PCAT score help

[Rx126]

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Hello All, this is my first post but have been reading for very long time and have learned so much.
I first want to say that I live near madison wi, and I received my aug PCAT scores today.
I got a comp score of 69 🙁, and 3/3 on my writing.
I am a 30 year old nontraditional student attending a private college. My GPA so far is a 3.95. However, this semester is killing me, I have organic 1, physics 1, and calc 1. I did real bad on my first physics test and was hoping for a good PCAT to lift my spirits. However, the 69 is depressing.
I had a long sit down with my wife and I am thinking that I may be wasting my time and should just give up. Here is my info please help me. first i am going to apply to madison, UIC, midwestern, chicago state, pretty much anywhere.
I did 1.5 years of undergrad in 1996 at UIC gpa 3.1
I work in health care with direct patient care for last 5 years.
I have good volunteer history. current GPA 3.95, PCAT 69 composite.
What can i do to improve my chances. (BTW physics stinks, how bad is it if i get a B or C in that class). Sorry for the long post, and I appreciate any of your help!!! thanks

 

[Transformer]

As far as Physics is concern, it is my understanding that Physics is not a pre-requirement for many pharmacy schools nor is it tested on the PCAT. Is there a particular reason why you are taking Physics? Is it a retake to boost GPA? or is it for a Bachelors degree? or perhaps both?

69 composite puts you in a tough situation. Since you have a high GPA, I recommend applying to new pharmacy schools only if your chem, bio, and math section scores are above 60 as well.

Pharmacy schools first look at the composite scores then your chem and math scores. If there are low scores in those two departments, I would consider a retake in October or January.

 

[Rx126]

Thanks for the quick reply! For most schools I looked at physics was a requirement. I def would not take it if i didn't need too. My teacher makes it way harder than it needs to be. I signed up for the Oct PCAT about five minutes ago and unfortunately have to drive 4 hours away.
Here are my scores
VA 63
Bio 76
Read 75
QA 62
Chem 53
comp 69
I haven't taken organic nor calc when i took this so i am hoping the october test will improve a little.
I am concerned because i am not sure when i will have time to prepare for PCAT that much due to a hard schedule of classes. I was really hoping i didn't need to retake. Any thoughts or tips?

 

[gatorpharm09]

wow, organic physics and calc must be killing you. Any reason you piled everything into one semester? I mean if you're applying for this cycle we still have spring and summer 🙂

Honestly, I'm taking orgo now so I didn't have that under my belt either when I took it in August and it proved to be a straight up orgo exam for me. I took the Kaplan class and it was pretty helpful for my bio, quant, and reading comp. I'm sure you will do much better in october since you will already have almost two months of orgo. I'm in it right now and I know I would do better in October but I just don't want to risk my composite by trying to improve on one section.

Just take some time out every day, even if it really isn't that much and focus on orgo and calc, definately orgo reactions, nomenclature and some calc basics- derivatives, integrals, LOGS, etc.

Keep your head up though! My cousin just graduated last year from UW-Madison so I know how competitive it is. Good luck, and don't sweat it. October is a completely different test day 🙂

 

[Rx126]

Yea, I knew going into this semester that it was going to be tough, which is why i hoped to have the PCAT out of my mind. I am trying hard to get into fall 09 and the only way i could do that was to take this class schedule. Most schools I am applying to want 8 semester hours of physics, are you guys finding most schools only want one semester? Thanks for the encouraging words! Hopefully the Oct test will go better.