Is it bad to only apply to in-state schools?

[takethecannoli3]

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Ok, I promise, this time I did search for this topic, and couldn't find it. 😀

Money is a big factor for me. Applying to in-state schools only makes sense for me, but since my stats are not so hot, I am wondering if I am severely limiting my options.

Overall GPA: 2.9 (last two years of school are almost all A's a few B's. first two years i had wayy too much going on)
Science GPA: 3.5
PCAT: I'm assuming in the 60's
Degrees: AA, Bio BS in progress
Work: 3 years certified tech at retail
Applying to: FAMU, NOVA, PBA, LECOM-B

As I read everyone's threads, I noticed most are applying to some out of state schools, and now I'm wondering if I should. If I have to, I'll take out a loan to help pay for application fees...if that would guarantee me at least an interview 🙄 advice???

 

[Kirbypuff]

Ok, I promise, this time I did search for this topic, and couldn't find it. 😀

Money is a big factor for me. Applying to in-state schools only makes sense for me, but since my stats are not so hot, I am wondering if I am severely limiting my options.

Overall GPA: 2.9 (last two years of school are almost all A's a few B's. first two years i had wayy too much going on)
Science GPA: 3.5
PCAT: I'm assuming in the 60's
Degrees: AA, Bio BS in progress
Work: 3 years certified tech at retail
Applying to: FAMU, NOVA, PBA, LECOM-B

As I read everyone's threads, I noticed most are applying to some out of state schools, and now I'm wondering if I should. If I have to, I'll take out a loan to help pay for application fees...if that would guarantee me at least an interview 🙄 advice???

Apply to a couple of brand spankin' new out of state schools. I would apply to as many schools as I could possibly afford.

 

[takethecannoli3]

Apply to a couple of brand spankin' new out of state schools. I would apply to as many schools as I could possibly afford.

do you know of any new schools off the top of your head? my thoughts on new schools were that they a) only take a very small handful of students and b) would prefer in-state applicants first. so, both of those combined just seemed a little out of reach for my situation.
do you believe the same to be true about new schools?

 

[themulya]

I applied to an even amount of in state and out of state schools.

Applying to a public out of state school is difficult, because that school gets money from the state government for the purpose of producing pharmacists in that state.

A private out of state school however is not limited to those restrictions and your chances of getting in would be the same as anyone else's, no matter where they are applying from.

Similarly for in state schools, if its public you have a greater chance of at least getting an interview, and for private, it wouldn't matter that you're from that state.

 

[Kirbypuff]

St. John Fisher (Rochester, NY)
Jefferson (Philadelphia, PA)
Sullivan (Kentucky somewhere)
Touro (New York, NY)
There's more I can't think of right now.

 

[catchsomezz]

St. John Fisher (Rochester, NY)
Jefferson (Philadelphia, PA)
Sullivan (Kentucky somewhere)
Touro (New York, NY)
There's more I can't think of right now.

California Northstate College of Pharmacy

@ OP, if you say money IS an issue, then new schools will not be a good option since, even more important than the out-of-state factor, they are also not accredited (yet). that means:

1. higher tuition (to offset their lack of funding)
2. PRIVATE LOANS (read: insane interest rates)

in corollary, im a firm believer of the "don't apply unless you have a willing to go to there". so if you, for whichever reason, don't see yourself realistically going to that school. save yourself the time and money.

 

[charfdorn]

Ok, I promise, this time I did search for this topic, and couldn't find it. 😀

Money is a big factor for me. Applying to in-state schools only makes sense for me, but since my stats are not so hot, I am wondering if I am severely limiting my options.

Overall GPA: 2.9 (last two years of school are almost all A's a few B's. first two years i had wayy too much going on)
Science GPA: 3.5
PCAT: I'm assuming in the 60's
Degrees: AA, Bio BS in progress
Work: 3 years certified tech at retail
Applying to: FAMU, NOVA, PBA, LECOM-B

As I read everyone's threads, I noticed most are applying to some out of state schools, and now I'm wondering if I should. If I have to, I'll take out a loan to help pay for application fees...if that would guarantee me at least an interview 🙄 advice???

If you get in out of state, will you move? I would hold off on out-of-state if you don't mind waiting a year (worst case scenario). Your numbers are good enough for an interview, so be selective the first time. You don't need to start applying to all sorts of new programs until you get desperate.

As far as whether schools prefer in-state students, that depends on private vs. public. A public school will have an in-state quota to meet while a private school doesn't care at all since you all pay the same tuition.

If you need a new school, Regis University in Denver is matriculating their first class this fall.

 

[Passion4Sci]

I'm only applying to in-state schools because there's no way in hell I'm moving out of California.

If you're not attached to your state, you might as well apply to a variety of schools. I realize money is a factor, but the loans are aggressive and very good for the purpose of getting you through Pharm. school.

 

[catchsomezz]

...and california schools dont require pcat.
go CA!

 

[Passion4Sci]

...and california schools dont require pcat.
go CA!

Yeah, go us!

Too bad I took the PCAT, damn me!

 

[takethecannoli3]

I am attached to Florida! Very! lol

but i already got rejected from all the schools last year. i mean, this year my gpa is better and im going for a BS so that will look better...and hopefully my pcat score will be better too...

but im wondering if this second round of applications is when i should begin to start getting desperate...or should i just try again in florida only?

 

[tootoo30]

I am attached to Florida! Very! lol

but i already got rejected from all the schools last year. i mean, this year my gpa is better and im going for a BS so that will look better...and hopefully my pcat score will be better too...

but im wondering if this second round of applications is when i should begin to start getting desperate...or should i just try again in florida only?

You forgot the University of Florida and the good thing about the school is that they only look at your prerequisite GPA, and it seems you did very well in your science classes, so give them a shot. Oh yeah for instate their tuition is very reasonable. I only applied to an instate school cause moving wasn't an option. Matter of fact, I only applied to one school LOL

 

[confettiflyer]

California Northstate College of Pharmacy

@ OP, if you say money IS an issue, then new schools will not be a good option since, even more important than the out-of-state factor, they are also not accredited (yet). that means:

1. higher tuition (to offset their lack of funding)
2. PRIVATE LOANS (read: insane interest rates)

in corollary, im a firm believer of the "don't apply unless you have a willing to go to there". so if you, for whichever reason, don't see yourself realistically going to that school. save yourself the time and money.

Oh God, don't make me open my can of whoop ass regarding the difference between regional accreditation and ACPE accreditation. I'll give you 24 hours to research and change your post or you're going to get an earful from me.

 

[Transformer]

Ok, I promise, this time I did search for this topic, and couldn't find it. 😀

Money is a big factor for me. Applying to in-state schools only makes sense for me, but since my stats are not so hot, I am wondering if I am severely limiting my options.

Overall GPA: 2.9 (last two years of school are almost all A's a few B's. first two years i had wayy too much going on)
Science GPA: 3.5
PCAT: I'm assuming in the 60's
Degrees: AA, Bio BS in progress
Work: 3 years certified tech at retail
Applying to: FAMU, NOVA, PBA, LECOM-B

As I read everyone's threads, I noticed most are applying to some out of state schools, and now I'm wondering if I should. If I have to, I'll take out a loan to help pay for application fees...if that would guarantee me at least an interview 🙄 advice???

Let me give it a try.

From my 2 to 3 years of observing posts on SDN, I hear FAMU is really hard to get into with your stats (2.9 overall GPA). You have better chances of getting interviews with LECOM-B and NOVA and any other PCAT accepting schools if your PCAT score is in the high 70s composite and above.

I recommend applying when you receive your BS in Biology, and PCAT composite is at least in the 60s or 70s and above.

When you do apply, look on pharmCAS and focus on all the pre-candidate and candidate pharmacy schools. Relatively speaking, those schools are easier to get into than the fully accredited ones. Contact the schools of interest and tell them your grades, scores, and pharmacy experience. More often than not, they will respond and tell you if you are a competitive applicant or not. (This will save you lots of money).

You can also look through the old SDN threads. Many accepted students posted their stats. That will give you a general idea of where you stand in the competition.

Start saving up your money and apply to at least 10 schools. (I applied to 16) I had similar stats as you and I got in, so it was worth it in the end.

good luck 🙂

 

[Transformer]

Oh God, don't make me open my can of whoop ass regarding the difference between regional accreditation and ACPE accreditation. I'll give you 24 hours to research and change your post or you're going to get an earful from me.

OMG. not again!!! haha.

 

[catchsomezz]

lol wait, what happen now?
just link me

Oh God, don't make me open my can of whoop ass regarding the difference between regional accreditation and ACPE accreditation. I'll give you 24 hours to research and change your post or you're going to get an earful from me.

 

[confettiflyer]

lol wait, what happen now?
just link me

haha, because i'm nice:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=7671760

posts #22 and #27, transformer is in there somewhere.

Seriously those posts should be in my sig, hahaha.

 

[catchsomezz]

lol call me dense but..
to sum it up...you're saying that schools need regional accreditation, not ACPE accred, to apply for federal fin aid?

haha, because i'm nice:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=7671760

posts #22 and #27, transformer is in there somewhere.

Seriously those posts should be in my sig, hahaha.

 

[confettiflyer]

lol call me dense but..
to sum it up...you're saying that schools need regional accreditation, not ACPE accred, to apply for federal fin aid?

correct... BUT in a roundabout way, a school needs ACPE pre-accred as well. If a school doesn't have that, well you have no students that can enroll, rendering the whole federal vs. private loan thing moot (no one to lend to).

one of the requirements of ACPE is that a school attain regional accred as well, so you will NEVER see an ACPE fully accredited school without regional accreditation (unless there's something funky like probation/revocation involved).

This is usually a quasi-rare event since it only impacts standalone programs in their first few years of existence. Most schools opening now are affiliated with an existing school w/ regional accred. Notable exception is CNCP which you mentioned above.

 

[takethecannoli3]

Let me give it a try.

From my 2 to 3 years of observing posts on SDN, I hear FAMU is really hard to get into with your stats (2.9 overall GPA). You have better chances of getting interviews with LECOM-B and NOVA and any other PCAT accepting schools if your PCAT score is in the high 70s composite and above.

I recommend applying when you receive your BS in Biology, and PCAT composite is at least in the 60s or 70s and above.

When you do apply, look on pharmCAS and focus on all the pre-candidate and candidate pharmacy schools. Relatively speaking, those schools are easier to get into than the fully accredited ones. Contact the schools of interest and tell them your grades, scores, and pharmacy experience. More often than not, they will respond and tell you if you are a competitive applicant or not. (This will save you lots of money).

You can also look through the old SDN threads. Many accepted students posted their stats. That will give you a general idea of where you stand in the competition.

Start saving up your money and apply to at least 10 schools. (I applied to 16) I had similar stats as you and I got in, so it was worth it in the end.

good luck 🙂

hmm now i'm even more confused bc i've had some ppl tell me FAMU was the easiest to get in to in florida, and some tell me the same as you. now i'm just scared bc my pcat scores are below that and i'm trying so hard to get it up but i'm on the 3rd time taking it now... 😱 idk how much better it can get.
and it sucks bc living out of state is just so out of reach for me, no matter how much i'm able to save. 🙁 florida is my only option so these 5 schools are all i have... i just hope someone has mercy on me lol

 

[Carboxide]

hmm now i'm even more confused bc i've had some ppl tell me FAMU was the easiest to get in to in florida, and some tell me the same as you. now i'm just scared bc my pcat scores are below that and i'm trying so hard to get it up but i'm on the 3rd time taking it now... 😱 idk how much better it can get.
and it sucks bc living out of state is just so out of reach for me, no matter how much i'm able to save. 🙁 florida is my only option so these 5 schools are all i have... i just hope someone has mercy on me lol

Well...if Florida is your ONLY option, then why the thread? If you absolutely cannot go out of state, then applying to instate schools is not a choice and therefore good/bad doesn't matter, right?

I guess the question is whether you're willing to take a year off or spend a year retaking classes to raise the GPA if you can't get in instate.

 

[thephoenician88]

I would actually spread out a little, maybe a few schools out of state. So if you're in florida, i would consider Mercer (a good private school), it's not too far from you plus it will show that you've done your research. If you're asked about this during an interview you can say something about all the schools you've applied to show your dedication.

 

[takethecannoli3]

Well...if Florida is your ONLY option, then why the thread? If you absolutely cannot go out of state, then applying to instate schools is not a choice and therefore good/bad doesn't matter, right?

I guess the question is whether you're willing to take a year off or spend a year retaking classes to raise the GPA if you can't get in instate.

well at the time i made this thread, i was pouring over my financials to see if i could possibly pull it off, and i realized now that i can't.
but i guess i just wanted to know everyone's opinion on the matter and also to see if anyone was just applying in-state like me. i just wanted to get a feel as to how much i'm cutting down my chance by only applying in-state.

 

[solzont]

Ok, I promise, this time I did search for this topic, and couldn't find it. 😀

Money is a big factor for me. Applying to in-state schools only makes sense for me, but since my stats are not so hot, I am wondering if I am severely limiting my options.

Overall GPA: 2.9 (last two years of school are almost all A's a few B's. first two years i had wayy too much going on)
Science GPA: 3.5
PCAT: I'm assuming in the 60's
Degrees: AA, Bio BS in progress
Work: 3 years certified tech at retail
Applying to: FAMU, NOVA, PBA, LECOM-B

As I read everyone's threads, I noticed most are applying to some out of state schools, and now I'm wondering if I should. If I have to, I'll take out a loan to help pay for application fees...if that would guarantee me at least an interview 🙄 advice???

No, there's nothing wrong with applying to in-state schools only. However, given the ease of distributing a PharmCAS application all over the planet, you may as well add a few out of state schools to the list. I ended up declining interviews at other institutions because my first choice in-state school called me first.