Need Advice - Should I Stay An Extra Year

[Robert209]

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Hey everyone (My first post on this awesome forum!!!),

I'd like some input on what is the best option for me in my current situation. I am a undergraduate junior just finishing my Fall semester this year and I am planning on attending pharmacy school. Currently I have just gotten accepted to work at both a hospital pharmacy and a community pharmacy. I don't have any other extracurricular activities so I'm going to boost up my volunteer hours (I'm thinking of 400-500+). I can get letter of recommendations from both of the pharmacists once I start my volunteer. I am also getting a letter from my biology professor. My current GPA is a 3.52 (not sure how to calculate my science GPA). I am a Human Biology Major and if I keep going I will graduate with a B.S. on time my last semester of my senior year. But, I want a much more competitive transcript and background so I am seriously considering staying an extra year and minoring in Psychology (which I only need 3 extra classes to get). I also want to go into research since my school, UC Merced, is always willing to have undergraduates doing research. On top of that, I want to retake some classes that I didn't do too well in. As you can see, below is my transcript and I'm doing average but my Organic Chem grade is a lot lower than I am comfortable with. I would appreciate any advice, thank you.

Edit: Also, since I live in California I would rather go to a pharm school in Cali, and I know that even though they don't require the PCAT, they are very competitive. I also realize that it is very much a possibility that I have to go out of state. So should I prepare for and take the PCAT or is it unnecessary?

Calculus I A
Calculus II for BIO A

Intro. Sci. Data Analysis A

Academic Writing A
College Reading & Composition A-
Science Writing in Natural Sci A-

Contemporary Biology B+
Contemporary Biology Lab A
The Cell A
Introduction Molecular Biology A-
Molecular Biology Lab B
Genetics B-

Intro Physics I for Bio Sci B
Physics II -- Bio A-

General Chemistry II B-
General Chemistry I B
Principles of Organic Chemistry C+

Analysis of Psychological Data A
Introduction to Psychology B-
Health Disparities-Upper division psych A

Elementary Spanish I A

*The red highlighted courses are classes that I am currently taking and are just the projected grades

 

[hye345]

First off, I'm also a pre-pharmacy student in the process of applying, so take this advice with a grain of salt...

Your GPA is pretty good, and working at 2 different pharmacies does give you an additional edge. Its true that Ca schools are more competitive than average: since they don't require the PCAT, GPA is probably stressed more heavily.

I would say it depends... if you really want to stay in Ca, then I guess getting a double-major and research experience will help your chances. On the other hand, if you are willing to move out of state, then these stats will do for the majority of schools, assuming you do well on the PCAT.

P.S. if I were you, I wouldn't worry too much about retaking organic chemistry... no doubt its an important class, but assuming you get a C, your GPA is high enough that even if you retake it and get an A, it won't make a noticeable difference in your overall GPA.

 

[bacillus1]

9 years to become a pharmacist? I think that's ridiculous. I say apply next year, and stay an extra year if you don't get in. Also, no one really cares about minors too much.

 

[xtsukiyox]

I say apply next year, and stay an extra year if you don't get in.

What bacillus1 said.

One decision you'll need to make relatively soon is whether you'll be OK just applying to CA schools for your first attempt, or whether you'd regret not applying to out of state schools & having a better chance of getting in the first time (more schools, more chances).

If you want to apply to out of state schools the first time, or any school that looks at PCAT, take the PCAT as early as possible. If you take it January, you'll have July if you need to take again, and you'll still be really early in the cycle. If you don't feel you'd be prepared by January or it's too stressful to do, take it in July & you'll have September to retake if necessary (although that puts you a bit later, you'll still make the majority of deadlines).

If you're going to apply CA only for the first go-round, don't bother with the PCAT unless you don't get in on your first shot. Then, follow what I said before as a timeline for the cycle you end up applying to PCAT schools.

Either way, I'd say apply next year - they can't say yes if you don't apply. 😉 If you don't get in first try, stick around for your minor if you want and try again.

 

[crazybob]

How many years it takes after high school to become a pharmacist doesn't matter that much.

What matters now is how prepared you will feel before starting. If you feel that you will be well prepared going into pharmacy school without finishing college and just the pre-requisites, then go for it.

If you feel that graduating and getting a degree will make you feel more prepared for the coursework ahead, then stay another year and do whatever you want.

If you want, take the PCAT and then look at some schools close to CA, and see if they would be some place you would like to attend. In some places, you can be an in-state resident after living in that state for some time, so check out the policies on that, since it can save you a lot of money in school.

 

[deleted390966]

9 years to become a pharmacist? I think that's ridiculous. I say apply next year, and stay an extra year if you don't get in.

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