PCAT Dillemna

[bazuka]

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I am so confused. I interviewed at UH and Texas Tech but didn't get in this year 🙁

I am not sure that about my interview score but could it be that I need to take the PCAT again? MY first composite was 62. I retook it in January and got 76. The only areas I bombed were the writing 2.0 and reading 26. Everything else was in 70's, except Bio - 94%.

But schools gave me a 3.5 sum GPA. I have been a RX Tech for 3 years now.

I seriously do not want to take it. Tech tells me to retake it. UH doesn't...........

I am considering UH, Texas Tech, OU, UT, TSU, USC and Henderson in Las Vegas and a couple more in the east (not yet decided).

Any advise??😕😕😕

 

[chemguy79]

I am so confused. I interviewed at UH and Texas Tech but didn't get in this year 🙁

I am not sure that about my interview score but could it be that I need to take the PCAT again? MY first composite was 62. I retook it in January and got 76. The only areas I bombed were the writing 2.0 and reading 26. Everything else was in 70's, except Bio - 94%.

But schools gave me a 3.5 sum GPA. I have been a RX Tech for 3 years now.

I seriously do not want to take it. Tech tells me to retake it. UH doesn't...........

I am considering UH, Texas Tech, OU, UT, TSU, USC and Henderson in Las Vegas and a couple more in the east (not yet decided).

Any advise??😕😕😕

If a school is telling you to retake the PCAT, I would strongly advise you to retake the exam if you expect to get accepted there again next year. IMO, Reapplicants should make substantial changes to their application in order to get accepted. Your PCAT score is good, but it could definitely be improved.

Insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different response, so study for the PCAT and hope for the best on the next application cycle.

 

[superccat]

I am so confused. I interviewed at UH and Texas Tech but didn't get in this year 🙁

I am not sure that about my interview score but could it be that I need to take the PCAT again? MY first composite was 62. I retook it in January and got 76. The only areas I bombed were the writing 2.0 and reading 26. Everything else was in 70's, except Bio - 94%.

But schools gave me a 3.5 sum GPA. I have been a RX Tech for 3 years now.

I seriously do not want to take it. Tech tells me to retake it. UH doesn't...........

I am considering UH, Texas Tech, OU, UT, TSU, USC and Henderson in Las Vegas and a couple more in the east (not yet decided).

Any advise??😕😕😕

Did you get a B.S. If you didn't, try to get a B.S in biology and chemistry with at least 3.04 GPA. They will increase your change of getting in a Pharmacy school.

In case you concern about where did I get that information, I have a friend who get accepted into 7 pharmacy schools. She has a B.S in biology, 70 percentile PCAT, and 3.04 GPA. I hope my information help you.👍

 

[rxlea]

A PCAT with a 26 in verbal and a 2.0 in writing is not "good" in my opinion. The writing portion of the PCAT is an (albeit it meager) attempt to ascertain your abilities at communicating effectively. This is why many pharmacy schools incorporate essay writing into their interview process. OP, I really think you need to retake the PCAT.

It could also be the interview...perhaps some mock interviews would serve you well. I know someone who has a close to perfect GPA, an excellent PCAT, extensive experience as a tech but didn't get in because he "needed to improve his communication skills [during the interview]". I am not saying this is necessarily the case for you, but it wouldn't hurt to contact the schools and see what it is about your application that dissuaded them from offering you admission. It might be as simple as someone already mentioned: not having a degree.

 

[ShadowRX]

The OP's PCAT "in not 'good'," Lea, "in not 'good' " to compete 😀

OP: Nice GPA... competitive, in fact. If you think you did well on the interviews, then focus on doing much better on your PCAT. Cumulative mid-80s will suffice, and 90s will increase your chances all the more. RC is always low, but that 26 is too low.

You can always improve on interviews. Try prepping your answers to general interview questions.

 

[rxlea]

Yeah, that's what I get for typing a response out on my phone. So, I will edit it.

EDIT: done. And, my reference to "good" was because the above poster stated that the OP's PCAT was "good" when, IMO, it is not.

OP, the more I think about it...it is probably the interview. But, I would retake the PCAT anyway. You have to improve your app somehow or you might not be granted another interview.

And Shadow, I must respectfully disagree with you on something...RC isn't "always" low and, like you said, it certainly isn't THAT low among competitive applicants.

 

[Silvermist]

I am so confused. I interviewed at UH and Texas Tech but didn't get in this year 🙁

I am not sure that about my interview score but could it be that I need to take the PCAT again? MY first composite was 62. I retook it in January and got 76. The only areas I bombed were the writing 2.0 and reading 26. Everything else was in 70's, except Bio - 94%.

But schools gave me a 3.5 sum GPA. I have been a RX Tech for 3 years now.

I seriously do not want to take it. Tech tells me to retake it. UH doesn't...........

I am considering UH, Texas Tech, OU, UT, TSU, USC and Henderson in Las Vegas and a couple more in the east (not yet decided).

Any advise??😕😕😕

I would retake it. Focus on RC (Kaplan has a good, effective method for this). It looks like bio is your strong suit, which is great! If your chem is in the 70s as well, you might want to give it a little more attention too to help your application. GPA looks good though!!

 

[rxellie]

I am so confused. I interviewed at UH and Texas Tech but didn't get in this year 🙁

I am not sure that about my interview score but could it be that I need to take the PCAT again? MY first composite was 62. I retook it in January and got 76. The only areas I bombed were the writing 2.0 and reading 26. Everything else was in 70's, except Bio - 94%.

But schools gave me a 3.5 sum GPA. I have been a RX Tech for 3 years now.

I seriously do not want to take it. Tech tells me to retake it. UH doesn't...........

I am considering UH, Texas Tech, OU, UT, TSU, USC and Henderson in Las Vegas and a couple more in the east (not yet decided).

Any advise??😕😕😕

take it again. you know your weak points of the test so work harder to increase those scores. writing and reading are important as well 🙂 good luck!

 

[paipailaau]

Did you ask them what else you could do to improve your apps? Getting your B.S. would definitely help as well as community service.

 

[bazuka]

I already have a BS Bio degree from a private university and 100 hours of community service 🙁

 

[phathead]

I am so confused. I interviewed at UH and Texas Tech but didn't get in this year 🙁

I am not sure that about my interview score but could it be that I need to take the PCAT again? MY first composite was 62. I retook it in January and got 76. The only areas I bombed were the writing 2.0 and reading 26. Everything else was in 70's, except Bio - 94%.

But schools gave me a 3.5 sum GPA. I have been a RX Tech for 3 years now.

I seriously do not want to take it. Tech tells me to retake it. UH doesn't...........

I am considering UH, Texas Tech, OU, UT, TSU, USC and Henderson in Las Vegas and a couple more in the east (not yet decided).

Any advise??😕😕😕

Honestly I've seen people get in with far far worse scores than that, maybe it was in fact your interview

 

[ShadowRX]

Yeah, that's what I get for typing a response out on my phone. So, I will edit it.

EDIT: done. And, my reference to "good" was because the above poster stated that the OP's PCAT was "good" when, IMO, it is not.

OP, the more I think about it...it is probably the interview. But, I would retake the PCAT anyway. You have to improve your app somehow or you might not be granted another interview.

And Shadow, I must respectfully disagree with you on something...RC isn't "always" low and, like you said, it certainly isn't THAT low among competitive applicants.

Compared with the other subscores, it's usually the lowest.

My RC was a 61, but my Verbal was a 99. My other scores were in the mid 80s to mid 90s. Writing 3.5

 

[b1234]

Compared with the other subscores, it's usually the lowest.

My RC was a 61, but my Verbal was a 99. My other scores were in the mid 80s to mid 90s. Writing 3.5

They're percentile scores...

Therefore, no one given section is going to be the "lowest" all the time...

 

[ShadowRX]

Comparatively... I get what you're saying...


Ok, onto OP's issue - practice general and specific interview questions.