No experience, good GPA and PCAT?

[kjor21]

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Hey everyone, I'm just wondering how far my grades can get me without having pharmacy experience.

My overall GPA is a 3.75 and my science GPA is probably a little bit higher.

PCAT
Verbal: 94
Biology: 97
RC: 99
Quant: 98
Chem: 99
Composite: 99

I'm really involved in a service/spirit organization on campus and I've done a ton of volunteering with them and I'm in a few honor societies, but that's really it. In high school I volunteered at a local hospital but I haven't done anything pharmacy or healthcare related since then.

I have one LOR from my O Chem professor which should be really good, another from my cell bio professor, and another from a coach for a team that I managed for four years. That one should have very strong points about my character and work ethic. I'm a pretty good writer so my personal statement should be pretty good too, but I'm having issues shortening it down to what I should/shouldn't include.

In the next couple weeks I'm going to start volunteering with a pharmacy but besides that, nothing. How far can my grades get me without experience? And should I hold off on submitting my application until I start volunteering?

Thanks everyone!

 

[athin001]

You'll get in with those stellar stats, as long as you don't bomb the interview. The majority of schools don't require pharm experience, but be prepared for a q during the interview as to why you don't have any

 

[WSUWarrior012]

You'll definitely get in to where you apply. If you wanted to be on the safe side, I would suggest finding a pharmacist to shadow so that way you will also show that you have some pharmacy experience (which is a major thing a lot of schools look for if not all) and it will also help you write your personal statement since you have to relate to an experience of why you chose pharmacy/ why it interests you. How did you study for the PCAT? What tools? that is very impressive!

 

[WSUWarrior012]

What would you be doing as a volunteer in the pharmacy department also?

 

[kjor21]

I'm not exactly sure what I will be doing, I've just been in contact with a local pharmacy that says they've been swarmed and really need the extra hands.

For the PCAT, I started about a month and a half before and studied quite a bit. I studied for at least an hour, if not a lot more, every day. I bought Dr. Collins, Kaplan 2014-2015, and the Pearson practice tests, then borrowed several other books from a friend who's taken the PCAT and MCAT. I've gone through a ton of different books and can review them if you're interested!

 

[WSUWarrior012]

From shadowing in a pharmacy, what I would think they would have you do is put the pills on the shelf after an order in the correct order (by dosage, XR, etc.) or maybe have you grab a medication that is required to fill a prescription so it makes it easier for the pharmacist/pharmacy technicians. And that would be great I will take you up on that offer thank you! The only thing I am studying is Dr. Collins primarily and his practice tests along with the full length kaplan tests. Do you think that the biology section in Collins is enough to study? Because I feel like it gives a good review of everything but I am not sure if the PCAT might go even more in depth.

 

[AlPacino]

A 3.75 GPA and 99 PCAT will get you in almost every school you apply. I recommend getting that pharmacy experience both clinical and community to see what its like and what your getting yourself into.

 

[aar44]

Try to get an internship in pharma so you can learn more about drugs since you have taken cell bio. You can volunteer at a hospital but that's so typical. I would try to stand out more. Apply for an internship/co-op. I think you will learn so much. You have really great scores and a good GPA. Just get decent experience because you want to learn about pharmacy before you get yourself into it.

 

[ATXtripper]

Lots of great advice. So I'll try to add something different.

Call up some nearby schools and take a tour (try to get a file review from a recruiter), ask a lot of questions, try to get insider info (like courseload, team-based learning, IPPE) that you can later use to demonstrate your level of interest.

And practice for that interview.