ON YOUR LIFE. If they are having such a hard time with classes and making sooooooo many mistakes here and there...can you TRUST that they will never make a mistake when it comes to a patient's life? I am sorry, but I don't think so...and it is a very scary thought to have...I am not trying to put them down, but I am just scared for them and their future patients. Again just ONE mistake can/will kill someone and unfortunately I do not think they can avoid making these mistakes in their future.
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Well working in a pharmacy with pharmacists who have graduated from Albany and Buffalo, THEY even make mistakes. They catch themselves before it happens most of the time, but we are prone to make errors. That is something that not even straight A's through ANY school could teach.
I truly think that you not getting anything below a B is great, and looks great on paper. BUT when in a pharmacy dispensing medication, ANYONE regardless their grades can make a mistake. I see your point in saying that those who take their time and make less mistakes prior to being a pharmacist will most likely make fewer mistakes down the road. I just dont see the correlation of how the PCAT should be used in the manner in which you are using it. Your reason for such is that it shows mistakes or lack there of just doesnt add up to me.
When you talk about your classmates, getting a C in a course, it does not make you less qualified when it comes to your future. It can be hard to judge when comparing yourself since you may just grasp the material better for THAT particular subject matter. What happens down the road though when you are to struggle and be looking for help and there is a set of eyes saying that you yourself are scaring them. Maybe since you said near perfection is necessary, then this wont happen to you, and if it doesnt kudos.
All I can say is I don't care who you are, what grades you have, the degree hanging on the wall in your office, anyone can make a mistake under any condition that can not be taught.
Does that include a doctor that scored 20 on the MCAT and an average of 95% on all his/her licensure board exams?
I think PCAT is simply a measure of one's determination level to REALLY pursue pharmacy as a career.
When your application components are strong, taking the PCAT is just a favor of obeying all the application rules. Although you still have stay within UNcertain low score "boundaries"....if you scored low marks.
In cases where your application components are relatively weak (eg low GPA), it serves as back-up or a second chance to prove your worth.
And this is when scoring high marks is imperative.
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I'd like to know if, like the LSAT, the PCAT is a good predictor of P1 success and general awesomeness in pharmacy school. I suppose it isn't, or the data hasn't been collected, since some of the most prestigious, oldest schools in the country don't even care about the PCAT. Of course, it's not like prestige/rank matter in pharmacy, so don't get me wrong. But, as pharmacy schools do care about attrition, one would think they'd have a vested interest in adding a metric, if reliable and valid, to glean a little more data as to whether Applicant X or Y would be more likely to succeed.
This is for WMW. Ok since you seem to be such an angry "Einstein" of a person. You actually think that just because one does excellent in their Organic Chems, PCAT scores and knows every single chemical formula and compound that they are already GUARANTEED to becoming an AMAZING future pharmacist?? You gotta be kidding me! Just because you excel in academia doesnt validate not one thing on your CV. Your academic pedigree means absolutely NOTHING when it comes down to your people skills and how fast you enter an order(hospital setting) or communicate w/physicians and or customers(retail). Its interesting because several fellow pharmacists that I work w/here at the hospital have all told me that what they learned in pharmacy school has hardly anything to do w/what you learn on the job and through experience. Its your PERSONALITY and on the job experience and knowledge of the profession as a whole that will land you the right job in the end. An employer will NEVER ask you how well you did on your PCAT or undergrad courses. They want to see substance and confidence in whether or not you have what it takes to be a part of their team. Even w/doing a residency and having done research w/pubs and all, WILL not guarantee you a job offer at lets say the VA, or Keiser Permanente out West or Jackson Health in So. Fla, etc. Life is all about who you know and NOT always about what you know. I dont care what anybody says when it comes down to that. When your a good person and you very amicable w people in life, the sky is the limit. PERIOD.
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You are right, how careful and error prone you are cannot be taught...it is a personality that one has...either you are a careful person that make very little errors or you are a very anxious person that make a ton of mistakes. People that do poorly on exams are more likely to be the error prone pharmacists that we do not want. If a person is so careless and scores so low on an exam, HOW CAN YOU TRUST THAT THEY WILL NOT MAKE A MISTAKE on a person's life? Someone please answer that question for me.
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Because test anxiety and job anxiety are two different things?
I'd appreciate your source on where test scores correlate directly to increased error rates on the job.
Yep, so what if that person is SO careful that they decide to spend 30 minutes solving a math problem because omg, a person's life can depend on it. REALLY? Yeah... how about not. It's an EXAM! Seriously, you can't sit there and try to connect how a person's nervousness during an exam would result in them being so careless, that they would end up killing someone in his future job.
For example, I'd probably want the pharmacist who spends an extra half hour on my medicine to ensure my right dosage, instead of the one who can fill 30 prescriptions in the same time but get a few wrong. Honestly, the PCAT is a time crunch exam. Is it a hard exam? Not really if you spend maybe a week "studying" for it. That's why I discount the exam so much... you can get Collin's material and easily score above 70 with maybe a days worth of studying.
It's honestly a matter of working with time allotted and learning the short cuts to solving problems etc.
nothing I said qualifies what you just said; didnt say anything is a guarantee or amazing... sure other things outside of paper credentials are important; but I would say that for pharmacy, science proficiency is most important.. ppl with good stats are a dime a dozen it seems like, its the ones with the ppl skills also are the ones that get set apart and have the potential to be "amazing"; but if you dont have the science proficiency, the ppl skills become LARGELY irrelevant imo......Im not angry, and im sure not einstein..just frustrated at the lack of significance ppl assign to the pcat.. if i had it my way, it would be more important, but theres no sense arguing about it; didnt mean to provoke anybody, im just pretty opinionated somtimes. :/
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All I am saying is you are either an error prone person or you are not an error prone person. People that do well on exams generally do not make as many mistakes as people who do poorly on exams. Hence why they have a higher score b/c they made little to no mistakes on the exam! right? LOL...
If you do poorly on exams and in classes in general you are prone to making errors. If you are an error prone person it doesn't matter what you do you will make errors. you will make mistakes. Does it make sense that a person keep on screwing up on exams, PCAT, SAT whatever but somehow magically NEVER make an mistake while verifying prescriptions for a patient???? I highly DOUBT it. Either you are error prone or you are not and if you are error prone then you will make mistakes in everything that you do.
How about I give you an easier example to understand. If person A is always late to work and has a million tardies to work and have been late at least 30+ times a year to every single job he has ever had in his life...do you think he will somehow always be on time to his future job??? I mean it is a different job so we don't know right? Yeah right..🙄 if you are always late in the past, I highly doubt you will somehow just magically become on time everyday just b/c it's a new job. Same with the error prone person..if you keep on making mistakes on exams I HIGHLY doubt you will never make a mistake while verifying prescriptions. Same deal here.
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disagree. standardized testing like the PCAT is the only way to gauge people in a fair way. a number such as GPA doesn't mean much when you're comparing applicants from state universities vs community colleges
So if your statement and information is so well on point, why is it that prestigious universities such as Purdue, USC, MCPHS and some others all NOT require PCAT? They must all be wrong in not requiring such an exam I guess right? Listen, everyone will have their own opinion on whether the pcat makes the individual or not. But when you get into the REAL world of the profession itself, its a completely different animal than in the classroom.
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