Opinion on probability of acceptance

[germanshepherd]

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I have already posted in WAMC, but received only one response. While it was encouraging, I would also appreciate a diverse array of opinions on my chances of being interviewed, much less accepted.

Here are my stats and a brief narrative. Thank you.

a. Schools you are applying to
UCSF, UOP, TOURO, PACIFIC OREGON , Anywhere else someone would recommend, researching out of CA schools

b. Overall GPA
3.17

c. Math/Science GPA
3.0

d. GPA in last one or two school years
3.90 – major increasing grade trend (4.0 last two semesters with 20 + units each semester)
Last 2 years trend
3.59 15 units
3.794 16 units
4.0 24 units
4.0 25 units

e. Complete PCAT scores (or just composite)
Studying for it.

f. Pharmacy experience obtained
Pharmacy clerk – longs – 1200 hours
Pharmacy packaging tech – consonus – 500 hours
Pharmacy technician – walgreens – 1200 hours - CURRENT
Pharmacy volunteer – Bluepoint pharmacy – 100 hours

g. Date of application submission (PharmCAS/primary and secondary)
June 2014

Additionally, the following will help us gauge your chances but are more optional:

h. Number of LORs and source of LORs
Cell and mol professor – epidemiological research / I tutor for him (should give me an excellent letter)
Micro professor / assistant chair of biology department – HIV research
(should also give me a good quality letter)
Pharmacist – worked with him / knows me well (should be a good letter)
Doctor – owns his own practice – I do lab work for him (will probably ask me to write it – lol )

i. Non-pharmacy work and/or volunteer experience
Banfield – petnurse (16 hrs / week)
Lab tech – biotech startup (50 hrs / week)
Lab tech – Pain management clinic (work) – 10 hrs / week) - CURRENT
Research – Epidemiological – prostate cancer 1.5 yr (3 – 4 hrs/week) -
CURRENT
Research – HIV 1 yr (6 hrs / week) in lab/hands on - CURRENT
Tutor – cell phys 1.5 yr (2 hrs/week) - CURRENT
Tutor – Virology 6 months (1 hr / week) - CURRENT
TA anatomy – 1yr (3 hrs / week) - CURRENT
Scientific journal reading club – I started it (shows leadership?) 1 year (1hr/week) - CURRENT
Volunteer homeless shelter– 1yr (2-3 hrs / week) - CURRENT

j. Self-perception of interview skills
I am confident but am also prone to the same waves of emotions as anyone else that finds themself in important conversations.

k. Overall impression of personal statement quality
I have yet to write it/them, but I trust my ability to compose well-written personal statements.

So here's the story with me: I went to a CC with the intention of pursuing pharmacy, did great and transferred into a UC on a full scholarship. But, I had zero support networks in terms of family and friends. I wasn't mature enough to deal with the environment of a large UC and lost control of my behaviors. I got expelled.

I got into a state school a few months later and sort of aimlessly drifted, taking random classes without any real direction. This continued for years until I took cell physiology with a professor who helped me re-focus and apply myself, to the point where I've re-dedicated myself to the pursuit of a career in pharmacy (it took a lot of brutal self honesty and introspection to hop back on this horse after so many years).

Now I'm motivated to pursue a career in pharmacy because of the academic/ industrial research opportunities that are purported to exist out there. If anything useful happened during my years of underachievement it was that I was able to work a variety of jobs in varying aspects of the health care field. After the experiences I've had, I can say that the PharmD and the field itself offers the career paths that I find most arousing, though I admit I need to do even more reading into the matter to strengthen my commitment to the pursuit.

I know my obvious weaknesses are 1) my grades (I've failed several courses – perhaps 10), 2) the fact that I've been expelled from a major university.

I know my strengths are 1) the various experiences I've had and 2) an increasing grade trend,

Is there any hope for me?

Thank you for all the help guys, it's been hard for me to get it together after failing so miserably, so any help you can offer will be appreciated – even if the advice is to pursue something else due to low probability of acceptance.

 

[Twentytwelve2]

I wouldn't worry over the interview and acceptance process. Believing in yourself is all you need! Apply, do your best, and move on if it was not meant to be.

What I am getting at is the acceptance process is a luck drawing. There are a lot of faculty members. Each with their own expectations and bias opinions. The interview and acceptance depends on whether the interviewer(s) connected with you and found you charming and likable more than anything.

So apply and stop doubting and speculating on the results. If it was meant to be, you will pick an interview date with the right faculty member(s) and get accepted. 🙂

 

[germanshepherd]

I wouldn't worry over the interview and acceptance process. Believing in yourself is all you need! Apply, do your best, and move on if it was not meant to be.

What I am getting at is the acceptance process is a luck drawing. There are a lot of faculty members. Each with their own expectations and bias opinions. The interview and acceptance depends on whether the interviewer(s) connected with you and found you charming and likable more than anything.

So apply and stop doubting and speculating on the results. If it was meant to be, you will pick an interview date with the right faculty member(s) and get accepted. 🙂

thank you very much🙂

 

[rxtech2012]

I have already posted in WAMC, but received only one response. While it was encouraging, I would also appreciate a diverse array of opinions on my chances of being interviewed, much less accepted.

Here are my stats and a brief narrative. Thank you.

a. Schools you are applying to
UCSF, UOP, TOURO, PACIFIC OREGON , Anywhere else someone would recommend, researching out of CA schools

b. Overall GPA
3.17

c. Math/Science GPA
3.0

d. GPA in last one or two school years
3.90 – major increasing grade trend (4.0 last two semesters with 20 + units each semester)
Last 2 years trend
3.59 15 units
3.794 16 units
4.0 24 units
4.0 25 units

e. Complete PCAT scores (or just composite)
Studying for it.

f. Pharmacy experience obtained
Pharmacy clerk – longs – 1200 hours
Pharmacy packaging tech – consonus – 500 hours
Pharmacy technician – walgreens – 1200 hours - CURRENT
Pharmacy volunteer – Bluepoint pharmacy – 100 hours

g. Date of application submission (PharmCAS/primary and secondary)
June 2014

Additionally, the following will help us gauge your chances but are more optional:

h. Number of LORs and source of LORs
Cell and mol professor – epidemiological research / I tutor for him (should give me an excellent letter)
Micro professor / assistant chair of biology department – HIV research
(should also give me a good quality letter)
Pharmacist – worked with him / knows me well (should be a good letter)
Doctor – owns his own practice – I do lab work for him (will probably ask me to write it – lol )

i. Non-pharmacy work and/or volunteer experience
Banfield – petnurse (16 hrs / week)
Lab tech – biotech startup (50 hrs / week)
Lab tech – Pain management clinic (work) – 10 hrs / week) - CURRENT
Research – Epidemiological – prostate cancer 1.5 yr (3 – 4 hrs/week) -
CURRENT
Research – HIV 1 yr (6 hrs / week) in lab/hands on - CURRENT
Tutor – cell phys 1.5 yr (2 hrs/week) - CURRENT
Tutor – Virology 6 months (1 hr / week) - CURRENT
TA anatomy – 1yr (3 hrs / week) - CURRENT
Scientific journal reading club – I started it (shows leadership?) 1 year (1hr/week) - CURRENT
Volunteer homeless shelter– 1yr (2-3 hrs / week) - CURRENT

j. Self-perception of interview skills
I am confident but am also prone to the same waves of emotions as anyone else that finds themself in important conversations.

k. Overall impression of personal statement quality
I have yet to write it/them, but I trust my ability to compose well-written personal statements.

So here’s the story with me: I went to a CC with the intention of pursuing pharmacy, did great and transferred into a UC on a full scholarship. But, I had zero support networks in terms of family and friends. I wasn’t mature enough to deal with the environment of a large UC and lost control of my behaviors. I got expelled.

I got into a state school a few months later and sort of aimlessly drifted, taking random classes without any real direction. This continued for years until I took cell physiology with a professor who helped me re-focus and apply myself, to the point where I’ve re-dedicated myself to the pursuit of a career in pharmacy (it took a lot of brutal self honesty and introspection to hop back on this horse after so many years).

Now I’m motivated to pursue a career in pharmacy because of the academic/ industrial research opportunities that are purported to exist out there. If anything useful happened during my years of underachievement it was that I was able to work a variety of jobs in varying aspects of the health care field. After the experiences I’ve had, I can say that the PharmD and the field itself offers the career paths that I find most arousing, though I admit I need to do even more reading into the matter to strengthen my commitment to the pursuit.

I know my obvious weaknesses are 1) my grades (I’ve failed several courses – perhaps 10), 2) the fact that I’ve been expelled from a major university.

I know my strengths are 1) the various experiences I’ve had and 2) an increasing grade trend,

Is there any hope for me?

Thank you for all the help guys, it’s been hard for me to get it together after failing so miserably, so any help you can offer will be appreciated – even if the advice is to pursue something else due to low probability of acceptance.

As long as you nail personal statement and interview you'll be fine I think. Upward trends help a lot!

 

[bumpntrunk]

If it means anything (since every applicant is unique) I got in with sub 3.0 gpa, no PCAT, no previous pharm experience. I do have a bachelors and masters and killed the interview. LOR from head of bio department and my A&P professor.

 

[germanshepherd]

As long as you nail personal statement and interview you'll be fine I think. Upward trends help a lot!

Thank you my friend 😀

 

[germanshepherd]

If it means anything (since every applicant is unique) I got in with sub 3.0 gpa, no PCAT, no previous pharm experience. I do have a bachelors and masters and killed the interview. LOR from head of bio department and my A&P professor.

Thank you for sharing your position 🙂

 

[68quebec]

if any pharmacy school only look at ur GPA and decline you, that school might want to produce book-smart pharmacist. in my opinion, your experience and other factors are great. considering how many schools u r applying, you shouldnt have any problem getting accepted unless you bomb the interviews. good luck! lets cheer at the end of this year

 

[germanshepherd]

if any pharmacy school only look at ur GPA and decline you, that school might want to produce book-smart pharmacist. in my opinion, your experience and other factors are great. considering how many schools u r applying, you shouldnt have any problem getting accepted unless you bomb the interviews. good luck! lets cheer at the end of this year

Thank you for the encouragement my friend 🙂

 

[weswelker]

i wouldnt accept you but thats just me

 

[germanshepherd]

i wouldnt accept you but thats just me

i appreciate your honesty, thank you 🙂

 

[PearlGirl]

.

 

[heeyebsx3]

Hey so did you end up getting accepted to any of your schools?