My future plans?

[APharmacist2B]

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I never got into the college habit during freshman year which resulted in the beginning of a low GPA (ie. 3.0ish, 0 As). All through my college years (I've just completed my third year), I've only gotten As in select non-chem classes. I took a downhill turn during my second year - mainly because I was confused about my goals and it just realized mid last quarter what my goals and my plans are. I'm ready to give it my all and go to pharmacy school.

The problem is that I know my GPA is low - I calculated my GPA using the AMCAS excel sheet I found online and here are the details:
FRESHMAN
AMCAS GPA
3.09
Running Overall:
3.09
BCPM GPA
3.05
Running Overall
3.05

SOPHOMORE:
AMCAS GPA
2.58
Running Overall:
2.82
BCPM GPA
2.26
Running Overall
2.58

JUNIOR
AMCAS GPA
2.72
Running Overall:
2.79
BCPM GPA
2.52
Running Overall
2.55

....
(Side note: I retook some D classes but I still included both the D and the regraded in each year's calculation)
(Side note 2: There is a Pharmacology / Toxicology intro class that I took during Winter Quarter that I got a C in. I know this makes me look like an extreme idiot since I couldn't handle this one course, but I'm going to take alternatives to this course -- like Medicinal Chemistry and aim to get an A. Hopefully this will show that I screwed up, but I've improved since then.
....
My observations of my GPA:
I know the goal is to show improvement throughout the years and I know I failed at this. I'll admit I am doing much better than my previous sophomore year in terms of mental confidence.

Here are my current plans:
1) Self Learn Pharmacy Tech. over the summer, take the exam sometime in Fall. I'm hoping that this will show the application people that I have the ability to take on a challenge and succeed in it.
2) Start volunteering / interning over the summer
3) Start studying for the PCAT slowly (I have no idea when I'm taking it but when I do take it, I want to be prepared 100% since I do miserable at Standardized Exams)
4) Self Learn Languages (I'm planning on doing Spanish and Sanskrit). The point of this one is the same as #1 and I actually want to learn these two languages.
5) Become more extroverted and communicate with professors (I'm extremely introverted and I know that's one of my greatest disadvantages). My biggest problem is that I have questions, but I find it easier to just look it up in a book or do more research on my own than communicating with the professor -- I know it's a stupid way of doing things ...

(Is it bad to not be taking any summer courses so I can focus on the above tasks?)

I'm also planning to take a year off after I graduate. I think that it would be best for me to build up my ECs because I have nothing on the plate right now except for work experience that isn't related to my career.

I know I wasted 3 years at college, I'm not sure how much the last year of college can make a difference, but the plan is to get all As, every single quarter. I know my GPA won't go up to a 3.0 (since that ship has already sailed), but since these courses will be largely chem courses (+ some filler non-chem courses), I'm hoping I can stand out a tiny bit. My biggest fear is that in my entire 3 years at my college, this is the breakdown of grades (I'm including failed classes and retaken classes):

OUT OF 42 CLASS:

A+: 1
A: 2
A-:1
Sum: 4

B+: 7
B: 13
B-: 6
Sum: 26

C+: 4
C: 4
C-: 2
Sum: 10

D: 2 (retaken, got A (GE) and C+ (org. chem))
Sum: 2

F: 0

Most of my C's happened during Fall Sophomore --> Fall Junior. Since Winter Junior, my C's have decreased and my Bs have increased.

To end: I know GPA is only one aspect of it, but to be honest - I'm feel sort of scared.

 

[JakeSill]

You don't need to take Medicinal Chemistry unless you know you are guranteed to get a B or higher. The Pharm Tech license is not really challenging and colleges won't find it as challenging but it's a good thing to have. It shows your interest. It really only takes a week to study for the Pharm tech exam. Don't spend more than 3-4 months studying for PCAT because then you'll forget some stuff. Evaluate your study habits and try to improve. From now on you have to show an upward trend. Improve your ECs because schools like leadership. Talk to your professors because you'll need a couple recommendations. Volunteer or Intern to improve your applications. You can even apply as a pharm tech without being certified in some states. Languages make you stand out a little bit, but it's not really needed.

 

[APharmacist2B]

Thanks Jake. So should I consider taking summer classes then... there aren't many upper div chem/bio courses available that I haven't already taken.
So basically -
intern / volunteer ; study harder ; and do really well on the PCAT.

By ECs, do you mean joining clubs and such? because of my introvert personality, never wanted to join clubs

 

[JakeSill]

No problem. Taking summer classes is up to you(might lead to a LOR), but I'll take the time to relax. Use this time to think about your study skills and ways to improve them so you'll be ready to study hard when fall comes. Also, use this time to look for volunteer/intern positions or work at a pharmacy because most schools require a LOR from a Pharmacist. Because of your GPA, you'll need to find other ways to impress schools. Scoring high on the PCAT, leadership, and pharm experience are ways you can impress schools.

 

[JakeSill]

Taking a summer class can improve your GPA slightly though.

 

[JustAnotherRph]

Why do you want to do pharmacy? The job market is saturated and you only will get into an expensive for-profit school that will only take you because you will have to pay $200k+ in loans regardless if you get a job or not.