Is it worth applying?

[rlatjdals]

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To make the long story short, I fooled around in a community college for the first 2 years and during that time I failed english 111, reg chem, and calculus twice. Yes, all three classes twice. During the same 2 year period I took maybe 15 other credits and got all A's on them. By this time my gpa was below 2.0.
After those 2 years, I realized i needed to get my head out of my ass, and started being serious about my academics. Since then I've taken most of the pre-pharm courses and got all A's on them(including Org chem 1 and 2). Now my gpa is around 4.0 (only because my school don't count the failed courses after i've taken them again).
So I was just wondering is it even worth it to apply to pharm schools? I messed up too much in the beginning so i don't know...
I haven't taken the PCAT yet but i think I could do pretty well on it...

My case is probably the weirdest one you've seen. I don't know anyone with a similar case...

So what do you think?

 

[FireyDragon]

The important part is that you've retaken the classes and did well. If you are serious about pharm as you seem to be, add a good PCAT and some ECs and you're in perfect condition to apply. Keep in mind that since you will be sending your transcripts in the application process, you might me questioned as to what happened those 2 years. Be prepared to explain it. Also you can explain it in your personal statement too.

I wouldn't worry about it. Keep focusing on your studies.

 

[Nottingham]

I did exactly the same thing, except I have 2 Fs and 9 (yeah, 9!) withdraws on my transcript. I've brought my GPA up to above a 3.5 and got a 95 comp on the PCAT. I also explained my situation in my personal statement. I only submitted to PharmCAS on Wednesday so I don't know how successful I'll be but I'll let you know 🙂

I'm sure there are a lot of people like us. Whether or not those people get into grad school, we'll find out.

 

[iBeast]

Hell yeah.

Your school dosen't count the classes you failed so you basically got a 4.0....

why not apply?

Damn nice 95 on that PCAT ^^^

 

[apteryx]

Go for it. IMO there's a lot to be said for someone who has a bad grade trend and then turns it around to near perfection. It shows growth and maturity, and I would think adcoms see it the same. I know people who went through horrible situations in life and got bad grades, and years later when things got better they did great. GPAs don't reflect what someone goes through, whether they're a great person who has gone through a lot or the kid whose parents paid their whole way through school while they didn't have to work a day in their life. There's no hate meant to those students who have had the fortune not to have to work, it isn't their fault (usually) that they were born into their situation, as a great pharmacist can be had from either case. It's just the way life goes.

Sorry for the wall-o-text, but basically do it, I think you have a good shot.

 

[fenixtnlfan]

It might be worth figuring out how much those Fs will bring done your GPA because they will most likely be calculated into your GPA when you apply. I do agree with everyone else that you definitely have shot. Upward trends are always good. There are also a lot of other parts of the application you can excel in to boost up your application to compensate for those classes.

 

[Kirbypuff]

The way I see it:
Person 1 grades: B+, B, A-, B, B-, A, B, A-, B+, A- PCAT-80%

Person 2 grades: F, W, F, F, W, A, A, A, A-, A, A PCAT-90%

Some schools will prefer Person 1; some schools will prefer Person 2.
If pharmacy is your dream, just go for it. Some schools are waiting for someone like you to apply.

 

[rlatjdals]

I only submitted to PharmCAS on Wednesday so I don't know how successful I'll be but I'll let you know 🙂

yea do let me know.
I just did my gpa calculations on my own counting all the f's and i get like a 2.7...isn't that like below the requirement for most schools?🙁

 

[gtpederson]

yea do let me know.
I just did my gpa calculations on my own counting all the f's and i get like a 2.7...isn't that like below the requirement for most schools?🙁

Some schools look more at the most recent 60 credits. I know U of MN does something like that. 3.0 min or 3.2 over the last 60, something like that

 

[Nottingham]

I don't even know what my PharmCAS GPA will be, the 3.5+ is what my school tells me but I'm sure they work it out differently. I COULD sit and figure it out myself but really, I have enough other things to do.

Question: how do Ws figure into the GPA calculation? I know if I got an F the first time and an A the second time, PharmCAS averages those out to a C, right?