please help!

[sendwich]

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Hello all,

i've thoroughly exhausted this site looking for answers but wanted to throw out this question! i graduate with a 2.8 bs in biology at a california school. it seems like not too many pharmd schools really look at people past a certain gpa mark.

i think i should work on my gpa, no? since i already took them as an undergraduate, i'm debating on whether i should re-take them at a state school or a community college.

i emailed a couple schools, and western univ in pomona emails me back saying that i have no chance in getting into their school even if i re-take my classes.

i've thought about doing a master's, but what schools accept students with such a suck gpa??? argh.

i'm sure there are those of you out there who have been in my shoes (or know someone who has been). ANY suggestions/info would be appreciated!!!

 

[TC714]

Gh,

What you can do is complete the rest of pre-pharm classes at a JC for several reasons, such as:
1. Bring up your GPA.
2. Have good Letters of Recommendations.

2.8 is sorry to say a low performance. However, do not give up. Try to get pharmacy experience by either volunteering or if you get lucky to land a job as a pharm tech. Try some more volunteering experiences such as Science Olympiad Events, clubs, helping disabled people...

You can have a chance to get into pharmacy school you still can take some pre-pharm classes at JC and do really well (literally all A's) to bring up the 2.8 overall GPA. Also,do apply outstates since they tend to be easier than CA Rx schools.

Good luck.

 

[jemc2000]

Just remember that some schools will not allow you to retake any course in which you received a C or better.

What is your sciences only GPA? That is what some just look at. From what I understand, for example, UF only is interested in the GPA for the 2 Chems, 2 Bios, 2 OChems, 2 Anat & Phys, 2 Physics and Calc.

Maybe you should talk to a counselor at the schools you are interested in applying.

 

[sendwich]

Jemc2000,

some schools won't allow you to take classes over with a C or better? I'm not sure if I understand but are you saying that some pharm schools won't take the re-taken class into consideration in the overall gpa or the school where i would be re-taking the course will not allow me to re-take the class? if latter, how would they know? i'm considering re-taking them at a jc (something that usc recommended but i'm still have bouts)

thanks

 

[jemc2000]

For example, in my case, I took Physics I & II in 1982. Got Cs in both of them. I am now back in school to pursue my PharmD. I wanted to retake them to get my gpa up, but I was told by my local jc that since I received a C grade, which is passing, I can not take it over again. Even though I had taken Physics at a different college 20 years ago. Also, Physics 1 I took twice in 1982. Once I got a D and once I got a C. So when I apply to UF, they are going to average that D into my GPA also. Stinks, huh?

Oh, and as to how they would find out, I had to submit my transcripts to them to show I had the prereqs to take some of my other classes.

 

[dgroulx]

I believe that you would have to take the classes again at a different school. Also, you cannot take a class at a 4-year institution and replace it with a class from a community college, if you already took it at the 4-year school.

UF has a place for you to explain your grades on the application. They tend to not place emphasis on grades from a long time ago. The idea is to reward current students for doing well the first time around. A student who does not have to repeat a class stands a better chance of making it through pharm school without repeating.

 

[sendwich]

thanks jem and djgroul

i didnt mean that re-taking classes would replace the old grade, but would re-taking and doing well have any meaningful consideration to the admissions committee??

thanks

 

[chunkyb]

I believe that my school, Ferris State University, allows for course repeats; They don't look at any of your grades or courses that are older than 5 years old---so you gotta repeat them whether you did well or not.

You will rank higher if you have completed your b.s degree, but you MUST take the PCAT. If you choose to apply to this school, it will be quite a transition for you, moving from sunny california to the freezing and snow covered lands of northern Michigan.

 

[gdk420]

Hmmm I was in your situation before GH ( I had a 2.8 myself), and I got into several schools. Yep, my gpa was a 2.8 but that is not what my gpa was at pharmacy school when I applied. Most pharmacy school only look at the grades that they want. Which are mostly the science classes and the pre pharmacy classes. My friend was an econ major with a 3.7 or some insane high gpa, but after usc was done with him, he was below me. However, my grades did go because they got rid of some of the classes that I did not do well since they didn't care for them. Plus I had to repeat some classes at junior college and at my university. Yes, most university let u repeat the course, they just won't calculate your GPA in. However, most pharm schools have their own calculation, so my best advice, retake them, and Pharm school will consider them. Show a positive trend. If all else fails, do a post bac like the med students.
Second advice, since you have a low GPA, make sure you have enough pharm experience. I volunteer tons of hours, almost got my tech license, knew what I wanted to do and showed it in the interview. And I got a great letter of rec. Also apply early!!! If you apply to late, it is more difficult to get an interview spot.
Oh yeah, the lower end school, from what I can tell, do not consider what your major was or where you went to school. But I think the better name schools consider the difficulty of the school you went to and the difficulty of the classes you take.

 

[eddie269]

some schools like Nevada have a forgiveness policy. Classes that you toom more than 5 yrs ago will be overlooked and can be retook. Just look around. but you are asking a lot just for applying in CA since most of the CA schools are top 10 in the nation and receive the most applications.