PharmCAS Questions

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I also did not include my shadowing experiences on pharmcas but instead talked about it in my supplemental essays. To me the number of hours I put in were not meaningful enough to list as an extracurricular but make a great statement in an essay.
 
I did something soooooooo dumb.

Short version: If you're getting paper letters, print out the PharmCAS paper request form BEFORE asking for letters!

Long Version: So being a real go-getter sort, I started asking my advisor about the LOR process last semester. The etiquette for asking, the process, the school's letter-writing service, how the service works with PharmCAS, etc. I read the PharmCAS directions, emailed PharmCAS to clarify, and confirmed that my letter service could handle the PharmCAS request form. I got what I believe to be a bunch of great letters, all in the hands of the letter-writing service, with time to spare, and then...

SDIVCUSLDKCUJLSDKJFOIDF*W&#@FSOIUDCHW(*EY(@EC!!

I actually looked at PharmCAS' paper request. It's got two pages of specific questions that EVALUATORS are asked to answer. Not questions for my letter service to answer. Put-a-check-in-the-box sort of stuff. One of my evaluators has permanently left the country, another is in a different state, and even if they were all in town, I don't feel like I could go back to them and ask for this additional favor. My plan at this point is just to fly with it and hope that serious schools will be more interested in the letters themselves anyway. At the very worst, I'll just go to UMKC, which doesn't use PharmCAS anyway.
 
quadruple said:
many thanks, folks. i think i will not put it in pharmcas 🙂
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Wrong answer. You should most definitely list shadowing experiences as extracurriculars on PharmCAS. You will be at a disadvantage if you don't because there are plenty of applicants out there who DO list shadowing under extracurriculars.
 
berrisweet712 said:
I submitted pharmcas in September and put shadowing under extracurriculars. I didn't know where else to put it and I needed a spot to have it just in case it wasn't mentioned in my personal statement or supplementals.
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👍
 
I didn't put shadowing under my extra-curriculars. I don't really see it as that and I don't think many other people do either. But seeing as there are mixed answers, I guess it's up to you.
 
quadruple said:
I did something soooooooo dumb.

At the very worst, I'll just go to UMKC, which doesn't use PharmCAS anyway.
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You mean that you'd actually settle on the school or take a gamble rather than kindly and persistently ask your evaluators for an additional letter ? 😕
 
thanks for the push. i agree that i have a choice. i regret posting that so immediately; with a bit of thought it could have been a more useful post.

but, for me, i think taking a gamble is a better choice. i have a good deal of respect for my letter writers, and i do not think that my mistake should translate into their emergencies. ideally, they would complete this additional task in a week or less, so that there would be time to mail these forms to my letter service so that my letter service could mail them, along with the letters, to pharmcas, so that they would arrive by the end of october. i believe i am in sufficiently high standing with each of them that they would not refuse me. for me, going to one school instead of another is less important than treating my letter writers with their due respect. i will think about it for another 24 hours, but i think my decision is that i should face the consequences for this mistake. as clearly stated in the PharmCAS applicant responsibilities, applicants are responsible for learning the application procedures. the very worst thing that could happen is that i could try again next year.
 
ooooh, tough break, I'm sorry to hear of this misfortune. 🙁 Good luck-hopefully you will be just fine! Btw- where are you applying, you mention UMKC which is in my neck of the woods.
 
Hi--

For anyone who has finished the PharmCAS process...

how do you meet schools' guidelines for how many letters they want? i am sending 4 letters to pharmcas, because some schools i'm applying to want 4 letters, but others only want 2 letters. how/when do you deal with this?
 
haha I'm in the same exact situation as you..🙁 i asked my professor at the end of spring semester and she turned it in to my school letter service soon after. I even talked with her a couple times during the summer, but i recently found out about the pharmcas request form. I'm just desperately trying to contact her, but she's now retired. :scared:
 
I e-submitted through PharmCAS in the beginning of October and PharmCAS should receive my last transcript this week. If it takes PharmCAS around 2 weeks to calculate my gpa and finally send it to my schools (deadline is in Nov). Does this mean I will miss the deadline if it takes PharmCAS pass Nov to mail my application to the schools?
Is the Nov deadline referring to when you e-submit pharmcas and postmark your supp application only or when PharmCAS mails your app to the schools?
 
Question 1: How long does it take for PharmCAS to complete and mail my application to my respected schools? I just finished e-submission on October 6 and all my transcripts are also in; just waiting for one more reference to submit.

Question 2: I have yet to take the PCAT, will that be consider incomplete?

Question 3: In the section "Additional Information," I left 3 areas blank which where not required and since it did not apply to me, but now the box is white which is incomplete. Will that be a problem?
 
bummer dude 🙁 good luck. i wonder if this is part of why the electronic letters are so "strongly recommended" 😉

i tried to look into it a little more. some schools definitely require the form; UW considers the actual letters to be optional. i emailed pharmcas and they seemed to know less about the issue than i did. i got that impression that some other schools will be less interested in the form than the letter.

i'm hoping that my extremely strong grades and test scores will be enough to motivate adcoms to actually read my letters.
 
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i dunno, i'm kind of in the same boat as you in terms of not liking to pester my professors and trying to be polite. however, if you think about it, you're not really ever going to have any serious interaction with your letter writers anymore, so it doesn't really matter if they get a bit annoyed with you or not, or think you're irresponsible. Everyone makes mistakes. And if you are going to have interaction with them even after pharm school, then i assume you're on better terms with them than simply professors to student, or supervisor to employee, which would make them more willing to do the extra work.
 
Hi,
For the people who finished the PharmCAS process, I just e-submitted my application however I left a couple of areas incomplete because it wasn't a required section and I didn't have anything to put in them. The section I am talking about is the Additional Information, which I left Professional Licenses and Certifications and Publications blank. Is that why my application is not being processed? If it is how do I change once I submitted it?
 
KMIMSM said:
I e-submitted through PharmCAS in the beginning of October and PharmCAS should receive my last transcript this week. If it takes PharmCAS around 2 weeks to calculate my gpa and finally send it to my schools (deadline is in Nov). Does this mean I will miss the deadline if it takes PharmCAS pass Nov to mail my application to the schools?
Is the Nov deadline referring to when you e-submit pharmcas and postmark your supp application only or when PharmCAS mails your app to the schools?
Click to expand...

You might want to send an email to the school in question...
 
No, pharmcas is just slow 🙁 right now a lot of people are submitting, it takes about 2 or 3 weeks around this time for them to mail out your stuff.

cvsfarmer said:
Hi,
For the people who finished the PharmCAS process, I just e-submitted my application however I left a couple of areas incomplete because it wasn't a required section and I didn't have anything to put in them. The section I am talking about is the Additional Information, which I left Professional Licenses and Certifications and Publications blank. Is that why my application is not being processed? If it is how do I change once I submitted it?
Click to expand...
 
it occurred to me that i should draw this thread out to the end so students in the future in the same boat can look at it

SO YEAH UPDATE

1. I stand by my original thought that asking letter writers to make it an emergency to fill out the forms and get them to my letter service ASAP, so my letter service can get everything to PharmCAS by the deadline, is unfair, and I choose not to do it.

2. AM I MENTALLY DEFICIENT??!! The OBVIOUS solution is to still ask them to fill out the forms, but not tell them they have to do it in a week. If LOR etiquette is never telling someone they have to do something in under 4 weeks, It's fine to ask, and say "as soon as you can do it; ideally within 4 weeks."

one reason this is the obvious solution is that, even if the forms don't make it to pharmcas soon enough to be accepted by my first choice schools (the earliest deadline), other schools have later deadlines.

so, that's what i'm doing. mailed a form to an out-of-state evaluator today, meeting with another tomorrow, and a third on friday.

3. the details of how i'm trying to do this is as follows. I can't risk waiting for the completed forms to arrive at the letter service; deadlines for some schools are very soon, and if i don't get the letters in, i'm certain my application to these schools will be canceled. accordingly, i'm going to give my letter service the first page of every form (with the barcode, my pharmcas id, and the evaluators' names) and have them send out these pages, along with the letters, ASAP.

The rest of the forms will be mailed directly by my evaluators. I've given my evaluators new packets (addressed envelope, forms, personal statement, etc) so that they might send the forms directly to pharmCAS when completed.

i'll update this thread to record the outcome.

(on a side note, since the prevailing mindset on these forums seems to be dog-eat-dog competition, i'd just like to point out that even having made this mistake, i'm more macho than everyone who thinks i'm an idiot. 98% PCAT, 3.93GPA. now what. meet me in the parking lot after anatomy lab. let's fight.)

EDIT: just to make absolutely clear, that bit about fighting in the parking lot is completely facetious.

EDIT2: actually, i did end up asking a little more aggressively than that. something like, "it would be great if you could get it in the mail by the 25th, but since this is my mistake, I don't expect you to make an emergency out of it. If you can't do it by the 25th, that's fine, just sometime in the 4-6 weeks. thanks so much, etc."

EDIT3: 3 of my 4 writers have completed and submitted the form. the fourth (the one in romania) could not be contacted, but i think i'll be alright.
 
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Okay so I submitted my application 4 weeks ago but nothing has changed. I am afraid I will not be able to meet my November 2 deadline. 😡 Anyone in the same situation?
 
cvsfarmer,

When you say nothing has changed do you mean the following:

your gpa hasn't been calculated?
your transcripts are not reflected as received?
your PCAT scores are not reflected as received?
your LOR's are incomplete?

The only trouble I had with pharmcas was I couldn't tell whether they had mailed out my last reference (which was necessary to complete my applications). I emailed them my concern and they answered the same day that yes, it had been mailed. You might try emailing them too as they are pretty quick to respond.
 
I submitted mine at the beginning of September and my applications were JUST sent out yesterday. Don't freak until your five weeks are up.....then you can freak.
 
I applied today..how long does it take to calculate GPA this time of the year??? thanks..hopefully not 5 weeks
 
Yes it usually takes at least 2-3 weeks. But do not worry, schools are aware of it and your application will be passed along once Pharmcas checks your transcript. My advice is have EVERYTHING else ready before the deadline and call the school(s) to notify them that your app is ready but you are just waiting on Pharmcas.
 
Texas13 said:
Yes it usually takes at least 2-3 weeks. But do not worry, schools are aware of it and your application will be passed along once Pharmcas checks your transcript. My advice is have EVERYTHING else ready before the deadline and call the school(s) to notify them that your app is ready but you are just waiting on Pharmcas.
Click to expand...

other question is I'm taking Pcat's saturday will schools look at my application before they see Pcat's?
 
dima123 said:
other question is I'm taking Pcat's saturday will schools look at my application before they see Pcat's?
Click to expand...

I would think that they will, else, what's the purpose of paying application fees to have your stats go there?
 
THANK YOU KITTY CAT BLUEZ. Though your logic is no more or less valid than anyone who posted the opposite stance, the firmness of your assertion has solidly convinced me.

actually, that was what i still leaning towards anyway. it seems particularly important in my case, as, while i've done a lot of healthcare volunteering, there's nothing on my application about being in a pharmacy. it seems like it could make a big difference if adcoms see up front, "good, at least he's been in a pharmacy."
 
I applied to early decision and didnt get in. During the mean time I got a job working at a research lab in the best hospital in the world. I can't seem to add any work experience to my application. Can I really not update my application?
 
It depends on the application deadline. Since it takes awhile to get the PCAT scores, your application has to be complete (including PCAT scores) by the school's deadline. If you have already previously taken the test and just want to try to improve your scores, the new score will be sent as soon as Pharmcas recieves it. But yes admission will take into account new PCAT scores when reviewing application...could be good or bad though.

So, in other words, have the scores sent to immediately to pharmcas. You are fine if your app. deadline is dec or later.

Good luck
 
quadruple said:
THANK YOU KITTY CAT BLUEZ. Though your logic is no more or less valid than anyone who posted the opposite stance, the firmness of your assertion has solidly convinced me.

actually, that was what i still leaning towards anyway. it seems particularly important in my case, as, while i've done a lot of healthcare volunteering, there's nothing on my application about being in a pharmacy. it seems like it could make a big difference if adcoms see up front, "good, at least he's been in a pharmacy."
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When I applied last year, there was nothing in my application about me being in a pharmacy, either. In fact, I had not shadowed any pharmacist (until before my third interview), had never worked in a pharmacy, and didn't even know how things worked in either retail or hospital pharmacy. I got accepted to three pharmacy schools nevertheless. I don't think it makes any difference to adcoms (but I wouldn't know, as I'm not on any adcom). Shadowing is nice to have, but I believe that if your overall application is excellent, whether you have shadowed or not will not make or break it. But that's my opinion. Feel free to disagree.
 
sUrface said:
I applied to early decision and didnt get in. During the mean time I got a job working at a research lab in the best hospital in the world. I can't seem to add any work experience to my application. Can I really not update my application?
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hey you ^ ^ well, i just noticed that 22 members viewed your thread and didn't even reply[unbelievable!]. anyway... from what i read in similar threads here. some mentioned it in their extracurricular activities... some mentioned it in their personal statement... some mentioned it their supplementals and some just didn't include it at ALL and still! got accepted. so yeah, with that in mind... i guess it's more or less up to "YOU". either way... good luck :luck:

oops! it appears i misunderstood your "?" :laugh: not sure... you know, if i'm not mistaken, i think the only thing you can update to your PharmCAS app, is your course work info... but, i dunno =/ well, i suppose they'll be expecting a call from you, considering everyone else seems to be "too" busy these days eh? 🙄
 
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thanks.

further answer: most schools ask designate which letters they should read via supplemental app.
 
Hi, im just curious, is PharmCAS only for US? or is it for canada too? also what is it? ive been to the site but im not sure if i should register..

😕

Thanks.
 
Unfortunately PharmCAS states

POST-SUBMISSION CHANGES

After the initial submission of your completed PharmCAS application, you may only make changes to the following items:

Full Legal Name
Alternate Name
Permanent Mailing Address
Current Mailing Address
Phone Numbers
Email Address
Fax Number
Password: Not transmitted to your designated pharmacy schools
Designate Additional PharmCAS Programs: No substitutions or deletions.
Planned Coursework: One-time changes during the Academic Update only
New Fall Courses Completed: One-time changes during the Academic Update only
Reference Contacts: You may not delete an evaluator from your application once PharmCAS receives the evaluator’s reference

You can read it here
http://www.pharmcas.org/applicants/esubmit.htm

Sorry, but thats just the way the dice roll.
 
PharmCAS is run by the AACP which is the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. So yes it is only for applicants applying to US schools of pharmacy. I have no clue what Canada uses, but I'm sure if you use the search function you could find out.
 
My friend had the same problem. Except he contacted his school of interest and they had him submit an updated resume (with just the Work Experience part). My suggestion would be to do the same...contact the school and see what they suggest. Good luck.
 
I don't remember Canada ever has a central application like PharmCAS. It's just not feasible if there're only a few schools participating ...
 
I just contacted the school and asked if they'll accept updated material and I sent them the updated material. As long as it's before the deadline, most schools seem willing to accept it. It all depends.
 
Hi,
I need some advise from you guys. I had a lot of research experience in my undergraduate study which I signed up for credits. In PharmCas application, is there any place I can put my research experience (how about work experience). Or, since I signed up for credits, I shouldn't put them in at all.
Thanks a lot in advance,
 
I put it under class course since I took it for credit. However, I also put it in extracurriculum. Hope this help! 🙂
 
I put it under work exp. since I did it some semesters for credit and other semesters not for credit. I also got funding for it so that counts as work, right? I guess.
 
Another way to show your research experience is through publication. List your publication(s) under the publication tab.
 
Hi guys,
Hope all is going well with the application cycle. I was wondering if someone can help me since pharmcas is busy and has not gotten back to me yet.

I have already submitted my application but two of my references are unresponsive and have not come through with their letters. I already have 2 received 👍 but the other two are 👎. Now, do I just go to my application and delete the unresponsive ones and add someone else...........then click submit again? Also, one of the 👎 reference told me that he submitted his reference 2 nights ago. How fast does pharmcas update the status on LORs or is the guy lying to me cause my status still say "not received"?
 
cvsfarmer said:
Okay so I submitted my application 4 weeks ago but nothing has changed. I am afraid I will not be able to meet my November 2 deadline. 😡 Anyone in the same situation?
Click to expand...


It is my understanding that if you submit your application to PharmCAS by your chosen school's deadline - it is submitted in time. PharmCAS may take a couple of weeks to process everything but you are OK on the deadline.
 
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