Need help, please read!!!

[mbabbas84]

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Hey everyone, I am new at this website. I just got started last night. I am going to take the PCAT in June. I have a couple of ?'s maybe some of you can help me with. Any comments will be helpful. So let me just thank everyone before i get started...

• When Should I start applying for Pharm School, if I want to start Fall 2010?
• I have like 3 W's, how greatly would that impact my chances in getting into Pharm School?
• Has anyone gotten into pharm school that had W's, if Yes then what school are you in? What was your stat? GPA, pcat score..etc..
• I have a 3.5 GPA, and I am going to start volunteering in a hospital and I was thinking of doing approx 100 hrs; is that enough?
• I have the Kaplan book and I was going to study from there, I like the book cause it also gives a review of all the main topics.. Kaplan, or Collins; which one do you recommend?
• I think this is a stupid ? but have been thinking about it so I will ask.. does anyone know which school is the easiest to get in??

I think these are all the ?'s I have. Please any comments with help; this is my first time taking the pcat so u can imagine how nervous I am. Thanks again.

 

[168533]

If you want to start Fall 2010, you should start filling out applications in June.
3 W's won't prevent you from getting an acceptance if you have other good stats and qualities.
I have a lot of W's, and I've received a few interviews.
Not sure if 100 hours of volunteering is enough. Just do as much as you feel is comfortable for you to get a good look at the profession.
IMO, Kaplan's book stinks for the PCAT. In my opinion, it's only good for the biology section because it covers everything on the test plus extra things you don't need.
Not sure which school is the easiest to get into. The profession is growing and getting in is going to be competitive regardless of where you go.

For future reference, all these questions can be found if you use the search function at the top of the page. Good luck. 🙂

 

[ValeRx]

• I think this is a stupid ? but have been thinking about it so I will ask.. does anyone know which school is the easiest to get in??

🙄

 

[athena09]

Hey what's the difference between these two? I've been told they are basically the same things...or so that's how pharmCAS sees it.

 

[itsblue2]

i didnt volunteer anywhere close to 100 hours, and i got interviews and acceptance.. i would only stress that if you don't have any extra curriculars or pharm experience

 

[tahi193]

Hey what's the difference between these two? I've been told they are basically the same things...or so that's how pharmCAS sees it.

Dropped courses don't show up on your transcript. It's as if you never took them to begin with. So schools will never know what you dropped. W's on the other hand will show up on your transcript and you may have some explaining to do.

To the original poster, check out the website below. It lists average GPA and sometimes PCAT for the schools that participate in PharmCAS. In general, newer schools and especially schools awaiting accreditation will have lower average GPAs and might be considered easier to get into. I wouldn't really say its easy to get into any pharmacy school. As for PCAT books, I used Kaplan and found it pretty sufficient for Biology and General Chemistry but not much else. Get pre-calc/calc books and try to take Organic I before you take the test.

But yes, please utilize the search function. This has been said many, many times already. Good luck!


http://www.pharmcas.com/collegesschools/directoryalphastate.htm

 

[xshooshix]

When Should I start applying for Pharm School, if I want to start Fall 2010? I turned in all my stuff in early-mid October. The earlier you submit, the earlier your GPA gets calculated.
I have like 3 W's, how greatly would that impact my chances in getting into Pharm School? I have Ws in Biochemistry, Microeconomics, and a Nutrition course. I dropped because I have either already taken the course before, I already had Macro, and I didn't need the latter. I still managed to get invites for interviews.
Has anyone gotten into pharm school that had W's, if Yes then what school are you in? What was your stat? GPA, pcat score..etc.. Ws don't matter... your overall GPA and PCAT score will get you noticed.
I have a 3.5 GPA, and I am going to start volunteering in a hospital and I was thinking of doing approx 100 hrs; is that enough? The number of hours don't matter... what you take from the experience and how you can convey that in your personal statement and interviews will.
I have the Kaplan book and I was going to study from there, I like the book cause it also gives a review of all the main topics.. Kaplan, or Collins; which one do you recommend? Hate to say it, but taking all your prereq classes will make the studying much easier. There are a lot of questions on the PCAT that are totally out of the blue and taking the necessary classes definitely helped me in answering them.
I think this is a stupid ? but have been thinking about it so I will ask.. does anyone know which school is the easiest to get in?? There are competitive schools, and some not as competitive. Once you get your interview, it is up to you to sell yourself and be the person you say you are in your personal statements and your letters of recommendation.

 

[athena09]

I had a few classes where i dropped it within the second week of classes, and it showed up as a DR on my transcript -- and then pharmCAS translated all the DR's to W's. =/

umm...should i even address to the school i've applied at?