Personal Statement

[BonaPharm]

hi,
I actually applied to pharmacy school last year but sadly didn't get in, I am wondering should I change my personal statement, or keep it pretty much the same. People have been telling me I need to also talk about why I didn't get in and why I am applying again. I wanted some feedback, especially from those who didn't get in the first time. Pleaseeeee!

Thanks,

 

[Utterdevotion]

hi,
I actually applied to pharmacy school last year but sadly didn't get in, I am wondering should I change my personal statement, or keep it pretty much the same. People have been telling me I need to also talk about why I didn't get in and why I am applying again. I wanted some feedback, especially from those who didn't get in the first time. Pleaseeeee!

Thanks,

This is my first time applying...but if I were you, I wouldn't write about why I didn't get in/applying again. Many people would tell you not to even mention your GPA problems. Personal Statement is about why YOU want to be pharmacist and how getting a PharmD would get you to your goals... NOT why you couldn't get in and will continue to try. You should leave that explanation for your supplemental application if that is asked there, and at your interview. As for your personal statement, I would suggest writing more about how your experiences have led you to REALLY want to be a pharmacist (which would help explain why you would be applying again). Also, I hope you have used this past year as an opportunity to gain more pharmacy experience, which you should also write about.

Hope that helps!

 

[Scrubs Fan]

i'm in the same situation you are actually. In my opinion, i wouldn't use the same personal statements. I mean, there's a reason why you didn't get in right? hehe, but for me, i just knew that my personal statements weren't as good as they should have been. If you feel that you gave 100% on them and they're as good as they should be, then it's not such a bad idea to reuse them. or at least, rewrite them, but feel free to pull as much or as little from your old stuff.

about addressing why you are reapplying in your personal statement, my opinion is that you don't need to. the other person made a good point about focusing on you. But i think you should only address it if you are asked to address it. In the USC app, i know there is a question specifically for reapplicants. Otherwise, just answer the question asked of you. Besides, I think they know WHY you reapplied. It's more of a matter of what have you done in the past year to improve yourself as an applicant (which is basically the USC question)

anyway, best of luck to you, and hopefully we both get in this year. Cheers.

 

[BonaPharm]

Thank you all, because I wasn't quite sure what to do. I like my personal statement, but I am going to polished it more. As far as not getting in I believe it was all the PCAT becuase I actually have worked as a pharmacy tech for 4 years now, and I have also volunteered in hospital and right now in a community clinic. My GPA isnt bad (3.62). But the PCAT I believe was what was holding me. I retook it again and I hopefully I did well on it.

Good luck to you too