MA/MS in Chemistry

[chocochip823]

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I am a recent graduate with a bachelors in General Biology. I applied for pharmacy schools for this fall 2009 and didn't get accepted into any of them. Mostly likely, my GPA wasn't high enough. So I was interested in getting a MS or MA in Chemistry at a cal state. Is that a good decision????? Or should I retake some science classes at a CC? Or is there anything I can do? I really want to get into pharamcy school.

I also have a pharmcy technician license. I have been working at a pharamcy for ~8 months. If i become a full time student should i continue to work as a tech???

 

[extra07extra]

I am a recent graduate with a bachelors in General Biology. I applied for pharmacy schools for this fall 2009 and didn't get accepted into any of them. Mostly likely, my GPA wasn't high enough. So I was interested in getting a MS or MA in Chemistry at a cal state. Is that a good decision????? Or should I retake some science classes at a CC? Or is there anything I can do? I really want to get into pharamcy school.

I also have a pharmcy technician license. I have been working at a pharamcy for ~8 months. If i become a full time student should i continue to work as a tech???

I think getting your MS or MA in chemistry should make you more competitive for pharmacy schools. I would go for it.

 

[medicalCPA]

I am a recent graduate with a bachelors in General Biology. I applied for pharmacy schools for this fall 2009 and didn't get accepted into any of them. Mostly likely, my GPA wasn't high enough. So I was interested in getting a MS or MA in Chemistry at a cal state. Is that a good decision????? Or should I retake some science classes at a CC? Or is there anything I can do? I really want to get into pharamcy school.

I also have a pharmcy technician license. I have been working at a pharamcy for ~8 months. If i become a full time student should i continue to work as a tech???

Do you actually know WHY you were rejected? The first thing you should do is call the schools to find out.

I'm guessing that, in addition to your undergrad GPA being low, you only applied to schools in California. As they don't require the PCAT, the GPA is the only quantitative measure of applicants' academic ability. If your GPA was low (as you say), taking and doing well on the PCAT would have at least showed some schools that you are not lacking academically.

Don't limit yourself to one area; apply broadly. I would not advise you to get a master's degree at this time. Volunteer, work, do other things to make your application shine. Save money, and apply broadly this upcoming cycle. If, after doing this, you still don't get in anywhere, then get your master's degree.

 

[FarscapeGirl]

Why are you interested in getting a Masters in Chem? If you think you might also be able to use it for a different career than pharmacy that you're interested in, you might want to go for it.

I'd finish the entire degree program though; it's not fair to the potential student whose space you'd take, your adviser, or the program to know going in you are only going to do one year of a two year program if you happen to get into pharmacy school.

But contact the schools first and learn why you didn't get in. Consider applying to other schools next year. Maybe take some more classes that aren't required but would help in pharmacy school (biochem, perhaps?).

 

[desmoulins45179]

I am a recent graduate with a bachelors in General Biology. I applied for pharmacy schools for this fall 2009 and didn't get accepted into any of them. Mostly likely, my GPA wasn't high enough. So I was interested in getting a MS or MA in Chemistry at a cal state. Is that a good decision????? Or should I retake some science classes at a CC? Or is there anything I can do? I really want to get into pharamcy school.

I also have a pharmcy technician license. I have been working at a pharamcy for ~8 months. If i become a full time student should i continue to work as a tech???

My one advisor (not pharmacy advisor, just department) told me that having graduate courses and doing well in them will look favorable. Of course, if depends on your grades in pre-reqs. If you did extremely band in one particular one, maybe you could take it in the summer, or if possible, while you take graduate courses (not sure if this is possible for you or not).

I applied to biology program and I have a little advice. The department may not accept applications for both the MA or the MS. If so, talk to the graduate director about which one you should apply to. (If not, they will disregard open and you will basically waste the application fee 😡)

I am not sure about the particular program you are applying to, but the MA programs are usually more flexible. Some may allow you to take classes/do research outside the chemistry department to do something more related to pharmacy. MS programs usually want you to stay in their labs and there is generally not as much flexibility.

 

[aboveliquidice]

My one advisor (not pharmacy advisor, just department) told me that having graduate courses and doing well in them will look favorable. Of course, if depends on your grades in pre-reqs. If you did extremely band in one particular one, maybe you could take it in the summer, or if possible, while you take graduate courses (not sure if this is possible for you or not).

I applied to biology program and I have a little advice. The department may not accept applications for both the MA or the MS. If so, talk to the graduate director about which one you should apply to. (If not, they will disregard open and you will basically waste the application fee 😡)

I am not sure about the particular program you are applying to, but the MA programs are usually more flexible. Some may allow you to take classes/do research outside the chemistry department to do something more related to pharmacy. MS programs usually want you to stay in their labs and there is generally not as much flexibility.

I have never met a useful academic advisor - that doesn't mean they do not exist... just that I haven't actually seen one.

Master level courses do look good. Doing great in them looks even better. One thing that I like to see, and is critically analyzed in any reapplicant, what have you done about your shortcomings??? It is great to take Master level courses, but if a person got a D in organic - I would like to see that D corrected.

This may be a case where you consider doing both. Retaking poorly completed pre-reqs and pursue a higher degree at the same time.