P1 and stressing out about grades.

[PFK]

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I am a P1 at a state school. I have been stressing out about my grades lately. Our school doesn't have +/- system and it's hurting me a lot. Currently, I have 88 average in all but one class (Biochem where it's 90+). GPA would be 3.57 instead of 3.38 if +/- system existed. I am discouraged about not making dean's list. It's making me worried because I want to keep the residency option open. I am passionate about learning and so far I really like biochem and physiology.

It's just that I am not able to get those 2-3 minutiae questions right that would push me over to an A and bring up the GPA significantly. I am not sure if I would be able to keep >3.5 over 3 years but I will try to master the material to become the best clinician possible.

Problem is that residency directors won't know about it unless it reflects on my GPA or am I wrong ? I am not that far away in the understanding of the material from my classmates who get all A's because the difference in number of questions is too small (30-40 questions/exam). Or they may be super smart and remember everything? They have a numerical advantage in GPA over me though. That's my worry especially when I am competing against 3.5+ with thick CV's. I was told that you do it all these days to get a residency.

 

[rph3664]

You're a P1. Don't worry about that right now.

Maybe that's just me talking out my butt from the vantage point of someone who graduated 20 years ago.

 

[crazybob]

I am a P1 at a state school. I have been stressing out about my grades lately. Our school doesn't have +/- system and it's hurting me a lot. Currently, I have 88 average in all but one class (Biochem where it's 90+). GPA would be 3.57 instead of 3.38 if +/- system existed. I am discouraged about not making dean's list. It's making me worried because I want to keep the residency option open. I am passionate about learning and so far I really like biochem and physiology.

It's just that I am not able to get those 2-3 minutiae questions right that would push me over to an A and bring up the GPA significantly. I am not sure if I would be able to keep >3.5 over 3 years but I will try to master the material to become the best clinician possible.

Problem is that residency directors won't know about it unless it reflects on my GPA or am I wrong ? I am not that far away in the understanding of the material from my classmates who get all A's because the difference in number of questions is too small (30-40 questions/exam). Or they may be super smart and remember everything? They have a numerical advantage in GPA over me though. That's my worry especially when I am competing against 3.5+ with thick CV's. I was told that you do it all these days to get a residency.

Are you able to focus your studying on questions that are more likely to show up on the test?

I doubt they get just a few more questions right by being super smart. They probably know few questions here and there that get asked a lot. Either that or they notice something that has been emphasized in class that not everyone picks up on the first time.

Focus on classes that are important in acute care and clinical practice. If you spent more time getting A's in those classes, it will help.

Btw, it sounds like you've got a good start being close to a 3.5 as of now.

You're a P1. Don't worry about that right now.

No! P1 year is never too early to start focusing on school work and grades towards getting a residency.

 

[joetrisman]

no! P1 year is never too early to start focusing on school work and grades towards getting a residency.

+1

 

[BrightLight]

You'd better be stressed out about your grades. Given that retail is no longer a safe cushion for future pharmacy employment, residency is becoming more important than ever. With so many students competing for limited residency spots, you pretty much want to aim for Rho Chi to make yourself competitive.

 

[xiphoid2010]

Good GPA is little bit of intellect, a whole lot of hard work and good planning. You should Have an sense of urgency. It's difficult to pull the GPA up once you have a pool of lower GPAs, that's just plain math.

Learn how to listen to the professors and you will gain a sense of what her feels is important/will be tested upon. Take good notes while listening and know how to separate the notes by sense of importance. I had one of those multi colored pen and 3 different colors high lighters.

Effective study strategy and time management. Don't put off the stuff, study the lecture after the class the same day or the next to enhance uptake. Maximize efficiency and time, eg. study while working out on a bike/elliptical at the gym. Use of legalized stimulants, ie coffee (free refills) at Barnes and Nobel. Force yourself to play only when study is done. Study the material again the second time few days before test should assure you got it down.

Strategize for A. At the beginning of the semester, look at the total score breakdown. Dissect it to figure out which where the easier points are. Home works and quizzes are easier to get a 100 due to the smaller scopes. Tests early in the semester are usually easier, so hit full throttle while other are easing themselvesinto the semester. Track your score progress and adjust studying effort to each class. If you did it this way, towards the end you should have classes has score to spare and only need like 60-70 for an A, classes that need 80-90 on the final, and ones that need a 100 but is almost assured a B no matter what. That's when you focus on the borderline A group.

Either way though, the biggest component is putting in the effort and have the discipline to do whatever it takes to get it done. Most who don't do well in class is not because they are dumb, but just don't want to spend the time/effort needed instead of playing and partying.

 

[BenJammin]

You'd better be stressed out about your grades. Given that retail is no longer a safe cushion for future pharmacy employment, residency is becoming more important than ever. With so many students competing for limited residency spots, you pretty much want to aim for Rho Chi to make yourself competitive.

Wrong. Experience and outside involvement are way more important than grades. Besides, Rho Chi isn't standardized so it's all relative to your classmates. GPA > Rho Chi status.

 

[Lubeckd]

Good GPA is little bit of intellect, a whole lot of hard work and good planning. You should Have an sense of urgency. It's difficult to pull the GPA up once you have a pool of lower GPAs, that's just plain math.

Learn how to listen to the professors and you will gain a sense of what her feels is important/will be tested upon. Take good notes while listening and know how to separate the notes by sense of importance. I had one of those multi colored pen and 3 different colors high lighters.

Effective study strategy and time management. Don't put off the stuff, study the lecture after the class the same day or the next to enhance uptake. Maximize efficiency and time, eg. study while working out on a bike/elliptical at the gym. Use of legalized stimulants, ie coffee (free refills) at Barnes and Nobel. Force yourself to play only when study is done. Study the material again the second time few days before test should assure you got it down.

Strategize for A. At the beginning of the semester, look at the total score breakdown. Dissect it to figure out which where the easier points are. Home works and quizzes are easier to get a 100 due to the smaller scopes. Tests early in the semester are usually easier, so hit full throttle while other are easing themselvesinto the semester. Track your score progress and adjust studying effort to each class. If you did it this way, towards the end you should have classes has score to spare and only need like 60-70 for an A, classes that need 80-90 on the final, and ones that need a 100 but is almost assured a B no matter what. That's when you focus on the borderline A group.

Either way though, the biggest component is putting in the effort and have the discipline to do whatever it takes to get it done. Most who don't do well in class is not because they are dumb, but just don't want to spend the time/effort needed instead of playing and partying.

Wow you sound like me lol. I have 3 different color highlighters, and I don't party and play a lot. People keep telling me to though.

 

[KARM12]

Work as hard as you can now, so it isn't an issue down the road. How many students are whining about not getting interviews for residency because of a poor GPA.

Try to keep above a 3.2ish to be competitive.

 

[rxlea]

I am a P1 at a state school. I have been stressing out about my grades lately. Our school doesn't have +/- system and it's hurting me a lot. Currently, I have 88 average in all but one class (Biochem where it's 90+). GPA would be 3.57 instead of 3.38 if +/- system existed. I am discouraged about not making dean's list. It's making me worried because I want to keep the residency option open. I am passionate about learning and so far I really like biochem and physiology.

It's just that I am not able to get those 2-3 minutiae questions right that would push me over to an A and bring up the GPA significantly. I am not sure if I would be able to keep >3.5 over 3 years but I will try to master the material to become the best clinician possible.

Problem is that residency directors won't know about it unless it reflects on my GPA or am I wrong ? I am not that far away in the understanding of the material from my classmates who get all A's because the difference in number of questions is too small (30-40 questions/exam). Or they may be super smart and remember everything? They have a numerical advantage in GPA over me though. That's my worry especially when I am competing against 3.5+ with thick CV's. I was told that you do it all these days to get a residency.

Bust your ass man. P1 will give you cushion later. And when it comes to therapeutics, give it everything because A's are important. Perfect your study skills now.

 

[MrsAppleseed]

You have zero control over the grades of other people, so do your best and figure out how you study best. Prioritize what it seems the professor prioritizes, which works most of the time (I'm currently in a class in which this does not work, but that's the minority). Obsessing over 2 points here and there is going to send you on a self-study of anti-psychotics. Try your best, and really, just don't talk to other people about their grades.

 

[BenJammin]

Bust your ass man. P1 will give you cushion later. And when it comes to therapeutics, give it everything because A's are important. Perfect your study skills now.

Wish I could agree with that too but my school has, what I like to believe, the hardest therapeutics course in the country. 75 or higher average to sit for the final exam and you must make a 75 or higher on the final to pass the class. Otherwise you get an F. You could walk into the final with a 99, make a 74 on the final, and leave the class with an F. Talk about pressure. Wasn't a problem for me but I hate it when people think classes and grades are universal across the board. An F student at my alma mater could easily compete with a C student.

 

[rxlea]

Wish I could agree with that too but my school has, what I like to believe, the hardest therapeutics course in the country. 75 or higher average to sit for the final exam and you must make a 75 or higher on the final to pass the class. Otherwise you get an F. You could walk into the final with a 99, make a 74 on the final, and leave the class with an F. Talk about pressure. Wasn't a problem for me but I hate it when people think classes and grades are universal across the board. An F student at my alma mater could easily compete with a C student.

It doesn't matter. Residency directors see transcripts.

 

[SHC1984]

Bad news is P1 year is so much EASIER than your P2 and P3 year.

I have a 4.0 GPA my P1 and P2 year.....NOT so much my P3 year. 🙄

If you can't do well your P1 year...P2 and especially P3 will be impossible for you.

 

[BenJammin]

It doesn't matter. Residency directors see transcripts.

Which is why I'm glad I got a hospital job without a residency.

 

[All4MyDaughter]

Bad news is P1 year is so much EASIER than your P2 and P3 year.

I have a 4.0 GPA my P1 and P2 year.....NOT so much my P3 year. 🙄

If you can't do well your P1 year...P2 and especially P3 will be impossible for you.

I found the opposite be true. I had trouble with biochem and pharmaceutics and kinetics and the "basic science" classes, and thought the practice based stuff like therapeutics was much easier.

 

[Lubeckd]

I found the opposite be true. I had trouble with biochem and pharmaceutics and kinetics and the "basic science" classes, and thought the practice based stuff like therapeutics was much easier.

I like therapeutics, but I have to dipiro all the time.

 

[rxlea]

Which is why I'm glad I got a hospital job without a residency.

Good for you

 

[rxlea]

I found the opposite be true. I had trouble with biochem and pharmaceutics and kinetics and the "basic science" classes, and thought the practice based stuff like therapeutics was much easier.

Ditto.

 

[297point1]

I like therapeutics, but I have to dipiro all the time.

I've never seen "Dipiro" used as a verb before...

 

[PFK]

Learn how to listen to the professors and you will gain a sense of what her feels is important/will be tested upon. Take good notes while listening and know how to separate the notes by sense of importance.


Strategize for A. At the beginning of the semester, look at the total score breakdown. Dissect it to figure out which where the easier points are. Home works and quizzes are easier to get a 100 due to the smaller scopes. Tests early in the semester are usually easier, so hit full throttle while other are easing themselves into the semester. Track your score progress and adjust studying effort to each class. If you did it this way, towards the end you should have classes has score to spare and only need like 60-70 for an A, classes that need 80-90 on the final, and ones that need a 100 but is almost assured a B no matter what. That's when you focus on the borderline A group.

You are spot on with your observation about doing well early in class. I aced my first 3 biochem exams (98, 90, 95) but I still need 8 for an A in comprehensive final. Need like 47 to get a B. So if I get like 82 after putting in effort, it's same like getting a 47. Both are reflected as B's.

Unfortunately, the slides are very basic and the professors just read off the slides. The questions however are very detailed (k-type). I had to read review books, youtube, textbook to get a firm grasp of information.

Another thing is that we have only 30-40 questions (sometimes 20), all exams are comprehensive of the previous exams. I got 90 on two exams, messed up on one exam (33/40 = 83) and now I need like 93 on the comprehensive final. I will end up with like 88.5 average in that class. In fact, in three out of five class, I will end up with 88 or 89 avg. That's 3 B's instead of 3 A's.

Obsessing over 2 points here and there is going to send you on a self-study of anti-psychotics. Try your best, and really, just don't talk to other people about their grades.

When it comes to residency, they are not gonna see my 89 averages. They will just see plain B's that brought my GPA down. I wish I didn't had to obsess about 2-3 questions which I am gonna forget anyways. I wish there was +/- system so that I could focus on really learning the material and the hard work will be rewarded.

 

[SHC1984]

Which is why I'm glad I got a hospital job without a residency.

Staffing is boring though. The ones that did a residency and have the full clinical jobs have a more interesting job.

 

[Ackj]

When it comes to residency, they are not gonna see my 89 averages. They will just see plain B's that brought my GPA down.

Does your school grade your rotations? Ours are pass/fail, so our overall GPAs are lower than other schools. Virtually all students will have a whole year of 4.0 from rotations factored in, while we only have our 3 years of courses in the calculation.

 

[Ackj]

Staffing is boring though. The ones that did a residency and have the full clinical jobs have a more interesting job.

But what about the people who do a residency and end up staffing anyway?

 

[SHC1984]

Does your school grade your rotations? Ours are pass/fail, so our overall GPAs are lower than other schools. Virtually all students will have a whole year of 4.0 from rotations factored in, while we only have our 3 years of courses in the calculation.

Well I got a 4.0 my P1 year and P2 year....but I do NOT have a 4.0 my P4 year. 😳

As I said before getting a 4.0 is the EASIEST P1 year. P1 year is a "free" give me year. Getting a 4.0 your P4 year will be harder than your P1 year IMO. (Easiest to Hardest to get a 4.0 it would be P1<P2<P4<<<<<<<<<P3)

But what about the people who do a residency and end up staffing anyway?

That really would suck. If I did a residency I want a FULL clinical job with NO staffing involved.

But you are right nothing is guarantee... you could do a residency and end up unemployed. 🙄

 

[owlegrad]

Um, by fourth year you mean rotations? You would put that harder than first and second year? 😕

 

[SHC1984]

Um, by fourth year you mean rotations? You would put that harder than first and second year? 😕

I thought P1 year was fairly easy I studied 1 to 2 hrs a day and made straight A(s). P2 year was much harder....I studied 3X more and have LESS of a life...but I still pull a 4.0 at the end....

P4 year NOW....I have 2 B(s) right now....I did NOT work as hard as I did P2 year (I def did NOT study at all P4 year! ) But I feel that the grades are fairly subjective....how can you grade someone on a rotation....it's like how to you grade someone on their "looks", "art work", etc. It's very subjective....a person or art work might look "good" to you and deserve an A but it might look like crap to someone else and deserve a F. Same with rotations...how in the hell do you grade a student? On an exam you can see how many questions they missed that's easy...but on how they are on a rotation??? how do you grade that? it's like grading a person's art project...some might like it and give it an A some might hate it and give it an F. It's 100% subjective.

P4 year is easier in that you don't have to study as much as P2 year...fair enough....but P2 year is easier in that you are ABLE to control your grade easier. I miss less than 10% of my questions on exams so I made straight A(s). P4 year...I have NO idea how to control my grade...I get the grade the preceptor wants to give me. Some people like me and give me A(s) and I guess some dislike me and give me B(s)! hahahahahaha...I don't have to take an exam so I don't have any control of my grade in that sense.

 

[owlegrad]

Yup, showing up on time, doing your assignments, being professional, all 100% subjective.

I take it you feel the same way about how employers evaluate employees? 100% subjective.

 

[SHC1984]

Yup, showing up on time, doing your assignments, being professional, all 100% subjective.

I take it you feel the same way about how employers evaluate employees? 100% subjective.

I do all of that and I made A(s) on all my rotations so far except 2. Why did I make B(s) on those two? 😕

You mean how people get jobs and get admissions to colleges? Of course there are some "objective" measures like grades, test scores, performance (how many errors you make on the job), tardiness, etc. There are some objective parts yes. Just like on rotations there are objective parts like showing up on time and doing assignments. etc.

But obviously there are subjective parts too. If there were NO subjective parts...then it must mean everyone that didn't get accepted to Harvard medical school are NOT qualified people. And everyone that did NOT get the job are lazy bums. Obviously, LUCK has something to do with who gets the job and who gets the spot in Harvard and who does not.

There are some objective measures...but LUCK plays a role it in too.

How do you get rich in life? 50% hardwork. 50% LUCK.

How did I get the job I wanted? 50% my CV (Objective) and 50% my interviewer likes me (LUCK, you can't control that element.)

I have no compliants about getting jobs so far...hahaha...I applied to Walgreens, Target and Walmart and have gotten every single job i have ever applied for...so I am not on here to complain....but we are discussing what is HARDER? And is getting the JOB, getting the admissions to a college that recieved over 3000+ applications, and getting an A on rotations OBJECTIVE and SUBJECTIVE? I say it's both and LUCK plays a huge factor in all of those.

 

[Rutgers2015]

I think it depends on the school. It's not easy getting a 4.0 P1 year here, and if you get a 4.0 P2 year, you are either extremely brilliant or do absolutely nothing with your time other than study 24/7.

Going back to the original question, it's never too early to develop a solid GPA and it does only get harder as time goes on. Don't just focus on the perfect GPA, there are many other things that are much more important like work/volunteer experience, organization involvement, and other non-academic things that make you well rounded and a better candidate overall.

 

[PFK]

Does your school grade your rotations? Ours are pass/fail, so our overall GPAs are lower than other schools. Virtually all students will have a whole year of 4.0 from rotations factored in, while we only have our 3 years of courses in the calculation.

I don't know if our school has graded rotations or not. Does 4th year grades matter for the residency calculation though? I thought only P1-P3 year grades were used.

P.S - Might be too early for me to ask but how does is the GPA for residency application determined since some schools have +/- are others don't ? Having 89 averages in three classes, I wish I can enter B+ instead of B's this semester. It's 3.36 instead of 4.0 because of that 🙁 Why do schools do that? It doesn't motivate students at all especially when the effort needed for studying increases exponentially for higher averages.

 

[SHC1984]

and it does only get harder as time goes on. .

That was my point...only I elaborated for awhile. LOL...

I say connections>>>>grades. The people that get jobs now have GOOD connections...they know all the IMPORTANT people and thats how they get the jobs. Connection is the MOST important...If your uncle is the DOP you will get the job period. Doesn't matter what your grades are.

 

[Sparda29]

I do all of that and I made A(s) on all my rotations so far except 2. Why did I make B(s) on those two? 😕

You mean how people get jobs and get admissions to colleges? Of course there are some "objective" measures like grades, test scores, performance (how many errors you make on the job), tardiness, etc. There are some objective parts yes. Just like on rotations there are objective parts like showing up on time and doing assignments. etc.

But obviously there are subjective parts too. If there were NO subjective parts...then it must mean everyone that didn't get accepted to Harvard medical school are NOT qualified people. And everyone that did NOT get the job are lazy bums. Obviously, LUCK has something to do with who gets the job and who gets the spot in Harvard and who does not.

There are some objective measures...but LUCK plays a role it in too.

How do you get rich in life? 50% hardwork. 50% LUCK.

How did I get the job I wanted? 50% my CV (Objective) and 50% my interviewer likes me (LUCK, you can't control that element.)

I have no compliants about getting jobs so far...hahaha...I applied to Walgreens, Target and Walmart and have gotten every single job i have ever applied for...so I am not on here to complain....but we are discussing what is HARDER? And is getting the JOB, getting the admissions to a college that recieved over 3000+ applications, and getting an A on rotations OBJECTIVE and SUBJECTIVE? I say it's both and LUCK plays a huge factor in all of those.

I make my own luck.

 

[PFK]

Wrong. Experience and outside involvement are way more important than grades. Besides, Rho Chi isn't standardized so it's all relative to your classmates. GPA > Rho Chi status.

Why would GPA be considered standardized ? The curriculum, grading scale, +/- system, professors can vary among different schools. Now an exam like USMLE would be standardized if it existed.

I think it depends on the school. It's not easy getting a 4.0 P1 year here, and if you get a 4.0 P2 year, you are either extremely brilliant or do absolutely nothing with your time other than study 24/7.

Going back to the original question, it's never too early to develop a solid GPA and it does only get harder as time goes on. Don't just focus on the perfect GPA, there are many other things that are much more important like work/volunteer experience, organization involvement, and other non-academic things that make you well rounded and a better candidate overall.

It's not that hard to get B's at my school. It's very difficult to get an A especially if you get B on one of the test. I don't think I can/want to go over 3.5. Would that make me competitive if I have enough connections/things on CV ? Yeah, I want to be involved, work/volunteer and gain experience. Although, I was told that you have to do it all including 3.7 GPA due to competitiveness of residency.

From now onward, I am going to prioritize and not mess up on any of the tests so that I can have cushion on final. That way, a lower grade would be required on final for A, less stress.and I won't end up with 89 avg or B

 

[Rutgers2015]

Why would GPA be considered standardized ? The curriculum, grading scale, +/- system, professors can vary among different schools. Now an exam like USMLE would be standardized if it existed.



It's not that hard to get B's at my school. It's very difficult to get an A especially if you get B on one of the test. I don't think I can/want to go over 3.5. Would that make me competitive if I have enough connections/things on CV ? Yeah, I want to be involved, work/volunteer and gain experience. Although, I was told that you have to do it all including 3.7 GPA due to competitiveness of residency.

From now onward, I am going to prioritize and not mess up on any of the tests so that I can have cushion on final. That way, a lower grade would be required on final for A, less stress.and I won't end up with 89 avg or B

3.7 is a great GPA, but I'm pretty sure above 3.3 and definitely above 3.5 is competitive if you want to be safe. But you must understand that a higher GPA is not directly proportional to better chance of matching and that it's a combo of factors so the best thing to do while trying your best in school grade-wise is to build your CV, nail interviews, and do well on rotations so you can get good letters of recommendation. Those are the things which will seal the deal.

 

[PFK]

3.7 is a great GPA, but I'm pretty sure above 3.3 and definitely above 3.5 is competitive if you want to be safe. But you must understand that a higher GPA is not directly proportional to better chance of matching and that it's a combo of factors so the best thing to do while trying your best in school grade-wise is to build your CV, nail interviews, and do well on rotations so you can get good letters of recommendation. Those are the things which will seal the deal.

Yeah I think I am stressing too much about my grades and it's just first semester. I am gonna try my best and get that 3.5 but not let experience, connections, things on CV to slip when going for that 3.7

 

[xiphoid2010]

Yeah I think I am stressing too much about my grades and it's just first semester. I am gonna try my best and get that 3.5 but not let experience, connections, things on CV to slip when going for that 3.7

Competitive candidates now a days have it all, good GPA, work experience, leadership , research, letters of recommendations etc. So GPA is important. Especially as things are going to get more competitive 3 years down the road. You want keep a 3.5 minimum.

My residency site used a scoring matrix for all of the areas. The cut off score has been increasing each year to the point that weakness in one area usually means the candidate didn't make the interview invite.

Work your butt off, cover all your basis. What if you have to play and sleep less, bite the bullet and don't risk the one shot you got. Besides, if you can't handle that during pharmacy school, residency workload is gonna make you cry.

 

[BenJammin]

Why would GPA be considered standardized ? The curriculum, grading scale, +/- system, professors can vary among different schools. Now an exam like USMLE would be standardized if it existed.

GPA is more across the board than Rho Chi. Grading scales at schools don't really differ with some exceptions like at my alma mater. Rho Chi is like a bell curve where you don't always get what you want meaning there is no clear line between who gets in and who doesn't when you look at grades. I've mentioned it several times that there have been pharmacy classes where I would have been the number one student or the bottom of the barrel. As long as Rho Chi uses percentages as its cut off, it will never be standardized.

 

[rxlea]

Are GPAs weighted similarly for rural residencies?

 

[All4MyDaughter]

Are GPAs weighted similarly for rural residencies?

I don't think any of us can answer that. GPA is important everywhere and low GPAs are likely to get you screened out at most places. But I don't think any one type of residency has hard and fast rules for how much GPA counts. It's program dependent.

 

[bw6]

I am a P1 at a state school. I have been stressing out about my grades lately. Our school doesn't have +/- system and it's hurting me a lot. Currently, I have 88 average in all but one class (Biochem where it's 90+). GPA would be 3.57 instead of 3.38 if +/- system existed. I am discouraged about not making dean's list. It's making me worried because I want to keep the residency option open. I am passionate about learning and so far I really like biochem and physiology.

It's just that I am not able to get those 2-3 minutiae questions right that would push me over to an A and bring up the GPA significantly. I am not sure if I would be able to keep >3.5 over 3 years but I will try to master the material to become the best clinician possible.

Problem is that residency directors won't know about it unless it reflects on my GPA or am I wrong ? I am not that far away in the understanding of the material from my classmates who get all A's because the difference in number of questions is too small (30-40 questions/exam). Or they may be super smart and remember everything? They have a numerical advantage in GPA over me though. That's my worry especially when I am competing against 3.5+ with thick CV's. I was told that you do it all these days to get a residency.

+/- systems won't necessarily help. At my school, your GPA would still be a 3.3-3.4 and we are on a +/- system. but you need a 93 for A, 90 for A-, 88 for B+, 83 for B, 80 for B-, etc. So in this system you would have 4 B+ and 1 A-. ((3.3 x 4) + 3.7) / 5 = 3.38

It isn't the schools grading system hurting you because you would have the same GPA at my school. Own up and get better grades next semester, don't blame it on the system.

 

[Ackj]

+/- systems won't necessarily help. At my school, your GPA would still be a 3.3-3.4 and we are on a +/- system. but you need a 93 for A, 90 for A-, 88 for B+, 83 for B, 80 for B-, etc. So in this system you would have 4 B+ and 1 A-. ((3.3 x 4) + 3.7) / 5 = 3.38

It isn't the schools grading system hurting you because you would have the same GPA at my school. Own up and get better grades next semester, don't blame it on the system.

Maybe that's your school's cutoffs, but it certainly is disappointing to know that having an 89.4 may as well be a 79.5.

 

[PFK]

+/- systems won't necessarily help. At my school, your GPA would still be a 3.3-3.4 and we are on a +/- system. but you need a 93 for A, 90 for A-, 88 for B+, 83 for B, 80 for B-, etc. So in this system you would have 4 B+ and 1 A-. ((3.3 x 4) + 3.7) / 5 = 3.38

It isn't the schools grading system hurting you because you would have the same GPA at my school. Own up and get better grades next semester, don't blame it on the system.

Well, some classes carry more credit hours than other. At your school, I would have gotten 3.42 instead of 3.31 for 13 hours.

Maybe that's your school's cutoffs, but it certainly is disappointing to know that having an 89.4 may as well be a 79.5.

Agreed. Especially when the effort to go from 79.5 to 89.4 is exponential.

 

[pharmasaur]

I think it depends on the school. It's not easy getting a 4.0 P1 year here, and if you get a 4.0 P2 year, you are either extremely brilliant or do absolutely nothing with your time other than study 24/7.

My school is like this too 🙁 I don't know what my grades are yet for this first semester but it'll probably be low 3 something. It sucks because even though we're a top 10 school our residency match rate isn't so stellar and I bet low GPAs have something to do with it.

SHC, is your school easy? sounds like it. I study 5x more than you did as a P1 and I will be happy if i break 3.5

 

[SHC1984]

My school is like this too 🙁 I don't know what my grades are yet for this first semester but it'll probably be low 3 something. It sucks because even though we're a top 10 school our residency match rate isn't so stellar and I bet low GPAs have something to do with it.

SHC, is your school easy? sounds like it. I study 5x more than you did as a P1 and I will be happy if i break 3.5

P1 year was easy...but NOT P3. I thought P3 year was so hard! I hated it! P2 year was pretty intense too.

You have to realize that I have a bachelor's degree in Chemistry. I studied well in undergrad and graduated with almost a 4.0 with a chem degree. Classes will be easier for me compare to a 20 yo that just did 2 years of basic classes.

 

[pharmasaur]

P1 year was easy...but NOT P3. I thought P3 year was so hard! I hated it! P2 year was pretty intense too.

You have to realize that I have a bachelor's degree in Chemistry. I studied well in undergrad and graduated with almost a 4.0 with a chem degree. Classes will be easier for me compare to a 20 yo that just did 2 years of basic classes.

a chem degree with 4.0 is hard to pull off yes...I'm 24 and I have two bachelors degrees, one of them in cell biology (3.5 GPA) so no I'm not a 2.9 community college transfer.

 

[SHC1984]

a chem degree with 4.0 is hard to pull off yes...I'm 24 and I have two bachelors degrees, one of them in cell biology (3.5 GPA) so no I'm not a 2.9 community college transfer.

Oh no. I did not mean you did that. I mean in general people that did well in undergrad and have science degrees will find pharmacy school easier compare to people that are very young with no degrees or non science degrees.

Graduating pharmacy school YOUNG is def better than graduating old...so I am not insulting. lol...

 

[xiphoid2010]

Maybe that's your school's cutoffs, but it certainly is disappointing to know that having an 89.4 may as well be a 79.5.

That's assuming a small sample size that doesn't fit a bell curve. Over several years and a large number do classes, the 89.4 and 79.5 should cancel out. The only thing I missed was there wasn't an A+ where earning >4.0 is possible. But if you have a 3.8 or higher, you are getting max on that part of scoring matrix anyway. No bonus for overkill.

 

[lookatbanner]

I am a P1 at a state school. I have been stressing out about my grades lately. Our school doesn't have +/- system and it's hurting me a lot. Currently, I have 88 average in all but one class (Biochem where it's 90+). GPA would be 3.57 instead of 3.38 if +/- system existed. I am discouraged about not making dean's list. It's making me worried because I want to keep the residency option open. I am passionate about learning and so far I really like biochem and physiology.

It's just that I am not able to get those 2-3 minutiae questions right that would push me over to an A and bring up the GPA significantly. I am not sure if I would be able to keep >3.5 over 3 years but I will try to master the material to become the best clinician possible.

Problem is that residency directors won't know about it unless it reflects on my GPA or am I wrong ? I am not that far away in the understanding of the material from my classmates who get all A's because the difference in number of questions is too small (30-40 questions/exam). Or they may be super smart and remember everything? They have a numerical advantage in GPA over me though. That's my worry especially when I am competing against 3.5+ with thick CV's. I was told that you do it all these days to get a residency.

I'm curious what makes a school more difficult than another school. Someone mentioned that you had to be brilliant to get a 4.0 P2 year at their school. Is that because of the amount of exams/classes, or are the finals cumulative, classes taken with med students, etc.? I found our classes P1/P2 year to be fairly tame, esp. pharmacology/pathology even though those were taught by the same profs that med students have. However, then I found out that med students have cumulative finals and pharmacology squeezed into one semester...

P3 year is harder for us I think because a lot of classes have about 100 points total with a 93 as an A, so you're only allotted missing 2-3 questions.

Also to the OP, don't worry about GPA that much, As long as you keep it above a certain cutoff point (3.5-3.6?) you can make up for it with other things like leadership, research, volunteering and networking, providing you excel in those other areas.

 

[pharmasaur]

I'm curious what makes a school more difficult than another school.

It's just the level of detail of the exams and how hard the professors are, and how they curve the classes. at my school it's really hard to pull an A in a class. If you work really hard you are probably gonna get a B. So most people end up with a bunch of Bs and maybe an A or two balanced by a rare C so you end up with a low 3.0 gpa

For example I thought I did really well on my pharmacy practice midterm but I got a low B because points were taken off for minor things. Like for example what is an appropriate dose of vit D for X age...I wrote 800 units. WRONG. 800 IU. (give me a break) where do you give ep injection after anaphylactic shock to immunization...not "in the thigh" as the professor said in class or was written on the slide, but "IM" (we just had to infer). how much weight loss is safe per week? Not "~ 1 lb" but "1/2 - 1 lb". it had to be written as a RANGE. like who cares??? Most of the mistakes I got on the test, I actually knew, but it wasn't written exactly the correct way as desired by the professors. aka not perfect. so, that can easily mess you up.