Is it possible to boost my GPA?

[gapeach427]

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Hi! I'm interested in applying to pharm school for 2009 (still have pre-reqs to take, want to improve PCAT score, etc). My overall GPA is 3.2, and I have a BSN degree.

Questions:

**Is it even possible to boost my GPA to at least 3.5?
**Do schools go by the Pharmcas average or my actual GPA (repeated course grades replacing lower grades, etc)?
**Any advice or recommendations?

Thanks!

 

[bignels]

Increasing your GPA really depends on how many credits/classes you have already taken. Your GPA will be more prone to drastic changes during your Freshman year, as opposed to being in your Senior year where your GPA is kind of set in stone and is thus more difficult to increase.

I am not sure of the likelyhood of increasing your aforementioned GPA to a 3.5 within a year, but it is definitely advisable to at least try to 🙂 It never hurts to aim for the A!!

I think schools definitely go by the PharmCAS GPA (that's what it's there for), but also take into account your current GPA by possibly noticing sudden increases or changes in study habits (ie, going from a C/B student per semester, to an A student in very difficult classes). For example, my freshman and sophomore year I was getting a lot of C's, B's, and the occasional A. I changed my study habits and became a prominent A student, with the occasional B and nothing lower. This definitely increased my GPA and also allowed me to prove to school's that I am serious about continuing my education to become a Pharmacist.

 

[omnione]

Some schools calculate a subset of grades. For example, Florida does this as does many schools that look at specific courses as implied by the secondary application prompt to list grades for certain courses. However, most schools at least consider the PharmCAS cumulative GPA. If you want to get in Fall 2009, that means that you have one year of coursework plus the Fall 2008 semester that will hold weight too for later rolling admission schools and non-rolling admission schools.

It all depends on your coursework. Given your BSN degree and it's GPA, 3.5 may be a stretch. Instead, focus on getting As and let your GPA become as high as possible. The upward progression can be looked favorably by adcoms.

 

[SCCpharm]

**Is it even possible to boost my GPA to at least 3.5?

if you post your GPA, how many semester hours you have, and how many more semester hours you are going to take, I can calculate your maximum GPA.

or you can use this equation:

Max GPA = [(currentGPA*SemesterHours)+(4*NewSemesterHours)] / (SemesterHours + NewSemesterHours)

IE: if a person had a 3.2 GPA with 120 semester hours and 24 more semester hours left. The max GPA would be:

= [(3.2*120)+(4*24)] / (120+24)
= 3.33GPA