Not going to give up... but had a very bumpy undergrad. Any advice?

[RalphChristoph]

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Greetings, Student Doctor Forums! 🙂

College and Major: UC Davis, Psychology B.S. I'm currently finishing my 4th year and getting ready for a fifth and final year taking mostly upper div sciences.
GPA: 2.93
SciGPA: bad

My academic history:
My issue is that I did really poorly in a few pre-reqs. Mainly, bio and chem (C+/B+/B and C/C/F, respectively). I actually first received a D in Chem3 my freshman year, retook it sophomore year, and got an F. Pretty big red flag. A really big factor for these grades were a recurring health issue that I have. It later resurfaced during my senior year where I got D's across the board for one quarter. At this point, I decided to take control of my health and seriously seek out help. It worked, my general health improved and I have a good shot at getting on the Dean's List this current quarter (I plan on staying there until I graduate.) The school has been understanding with my health issues and they're willing to let me retake Chem3 a second time. I'm hoping my fifth year will be a "bounce-back" year, so that I can show that I can overcome adversity with regards to my health in a big way.

Extracurriculars:
I interned at a Rite Aid for two quarters and am currently interning at a Sutter Hospital Rite Aid (it's a lot different from retail, I gotta tell you that). By the time I graduate, I should have two years experience working in a pharmacy.
I also work in a campus research lab doing projects on genetic diseases and I'm hoping to get an abstract presented to a UCD research conference by the time I graduate. Lastly, I interned in the children's section of the UC Davis Hospital for around 6 months.

After graduation:

This is where you guys come in. I live in NorCal and we have a few post-bacc pre-health programs that I'm looking at right now (UCB-ext, SFSU, East Bay). There's also the possibility of redoing my pre-reqs at CC (I've heard that's not a really good idea). Lastly, I'm considering doing a master's in a health related subject, in case I get rejected the first time I apply to schools and need a decent job in between applying again. Of course, I plan on taking the PCAT. Which of these options are viable? Not viable? (I know taking the PCAT is viable ) While doing these things, I'm also considering working as a pharm tech and doing post-bacc/graduate work part time in order to kill two birds with one stone.

More Q's:
1. Has anyone out there got a class that was failed the second time overlooked? I feel like my reason is valid, but I'm worried that admissions people might not be so open minded towards health issues.
2. Some of my friends have advised me to disclose my health issue during my interview in order to add context to my grades. I would like to do so... but I feel like that is a very personal aspect of my life and honestly am uncomfortable with telling strangers this.
3. What keeps you guys going when you know you have a long road ahead of you in terms of getting into pharmacy school? This question is more based on my curiousity.

I'm willing to take as much time as needed to get into an decent/maybe-even-not-decent pharmacy school. It's my biggest driving force right now, and I humbly ask you, SDN, for your help.

Thanks,
RalphChristoph

 

[dk00]

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[RalphChristoph]

Not trying to be rude but have you read any of the information already in this forum, it will answer a lot of your questions

Yes, I have searched up a lot of info on this board. I was just hoping to introduce myself and my situation in order to start a dialogue with the forum, is all.

Edit: I added a few more... unique Q's I guess, in case my original post was too generic.

 

[Amicable Angora]

Yes, I have searched up a lot of info on this board. I was just hoping to introduce myself and my situation in order to start a dialogue with the forum, is all.

Edit: I added a few more... unique Q's I guess, in case my original post was too generic.

Your first and most important task is to take the PCAT and score extremely high, preferrably higher than 80.

There's not much point in making other plans if your PCAT score is lacking. With your background, you are already asking the adcoms to take a chance on you; they have to assess your potential for pharmacy school and there really is no point for them to gamble on a student who had deficiencies in both undergraduate and PCAT.

Now this all changes if your PCAT score is extremely high. Afterwards you can slowly tip the balance in your favor by making changes to your academic record, whether through retaking classes or by completely prerequisites with high marks.

 

[RalphChristoph]

Yup, I'm planning on doing my absolute finest on the PCAT and my coming last year.

One question though: with my struggles, should I just skip on applying to California schools at all since they don't look at the PCAT?

 

[88888888]

You might have shot at like touro or uop? Maybe UCSF cause they look at the whole applicant. Given that you have some really good extracurriculars. If you don't. I wouldn't waste too much time on California. California schools are effin overpriced as well. My OOS tuition at Minnesota is gonna be about the same as in state UCSD and UCSF