Please help !!!!

[mou1279]

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In August 08, I graduated with BS in chemistry. My overall GPA is 2.7 (not so great) and waiting to hear PCAT score. I want to get into Pharmacy school really bad and ready to do anything. Now I am confused between retaking science, math classes to improve GPA OR doing Masters. Regarding retaking classes (sciences), if I take them somewhere other then my graduating university, will I just get the credits (which I already have) or my actual GPA going to go up? Friend of mine said if I retake classes other then my graduating university, I just get credit and my overall GPA is going to stay the same unless I retake those classes at my graduating university. Is that true?

Do pharmacy schools care where I retake science classes (4 yrs vs. 2 yrs college)?


Any help will be really, really appreciated 🙂. THANKS.

 

[pearljam5a1]

My situation was actually very similar to yours. I graduated with a BS in Chemistry and a minor in Biology with a 2.9. I applied to pharmacy schools this cycle as sort of a feeler for what I need to improve.

My backup plan in case I didn't get in this cycle was to take a certificate course from my college in microbiology. The certificate programs are specifically designed for med students who want to improve their academic resumes with graduate classes without pursuing a degree. The classes you take can be applied to a degree if you so choose but you only have to work for the certificate.

 

[xpertholen1]

In August 08, I graduated with BS in chemistry. My overall GPA is 2.7 (not so great) and waiting to hear PCAT score. I want to get into Pharmacy school really bad and ready to do anything. Now I am confused between retaking science, math classes to improve GPA OR doing Masters. Regarding retaking classes (sciences), if I take them somewhere other then my graduating university, will I just get the credits (which I already have) or my actual GPA going to go up? Friend of mine said if I retake classes other then my graduating university, I just get credit and my overall GPA is going to stay the same unless I retake those classes at my graduating university. Is that true?

Do pharmacy schools care where I retake science classes (4 yrs vs. 2 yrs college)?


Any help will be really, really appreciated 🙂. THANKS.

Your cumulative gpa will increase with better grades regardless of where you retake the courses, however your gpa at your graduating school will stay the same (unless of course you retake them at your graduating school). your friend is correct and wrong at the same time. most pharmacy schools have their own individual preference as far as where to retake courses (4yr vs 2yr). Half of the programs I looked into said CC were fine and the other preferred me not to take courses there. I had to retake some courses, but I made sure that I was able to get A's in them. There really is no point in retaking a course that you got a D or C in and get a B, albeit that's my opinion.

On another point, the cumulative GPA is all well and good, however it's your math & science gpa that is a true indicator of how well you will do potentially. Most of the time you can justify a poorer cum. gpa due to those silly humanities electives. If you can manage to solidify your math/science gpa, I think you'll be fine. I have lots of friends that went the route of getting a masters degree to strengthen their resume, because they lacked either pharmacy experience or solid LORs, but i wouldn't advice that unless you had no other choice.

 

[Monalyce]

I would gather a list of potential schools and contact their admissions people, see what they say. As far as GPA, calculate out exactly how many classes and how long it would take you to raise your GPA...I don't really think a year of classes is that useful if you only raise your GPA, say, 0.05 or 0.1.

 

[HolyLights]

A few things to consider.

First of, most schools would not care whether you re-take classes at a CC or your graduating school, but some schools do. Do your research to the schools that you are planning on applying to, to see what they would prefer. Others that I know just retake classes at a CC because retaking them at the school you graduated from cost more per unit.

Secondly, while getting your master is a good thing, you must consider to cost for that investment. If you have a job that will pay for most of the tuition, then go for it. But majority of the time, the job will pay for part of the tuition and you will have to pay for the rest yourself.

There are a lot of people on here who are in the same predicaments. There are people who get accepted by repeating their classes and volunteering to get more experiences at the same time. There are others who pursue to get their master and then apply. A master will not guarantee your acceptance but it will increase your chances on the conditions that they see an upward trend in your grades. But then again, if they see an upward trend in your grades on the classes that you are retaking at a CC along with your volunteering experiences, leadership positions that you participate in, that would also be a big factor as well.

It all depends on your situation. If money is not a factor, then go for the master and raise up that GPA. If it is like for many of the people on here, including me, take classes at a CC and raised up the old grades and your overall GPA. Make sure you get mostly A's and sometimes B's if you can though. No point to retake if it's lower than that. As long as they see an upward trend, and the many things that you do to show you are interested in the field, the committee will look twice at your application.

P.S. Apply early, write a really good personal statement, and APPLY EARLY!! 😀

 

[aboveliquidice]

In August 08, I graduated with BS in chemistry. My overall GPA is 2.7 (not so great) and waiting to hear PCAT score. I want to get into Pharmacy school really bad and ready to do anything. Now I am confused between retaking science, math classes to improve GPA OR doing Masters. Regarding retaking classes (sciences), if I take them somewhere other then my graduating university, will I just get the credits (which I already have) or my actual GPA going to go up? Friend of mine said if I retake classes other then my graduating university, I just get credit and my overall GPA is going to stay the same unless I retake those classes at my graduating university. Is that true?

Do pharmacy schools care where I retake science classes (4 yrs vs. 2 yrs college)?


Any help will be really, really appreciated 🙂. THANKS.

Please conduct a search - this question has been asked numerous times.

Several schools do grade forgiveness - again - please conduct a search.

This forum loves to help out new members - but it really helps if you have done your research first...

 

[mou1279]

Thanks a lot for the advices you guys🙂.

I really don’t want to do masters and as far as finance goes, I am bit tight with money and time. Currently I am working in lab but I don’t think they will pay part of MS program and that’s way I want to retake few basic science classes at CC (price wise). This will help me both getting better grade and studying for PCAT because it’s has been few years since I have taken those classes.

My only concern with that is Pharmacy school admission committee will see retaking few science classes at CC (even if the grade is A) in not good way and that will lead up to a rejection.

I have not applied to any pharmacy schools yet and don’t know how pharCAS work. When schools say their min req GPA is 2.5, do they mean pharCAS version of GPA or university GPA?

I have good work experience, know can get great recommendations (from science professors, advisor, form work), and can write a decent personal statement.

But even with all that, just the fact retaking classes makes me very scary. I don’t know what to do 😕😕😕😕!!!!!!