Need a realistic assessment/advice.

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

golgiapparatus

New Member
7+ Year Member
Joined
Dec 4, 2014
Messages
8
Reaction score
1
a little background:

I graduated undergrad back in 2011 with ~3.0 GPA. it also took me 7 years to graduate (dropped and retook a bunch of classes). I was working almost full-time the entire time but that honestly isn't the reason it took me so long. I was just a screw-up who didn't care or try.

I don't have any LORs. I scored some of the highest exam scores in my huge bio and upper level bio courses and never asked even one professor for a letter.

I also have zero pharmacy experience and no volunteer hours. all I've really done since graduating is work full-time at a job that has nothing to do with my biomedical sciences degree.

I took the July 10th PCAT and came away with an 89 composite.

I'm asking if I have a realistic chance at getting to any school? I'm willing to do whatever it takes. what are the best moves that I can make right now to increase my chances? are there any schools that you guys recommend? is there some kind of statute of limitations with professors regarding LORs? like if I go back and ask one of my old professors for a letter will he turn me away? PLEASE HELP.
 
"I also have zero pharmacy experience and no volunteer hours."

Fix that. It shouldn't take more than a few months. If you can't get work/volunteer work in pharmacy try another healthcare setting. I'm wondering how you even know you want to be a pharmacist when you have no healthcare experience, though.

"is there some kind of statute of limitations with professors regarding LORs?"

Nope. But your prof won't remember you, so you'll have to prompt them with your grade and anything else exceptional you did while you were their student.

I can't help you with your school list, but it won't hurt to email the admissions offices of schools you are interested in to check if your GPA is acceptable and whether they use grade replacement. (You may need to retake your worst courses.)
 
Your pharmcas GPA will be much lower than the GPA on your transcript because pharmcas averages retakes with your original score. I don't know how bad the damage will be but if you can get your actual pharmcas GPA above 3.0 with a pharmacy tech job you have a chance. What makes you think you can apply with such low stats and not have to gain pharmacy experience? Do you know anything about pharmacy? You took 7 years to complete undergrad, are you capable of handling pharmacy school? These are the questions that the admission committee will be asking themselves... you need to give them a reason to take you seriously.

As far as LORs getting a tech job could set you up with some nice LORs from pharmacists in addition to giving you the "best" pharmacy experience you can put on your application. This is a must do in my opinion.
 
Top