Pass/Fail pharmacy schools

[Doh1]

If your goal is to ultimately complete a residency does the PASS/FAIL block system hinder you (or any of your classmates to the best of your knowledge) from receiving a residency?

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[BC_89]

If your goal is to ultimately complete a residency does the PASS/FAIL block system hinder you (or any of your classmates to the best of your knowledge) from receiving a residency?

Residency will rely heavily on LORs involving the staff coupled with magnifying the other credentials: interning, research, leadership / community service. I’ll be starting a 3 year pass/fail block scheduled program myself and a handful of students of each graduating class always land a residency.

Not impossible, just require a little more hussle.

 

[mentos]

What is a Pass/Fail system, does that mean there's no grades? Like high school gym class??

 

[KidPharmD]

Unless something changes, then a pass/fail programs may significantly hinder your ability to get residency interviews. I have heard RPD's say that they won't interview Pass/Fail students. I know our algorithm relies on a GPA to function so we would have no way of putting you on even footing to compare you to other candidates. That might not matter to some programs but here I am not sure what we would assume. It wouldn't be fair to assume you have a 4.0. We could assign you 0 points for GPA but that might disadvantage you against other students. We couldn't effectively screen you out for low GPA. We would thus need to assume all Pass/Fail students had good GPA's or none of them did. I feel like lots of programs will go with the None option.

 

[BC_89]

What is a Pass/Fail system, does that mean there's no grades? Like high school gym class??

Essentially.

For example, you may be required to get a 90% or above on every exam. If you don’t, you get one more shot within a couple days. If still nothing, you repeat the year or permanently dismissed. At least that’s how the program I’ll be starting works. High burn-out rate with it being a 36 month program. All for just a transcript that says “Passed.”

Of course, I’d rather graduate in 3 yrs instead of 4 with no student debt. For anyone else I wouldn’t recommend it.

 

[Doh1]

Unless something changes, then a pass/fail programs may significantly hinder your ability to get residency interviews. I have heard RPD's say that they won't interview Pass/Fail students. I know our algorithm relies on a GPA to function so we would have no way of putting you on even footing to compare you to other candidates. That might not matter to some programs but here I am not sure what we would assume. It wouldn't be fair to assume you have a 4.0. We could assign you 0 points for GPA but that might disadvantage you against other students. We couldn't effectively screen you out for low GPA. We would thus need to assume all Pass/Fail students had good GPA's or none of them did. I feel like lots of programs will go with the None option.

Would this be the case with most other programs?

 

[KidPharmD]

Would this be the case with most other programs?

Probably. Most programs I know of use GPA somewhere in their calculation for who gets offered an interview. No idea what the weighting is on that because we don't share rubrics. Most also have a minimum GPA. What to do about pass/fail schools has been a discussion since it started and I know a few programs that have just decided it isn't worth it until more info about these programs can be had.