*~*Official 2011-2012 PharmCAS Thread!*~*

[jjchoko]

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Or I am only allowed to enter the completed coursework?
When do I get to enter current(fall 2011) and future(spring 2012) coursework?
Thank you.

 

[xtsukiyox]

If you failed the class because the professor caught you cheating or it was the punishment for some other type of misconduct then you should mark yes. If you failed the class because you just didn't do well in it academically then you should mark no.

Hope that helps.

Jen, I see ah123's point. By taking out extraneous bits of the question:

Were you ever the recipient of any action (e.g. failing grade) for unacceptable academic performance?

Why wouldn't this be answered "yes" if you just plain failed the class? I know it's driving at an F for cheating, or academic probation for a failing GPA. Perhaps it could be differently worded if you're not truly looking for a positive answer if one had received an F for "just" unacceptably performing in the class?

To ah123: I'm making more of a suggestion than responding to your question - Jen's the head guru, so if I were you I'd do what she said in the mean time. 😀

 

[xtsukiyox]

Or I am only allowed to enter the completed coursework?
When do I get to enter current(fall 2011) and future(spring 2012) coursework?
Thank you.

There is a place to enter them as "in progress." See Jen's response about the Academic Update period:

Academic Update opens Dec 15 and closes on Feb 15. All updates can be made then. If you have e-submitted, then you can't go back and add the classes until Academic Update anyway.

 

[number1phan]

I did not see the section on pharmcas where I can put my minor until after I e-submited the application. I called pharmcas and they said they cannot correct this for me. Any one in the same situation? What did you end up doing? Or what should I do?

 

[klj5269]

I did not see the section on pharmcas where I can put my minor until after I e-submited the application. I called pharmcas and they said they cannot correct this for me. Any one in the same situation? What did you end up doing? Or what should I do?

You may be able to change this during the academic update period in December-January. You could also submit an updated copy of your resume with your supplementals (if you have not already submitted them). Or mention it in a supplemental essay?

 

[alveoli89]

Hey guys,

Today pharmcas officially received all my documents (transcript, LORs, payment, personal statement) and my application is complete. I have already e-submitted. Nothing is missing. What is the next phase?

P.S. You guys have been really helpful thus far 🙂

 

[Digsbe]

Hey guys,

Today pharmcas officially received all my documents (transcript, LORs, payment, personal statement) and my application is complete. I have already e-submitted. Nothing is missing. What is the next phase?

P.S. You guys have been really helpful thus far 🙂

Next you just wait for PharmCAS to calculate your GPAs. Once that is done they will send your application to your designated schools 🙂

 

[hye345]

Hey guys,

Today pharmcas officially received all my documents (transcript, LORs, payment, personal statement) and my application is complete. I have already e-submitted. Nothing is missing. What is the next phase?

P.S. You guys have been really helpful thus far 🙂

Well, after they send it out to the schools, the schools will send you instructions on their supplemental applications. For now, you are in the 'eye of the storm' 😀

 

[xtsukiyox]

Next you just wait for PharmCAS to calculate your GPAs. Once that is done they will send your application to your designated schools 🙂

Application mailing is on Mondays. 🙂

 

[ochemftw]

I have listed three letters of recommendation on PharmCAS. One of my schools require a pharmacist's recommendation, and that will be the fourth. However, her letter is going to be the last part of my application; the rest of my application should be complete a couple weeks before her letter is in. So my question is: does PharmCAS withhold sending the application to schools if one of the letters is not in, even if the school does not require 4 letters? And if so, should I submit my PharmCAS application with just the three letters, and ask the pharmacist to send her letter directly to the school?

 

[Timbo]

What do you write under "Name of Organization" when listing research experience in one of your professor's research lab?

 

[Digsbe]

I put the name of my university for the name of my organization. I did research this summer and I'm still currently working on it. I worked under one of my professors at my university and utilized the labs here. I put this under work experience because I was employed by the university.

 

[phathead]

I usually write the name of the organization

 

[xtsukiyox]

I have listed three letters of recommendation on PharmCAS. One of my schools require a pharmacist's recommendation, and that will be the fourth. However, her letter is going to be the last part of my application; the rest of my application should be complete a couple weeks before her letter is in. So my question is: does PharmCAS withhold sending the application to schools if one of the letters is not in, even if the school does not require 4 letters? And if so, should I submit my PharmCAS application with just the three letters, and ask the pharmacist to send her letter directly to the school?

PharmCAS considers an application complete when the following things are received:
- All required fields are filled in
- Fee paid
- All transcripts / GPA calculations (which is done after you submit)

Once these items are received, PharmCAS will forward your application to the schools you've paid for, along with whatever else they've received so far. They will not hold the application for LoRs or test scores. These items will be received by PharmCAS, then sent to the schools as they are received. The individual schools will consider your application complete when all of THEIR required items are received (LoRs, PCAT / TOEFL score, supplemental, supplemental fee, etc.).

I would submit now, that way the schools that don't require the 4th letter will consider your application sooner. Read the instructions for the 4th letter school - every one I've read requires the letters to be completed through PharmCAS, not sent to the school. Remember that the recommendation also includes an evaluation form; it isn't just a letter. And PharmCAS will forward the recommendation to your schools as soon as the pharmacist completes it.

 

[number1phan]

Just in case anyone had the same problem...I called pharmcas and they said they couldn't do anything at all and that my acct is locked. But, another student in the same situation suggested I email them, so I did. They replied with the correction a day after. 😀

You may be able to change this during the academic update period in December-January. You could also submit an updated copy of your resume with your supplementals (if you have not already submitted them). Or mention it in a supplemental essay?

 

[xtsukiyox]

It sounds like it might be appropriate to list the department... Maybe something like: "University of Arizona - Chemistry Dept"?

 

[seaotters]

After PharmCAS verified my GPA, my AP courses "credits" and "test score" blanks were reset to "None" and "0" respectively, because my official transcript did not show this information. I was wondering if anyone else have this same problem and how did you guys go about resolving it?

Background info: the AP scores were listed on my UCI transcript.

 

[R2pharmD2]

After PharmCAS verified my GPA, my AP courses "credits" and "test score" blanks were reset to "None" and "0" respectively, because my official transcript did not show this information. I was wondering if anyone else have this same problem and how did you guys go about resolving it?

Background info: the AP scores were listed on my UCI transcript.

Post relocated to appropriate thread.

 

[Chakavack]

Hi everybody, I have a question about references. Does anyone know if they actually call your references? One of my professors has not submitted his LOR yet, even though I asked in the beginning of June! I wanted to ask a part time faculty to write me a letter. But she is not teaching this semester! Is that ok?

 

[klj5269]

Okay what is the problem here...
I e-submitted 8/24
My GPA was calculated 9/9
I thought PharmCAS would have mailed this Monday (9/12) but they haven't.
What are they waiting for?

Also:
PharmCAS STILL hasn't received my PCAT scores. I took the test 7/27 but did not include PharmCAS on my original 4 "schools" to send to. I purchased an additional transcript which Pearson confirmed on 8/18 by saying they "received your transcript request... official transcripts will be sent to... PHARMCAS-WATERTOWN".
It has now been four weeks since they confirmed that it was being sent and PharmCAS has not posted it as recieved. Should I contact PharmCAS or Pearson/PCAT regarding this? 😕

Thanks for any replies!

 

[klj5269]

Hi everybody, I have a question about references. Does anyone know if they actually call your references? One of my professors has not submitted his LOR yet, even though I asked in the beginning of June! I wanted to ask a part time faculty to write me a letter. But she is not teaching this semester! Is that ok?

1) PharmCAS will not contact your LOR writers to remind them to submit, you must do this yourself.
2) If you mean do they ever contact them to actually ask about you? They do not do that for everyone, I think they only do this if they find a problem during verification of your application and need to make sure you really are who you say you are.
3) It does not matter if she actually teaches every semester or just part time if her position at your school is listed as faculty or professor it should be fine.

 

[JenAthay]

Jen, I see ah123's point. By taking out extraneous bits of the question:

Were you ever the recipient of any action (e.g. failing grade) for unacceptable academic performance?

Why wouldn't this be answered "yes" if you just plain failed the class? I know it's driving at an F for cheating, or academic probation for a failing GPA. Perhaps it could be differently worded if you're not truly looking for a positive answer if one had received an F for "just" unacceptably performing in the class?

To ah123: I'm making more of a suggestion than responding to your question - Jen's the head guru, so if I were you I'd do what she said in the mean time. 😀

The hard part for us is that it was previously worded more simply and students didn't think they needed to say yes if the action came from a professor rather than from the university. Some professors would rather just fail students and handle the problems on their own without involving the university. Regardless of how the punishment comes down, the potential future pharmacy school wants to know about the cheating behavior.

We will of course take a look at the language and try to tweak it for net cycle so that it is more clear.

 

[JenAthay]

Okay what is the problem here...
I e-submitted 8/24
My GPA was calculated 9/9
I thought PharmCAS would have mailed this Monday (9/12) but they haven't.
What are they waiting for?

Also:
PharmCAS STILL hasn't received my PCAT scores. I took the test 7/27 but did not include PharmCAS on my original 4 "schools" to send to. I purchased an additional transcript which Pearson confirmed on 8/18 by saying they "received your transcript request... official transcripts will be sent to... PHARMCAS-WATERTOWN".
It has now been four weeks since they confirmed that it was being sent and PharmCAS has not posted it as recieved. Should I contact PharmCAS or Pearson/PCAT regarding this? 😕

Thanks for any replies!

Double check the my account section in PharmCAS to make sure that your PCAT CID was entered correctly and then contact PharmCAS.

 

[JenAthay]

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[Stilltrying1288]

Okay what is the problem here...
I e-submitted 8/24
My GPA was calculated 9/9
I thought PharmCAS would have mailed this Monday (9/12) but they haven't.
What are they waiting for?

Also:
PharmCAS STILL hasn't received my PCAT scores. I took the test 7/27 but did not include PharmCAS on my original 4 "schools" to send to. I purchased an additional transcript which Pearson confirmed on 8/18 by saying they "received your transcript request... official transcripts will be sent to... PHARMCAS-WATERTOWN".
It has now been four weeks since they confirmed that it was being sent and PharmCAS has not posted it as recieved. Should I contact PharmCAS or Pearson/PCAT regarding this? 😕

Thanks for any replies!

I was told by Pearson as long as the schools you listed were Pharmcas schools, the scores would be sent to Pharmcas instead of the school.

 

[Chakavack]

1) PharmCAS will not contact your LOR writers to remind them to submit, you must do this yourself.
2) If you mean do they ever contact them to actually ask about you? They do not do that for everyone, I think they only do this if they find a problem during verification of your application and need to make sure you really are who you say you are.
3) It does not matter if she actually teaches every semester or just part time if her position at your school is listed as faculty or professor it should be fine.

Thank youuuuu🙂

 

[owlegrad]

What do you write under "Name of Organization" when listing research experience in one of your professor's research lab?

I put the name of my university for the name of my organization. I did research this summer and I'm still currently working on it. I worked under one of my professors at my university and utilized the labs here. I put this under work experience because I was employed by the university.

I usually write the name of the organization

It sounds like it might be appropriate to list the department... Maybe something like: "University of Arizona - Chemistry Dept"?

Moving to PharmCAS sticky.

 

[klj5269]

I was told by Pearson as long as the schools you listed were Pharmcas schools, the scores would be sent to Pharmcas instead of the school.

Hmm. That would be nice! Well in that case they should have super received it by now, but they haven't 😡 I emailed them about it last night.

 

[xtsukiyox]

... We will of course take a look at the language and try to tweak it for net cycle so that it is more clear.

I see what you're trying to say, and that is an important point. Thanks for clarifying. 😀

 

[xtsukiyox]

Hi everybody, I have a question about references. Does anyone know if they actually call your references? One of my professors has not submitted his LOR yet, even though I asked in the beginning of June! I wanted to ask a part time faculty to write me a letter. But she is not teaching this semester! Is that ok?

kj already answered, but I do have something to add. PharmCAS / the institution may or may not call to verify the reference. I don't see why it matters that the part time faculty isn't teaching right now, if she taught you when you were there. One of my references is adjunct & now teaching at two different schools than the one I went to. I would imagine retired profs sometimes write LoRs too, and they definitely aren't still teaching.

 

[Stilltrying1288]

I have a question. So somehow I overlooked the fact that I had clicked that English wasn't my native language. Now I learned Spanish first, but I was born in the US and pretty much learned English at the same time. I was wondering can I get that changed if I call in?

 

[Timbo]

Question about giving out your references' phone numbers: do the schools often call the references by phone? I mean I got the work place phone numbers of my references but I don't know if I should ask them for their personal home or cell number instead.

 

[xtsukiyox]

Question about giving out your references' phone numbers: do the schools often call the references by phone? I mean I got the work place phone numbers of my references but I don't know if I should ask them for their personal home or cell number instead.

From what I understand, when they log on to do the reference, they can change all their contact information. So, I'd say the prof would probably change the phone if it's not one they can be reached on.

 

[xtsukiyox]

I have a question. So somehow I overlooked the fact that I had clicked that English wasn't my native language. Now I learned Spanish first, but I was born in the US and pretty much learned English at the same time. I was wondering can I get that changed if I call in?

Ooo... Yeah, I'd call. Apparently some people have had different responses between the phone support and the e-mail, so I'd probably call first, then e-mail if I have to. Academic update is coming in a few months, but I'm not entirely sure whether that is just for classes or for the entire app.

 

[number1phan]

I have a question. So somehow I overlooked the fact that I had clicked that English wasn't my native language. Now I learned Spanish first, but I was born in the US and pretty much learned English at the same time. I was wondering can I get that changed if I call in?

I think the quickest and most effective way is to email them. [email protected] They'll be able to correct it.

 

[xtsukiyox]

I think the quickest and most effective way is to email them. [email protected] They'll be able to correct it.

I guess I just like to hear the dulcet tones of their voices as they answer the phone for my silly questions.

 

[Stilltrying1288]

Yeah I called and they fixed it right away.

 

[KumaPanda]

Are Pharm schools picky about requirements? Like you HAVE to take only this type of math and you have to take a certain history course? My major requires biostatistics and most Pharm schools ask for statistics or general statistics.

 

[hye345]

Are Pharm schools picky about requirements? Like you HAVE to take only this type of math and you have to take a certain history course? My major requires biostatistics and most Pharm schools ask for statistics or general statistics.

Hmm, a lot of times it depends on the course description... If you are worried, you could always email the admission office the course catalog so they can see exactly what you took, since a lot of times the course name itself doesn't give enough info. Most schools are very willing to go into your specific situation with course requirement and stuff.

 

[KumaPanda]

I think there was a pharmacy school in PA where they asked for Pre-Calc and Calculus in college, but I already took Pre-Calc in high school(no IB). They wouldn't be picky with that, would that? I'm taking Calculus right now.

 

[MrLogic]

I'm happy to see that my GPAs were calculated today on 9/19. I submitted on 9/01. So the total time was about 2 weeks I guess. PharmCAS seems pretty efficient. Mailings are on every Monday btw. Good luck to everyone!!

 

[xtsukiyox]

Okay what is the problem here...
I e-submitted 8/24
My GPA was calculated 9/9
I thought PharmCAS would have mailed this Monday (9/12) but they haven't.
What are they waiting for?

I didn't see any responses to this part of the question, so better late than never? 😉

My "mailing" date was not updated until Tuesday, so I'm hoping you've already gotten a positive response.

Unfounded speculation: It's possible that their mailings are loaded in electronically, & your GPA was calculated too late on Friday to pick your app up for Monday's mailing. In either case, I don't see any reason why it shouldn't have mailed today - if it didn't, I'd call for sure to find out what's going on.

 

[JenAthay]

I didn't see any responses to this part of the question, so better late than never? 😉

My "mailing" date was not updated until Tuesday, so I'm hoping you've already gotten a positive response.

Unfounded speculation: It's possible that their mailings are loaded in electronically, & your GPA was calculated too late on Friday to pick your app up for Monday's mailing. In either case, I don't see any reason why it shouldn't have mailed today - if it didn't, I'd call for sure to find out what's going on.

We cut off the processing for Monday mailings on Thursday afternoon, so, if you are verified and the GPAs are calculated on Friday then you won't be mailed until the next Monday. We need Friday to prepare the mailings.

 

[xtsukiyox]

We cut off the processing for Monday mailings on Thursday afternoon, so, if you are verified and the GPAs are calculated on Friday then you won't be mailed until the next Monday. We need Friday to prepare the mailings.

Unfounded speculation for the win! 😛

HIT THE DECK, JEN IN THE HOUSE! 😉

 

[klj5269]

Well everyone will be glad to know mine was in fact mailed today!
BUT
My PCAT was not posted as received until today also, so hopefully that was included in what was mailed out 🙁

 

[xtsukiyox]

Well everyone will be glad to know mine was in fact mailed today!
BUT
My PCAT was not posted as received until today also, so hopefully that was included in what was mailed out 🙁

I'm glad both ends finally hooked up to get your PCAT on your app. It sounds like there's a good chance it wasn't, but it should be quick on its tail (maybe next Monday)?

In the immortal words of Tom Petty: The waiting is the hardest part.

 

[FutureFarmer21]

Hello, I have been working on my PharmCAS application and have struggled filling something under publications. Is it normal for students to be in scientific journals that are going into pharmacy? I understand if I was applying to be a doctor, but the fact that there is ten slots for publications has got me worried.

 

[xtsukiyox]

Hello, I have been working on my PharmCAS application and have struggled filling something under publications. Is it normal for students to be in scientific journals that are going into pharmacy? I understand if I was applying to be a doctor, but the fact that there is ten slots for publications has got me worried.

I didn't have anything there. I see why it'd need to be there - it's important if you did research & were published during your undergrad or something, but I'm imagining a lot of people don't.

 

[FutureFarmer21]

Hello, from what I understand, I am supposed to get my school to send my transcript to PharmCAS. Am I, in addition to sending my transcript there, also supposed to fill out the coursework section or is that something that automatically fills up once my transcript is received? Also, I asked this before but is it common for a pharmacy undergraduate student to have publications? There are ten slots and I don't anyone who is going into pharmacy and is referenced in a scientific journal in my school. Finally, when is a ideal time for me to have submitted my application? When does it get to the point where I could potentially be hurting my chances by waiting any longer? Sorry for all the questions and thanks in advance.

 

[pharmer1982]

Hello, from what I understand, I am supposed to get my school to send my transcript to PharmCAS. Am I, in addition to sending my transcript there, also supposed to fill out the coursework section or is that something that automatically fills up once my transcript is received? Also, I asked this before but is it common for a pharmacy undergraduate student to have publications? There are ten slots and I don't anyone who is going into pharmacy and is referenced in a scientific journal in my school. Finally, when is a ideal time for me to have submitted my application? When does it get to the point where I could potentially be hurting my chances by waiting any longer? Sorry for all the questions and thanks in advance.

Yes, you have to fill out the coursework section even if you sent your transcripts to PharmCAS. The course number and title you enter must match EXACTLY as they appear on your transcripts. It's a very tedious process, and you have to do it again to a certain degree with some supplemental applications.

As for publications among undergraduate students, in my opinion that would be rare and more common among those who went to graduate school. But if you are an undergraduate who has publications under his/her belt, then that's a huge boost to your application in terms of showing professionalism.

In terms of ideal times to apply, the summer is the best. This is when PharmCAS opens up their new application cycle and when some universities make their supplemental applications available to complete. Also, some universities have rolling admissions, so the earlier you have it done then the faster you'll know whether you'll get an interview (and the interview date will be early too). If you do everything in the summer, I would advise having it all done by the end of August.

Good luck.