new to pharm - need advice

[Steroids]

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I'd like to get an idea of my chances.

BS Bio (some pre-reqs below C+)
Master Public Health (in progress - complete April 2009)
no PCAT as of yet; good GRE scores
strong EC experiences (none related to pharm)
pretty decent lab experiences (conference presentations, work in several diff labs, etc.)

Do I have a chance? I'd appreciate any advice about my situation...

 

[CHARMO]

I'd like to get an idea of my chances.

3.1 BS Bio (some pre-reqs below C+ (including below C-))
4.0 Master Public Health (in progress - complete April 2009)
no PCAT as of yet; good GRE scores
strong EC experiences (none related to pharm)
pretty decent lab experiences (conference presentations, work in several diff labs, etc.)

Do I have a chance? I'd appreciate any advice about my situation...

I'll say go aheard and re-take ur undergrad courses where u got a C or lower. It would boost u. Some volunteer work should be good too. If u plan on applying for Fall 2009, taking the PCAT this summer would be good just to get a "feel" of it. Depending on ur score, u can do a re-take in October. Good Luck

 

[Steroids]

any1 have additional advice for me? should i retake classes? any1 else do a master of public health then go to pharm school?

 

[parabolic]

A C or two among your prerequisites is not a bad thing; several of them, including D's (F's?) are a red flag. Take some time to re-do those.

I'm sure there have been folks who've done an MPH before going to pharmacy school, but I'm not one of them. You need to be able to relate to the admissions committees how your experiences in that program will ultimately contribute to your career in pharmacy.

Have you ever worked in a pharmacy? Volunteered in one? Shadowed? If no to all of the above, I'd suggest getting some pharmacy experience. (You don't have to be a full-time technician to make it count.) Many students are accepted each year with no experience, but every little boost to your application helps.

Besides that, do well on your PCAT and there's no reason you wouldn't have a chance. Best of luck to you.

 

[omnione]

Be sure to check out the sticky thread on top of this board regarding FAQs. Use the search function too.🙂

Your master GPA helps show that you aren't as bad as that 3.1 GPA would indicate. I would retake those classes with a C-, and maybe Cs if you have the time and money. Take the PCAT and at least shadow or work in the pharmacy if you have the time.

 

[khoadogg]

What if there's just general chem or bio courses? Kicked *** in ochem and the other upper divs. Just those freshman year C's....

 

[pharmgrl5]

Retake them even if they were in your first year. The positive to having lower grades in your first year and then higher later on is that it shows an upward trend. I personally think it's fairly common to see lower grades at first as people work to adjust to college. It was fairly rough for me and as a result I'll be battling with my GPA from here on out. 🙁 Even if it's freshman comp or something... retake it. It can't hurt.. it'll only help your GPA.

 

[mrblah]

Retake them even if they were in your first year. The positive to having lower grades in your first year and then higher later on is that it shows an upward trend. I personally think it's fairly common to see lower grades at first as people work to adjust to college. It was fairly rough for me and as a result I'll be battling with my GPA from here on out. 🙁 Even if it's freshman comp or something... retake it. It can't hurt.. it'll only help your GPA.

I also wanted to add that that retaking classes shows that you are willing to commit to your education first and foremost (otherwise you'd be doing something else).

 

[inquirer89]

Retake them even if they were in your first year. The positive to having lower grades in your first year and then higher later on is that it shows an upward trend. I personally think it's fairly common to see lower grades at first as people work to adjust to college. It was fairly rough for me and as a result I'll be battling with my GPA from here on out. 🙁 Even if it's freshman comp or something... retake it. It can't hurt.. it'll only help your GPA.

I also had a rough time during my first semester of freshman year last fall. I think it was the transition shock (and my professors weren't good) that got me. I made two C's in bio and chem. I finished up my humanities this spring and will probably get mostly A's to raise my gpa. I'm retaking chem this summer and am hoping for the best.

So yea, retake those C's and do better the second time! And get some pharmacy experience. A 3.1 is still competitive, and your graduate gpa will help balance it out. Good luck!