Need advice

[Kingsley404]

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Hello, I am a graduating senior this year in my biology undergraduate. My grades in my science courses are as follows
biology 1 and 2 B
chemistry 1 and 2 C
organic 1 c
organic 2 B
Physics 1 B
physics 2 I received a D the first time, a F the second time and I plan to retake for a A or B this summer ( my school has a notoriously terrible physics deparement with proffesors failing 70% of their 100+ student classes) If I understand correctly physics 2 isn't major in pharmacy school requirements.

Calculus 1 and 2 B


I am late in the game due to heavy depression and other personal issues that has left me lost in college, I've literally went four years without knowing what I want to do. but luckily as my parents say I'm 21 and graduating I'm still young and can do anything. I want to goto pharmacy school since my father is one, I am aware ive missed the pcat testing times and cannot take it till july, I plan to study very very hard and do well (70th percentile plus ) on the exam but I would not possibily start at any pharmacy school until the fall of 2016. During the year I have off if I retake my chemistry 1 and organic 1 and whatever prerequisites I'm missing at community college do you think I have a good shot at getting in? Since I already would have graduated with a bachelor's is this advisable or should I focus only on the PCAT? I should be able to also get hours shadowing a pharmacist since my dad is a pharmacist and he has friends in his field. What else should I do with this time to better myself for applying? Should I look at SMP's?

 

[Thestrugglez]

Here's what you need to do.

1. Retake the courses where you got a C or lower to boost your sGPA. Your sGPA is LOW, but salvageable.
2. Consider taking courses such as microbio, A&P, genetics at a local CC to boost your sGPA
3. Take the PCAT and aim for an 80+. With such a low gpa, you're gonna need to make up for it through PCAT scores.
4. Get shadow or Tech experience (probably shadow, since you should be boosting your grades and tech takes too much time)

Other than that, get some good LORs and write a good PS. Also, I hope you have some ECs. If not, you should try to get some volunteer hours (pharmacy related or not) because you will need something to buff your stats.

Also, this link served me well as a source of motivation and reference. Hopefully, it can help you too.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/my-journey-motivation-for-applicants-with-low-gpas.976993/

 

[Kingsley404]

Thanks for the reply,

1. Will do, i will take my chemistry's and organic's at community college during the fall or maybe during the summer at my university.
2. I've already taken microbiology (C) which i can retake but i have taken genetics, and anatomy and physiology (Semester 1) and received B's would you advise i still try and retake these courses? I have not listed my other science courses but i received either B's or A's in them. Mostly B's
3. What tips do you have for doing well on the PCAT? should i pay for tutoring?
4. I can probably manage this through my father he is head of some organization for Ghanaian doctors and i could get experience through some of the members.


Thank you for the link as well.

 

[Thestrugglez]

1. Nah no point in retaking if you got a B. Even if you do improve, it would barely make a difference on your GPA. If you have As and Bs in other science courses, then retaking your Cs should be more than enough to put you above a 3.0 (3.1-3.2 probably) sGPA. That'll get you interviews at PCAT requiring schools if the rest of your application is solid.

2. Depends. Some people swear by Dr. Collins. I simply lightly reviewed Kaplan and it was enough for me. Not sure about
tutoring (I highly doubt the Kaplan class is worth the cost, but if you're not getting the practice scores you want after using Dr.
Collins, might be worth a shot).

3. You seem set on the LORs and pharmacy experience part, but I will once again
emphasize on the importance of community
service. It could really give you that extra boost as well as give you more to talk about during interviews.

Anyways, best of luck improving your application before the next cycle.