Please! Advice much needed! (Recently decided on pharmacy)

[md832]

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I am currently in my 4th year as a biomedical engineering major. At the beginning of the year, before the spring semester started, I decided that I wanted to apply to pharmacy school because I realized that even though I enjoy most of my engineering classes it is not something I want to work as for the rest of my life. I would much rather take science classes that will give me a job in the health field where I can directly help people and pharmacy is a field where I can do this. And so I started taking some of the pre-requisites this semester (orgo 1, anatomy and bio 2). I will be staying an extra year in school in order to finish the pre-requesites and also my engineering classes. I want to apply for admittance in fall 2012, I attend a Florida school and I plan to apply to all the pharmacy schools in Florida but I will also be applying to out of states schools to have more opportunities.

My questions are:

1. How much orgo 2, physiology and microbio appears on the PCAT? I plan to take in August and I'm not sure how much learning of new material I will have to do on my own.

2. I plan on taking biochem and microbio next spring even though they are not required for the schools I'm applying, is there any other class that I should take that could prepare me for pharmacy school?

3. I will be starting to volunteer at a hospital pharmacy in a week. Over the summer before I apply should I look for another pharmacy experience and maybe do some community service volunteering? (I have zero volunteering hours during my college years). Is this ok? Or is this going to look as if I'm trying really hard all of the sudden to the admissions committee?

- My overall GPA is 3.34
- I am currently secretary of one of the engineering societies at my school
- I did research on bone replacement materials last summer
- So far I'm doing well in my pre-requesites and I have A's and B's for all previous pre-requisites taken. The reason my GPA is a 3.34 is due to C's I have gotten in engineering classes such as signal processing, materials and instrumentation classes.

I would really appreciate any advice I can get for things I can do before I apply! Thanks!

 

[Passion4Sci]

My questions are:

1. How much orgo 2, physiology and microbio appears on the PCAT? I plan to take in August and I’m not sure how much learning of new material I will have to do on my own.

On my test, of the ~50 Biology questions, it was a pretty solid mixture of core bio, micro and A&P. I recall only a smidge of O Chem 2 on my test form... most of it was O Chem 1 to my recollection anyway (it was a couple years ago).

2. I plan on taking biochem and microbio next spring even though they are not required for the schools I’m applying, is there any other class that I should take that could prepare me for pharmacy school?

You'll be ahead of the curve with Biochem under your belt. If you could take A&P that would be of benefit also (You said you might have to "self learn" stuff for the PCAT and included A&P so I assumed).

3. I will be starting to volunteer at a hospital pharmacy in a week. Over the summer before I apply should I look for another pharmacy experience and maybe do some community service volunteering? (I have zero volunteering hours during my college years). Is this ok? Or is this going to look as if I’m trying really hard all of the sudden to the admissions committee?

Well, the rule of thumb is that any volunteering is better than no volunteering... It's experience that you need so you can make an informed decision and I can't see any AdCom making it a negative issue. I guess it's possible but... eh?

- My overall GPA is 3.34
- I am currently secretary of one of the engineering societies at my school
- I did research on bone replacement materials last summer
- So far I’m doing well in my pre-requesites and I have A’s and B’s for all previous pre-requisites taken. The reason my GPA is a 3.34 is due to C’s I have gotten in engineering classes such as signal processing, materials and instrumentation classes.

I would really appreciate any advice I can get for things I can do before I apply! Thanks!

Seems like you're in good shape overall.

 

[hillwilliam]

I don't believe they will hold your engineering grades against you. I have a BS and MS in Engineering myself. Generally, engineering degrees are the most challenging/rigorous undergrad programs and get alot of respect in the application process for most things. Work hard to keep your remaining pre-req grades high and then doing well on the PCAT will only help.

I think your volunteer service in the hospital is adequate. In addition, you have leadership experience in the engineering organization at your school.