PLEASE READ!!!! (i'm freakin out)

[shishkabab]

---

Members do not see this ad.

hey guys, this is my first post. I just needed some questions answered and some advice wouldn't hurt either.

I attended JC for 3 years with a business degree in mind but when i transferred 2 years ago i changed to pre-pharm.

I am currently SDSU and will be finishing up my pharmacy pre-reqs next semester. I'm not sure how long it will take to finish up my degree(chem) but it won't be next year.

My GPA is about a 3.1 or 3.2 and i have a TON of units, just no degree! My questions are....

1. should i even bother applying this fall? im not planning on taking my PACTS until next year so it would be a school that doesnt require them: maybe UOP or USC.

2. I also have ZERO pharm experience, but i'm looking for a job right now to work all summer and i'm definetly gonna get into some volunteer programs.

so i guess the final question is(and i know you guys get this A LOT, but🙂
WHAT ARE MY CHANCES????!!!! 😳

 

[aubieRx]

it never hurts ! i applied out ofthe blue with no pharmacy experience and still go in. Although my grades and pcat score really got me through the door in the end (plus i had to shadow a pharmacist over spring break before i was admitted).

My chances were pretty slim there for awhile though (having no pharmacy experience) and i made it. I almost thought about not applying this year because i waited until the last possible minute to fill out the app. and take the pcat (jan 22).

honestly, it really is cutthroat competition though. Some people apply 3 times before getting in. If i had known this while filling out the application this december it woulda discouraged me and i probably wouldnt have done it...but fortunately i knew nothing of this stuff at the time 🙂

truly it was the luck of the irish with me

but i must say one thing i have learned: get pharmacy experience. It almost kept me out of pharmacy school

 

[shishkabab]

thanks! anyone else? and info ( good or bad) would really help. thanks guys.

 

[Lexian]

None of the California schools require the PCAT.

 

[fairyofsong]

You should take the PCAT even if you don't think you will do well on it, atleast you'll have a startings score. I took it as often as I could--5 back to back sessions with the idea that my scores would improve-they did by about 10 pts each times. Also, you have the opprotunity to study the stuff you have been exposed to. Don't worry about the material you haven't been exposed to yet, just master the material you can.

A lot goes into pharmacy school acceptance.. not just scores and gpa. Try to get your gpa up though, that is a strong leg to stand on. Good pharmacists' recommendations are important too. Pick a professor that knows you well, maybe an advisor. Someone recently posted a post about recommend letters-good info.

Keep your head up, it may take more than one try. If this is what you really want to do, it will happen. You will make it happen. Best of luck and I'll be happy to help you wil any other questions!!

 

[shishkabab]

thanks guy/gals. ya...im planning on taking my PCAT just not anytime soon but i still wanna apply./

 

[young skywalker]

Maybe you can tell us also why you want to be a pharmacist. That matters the most.

 

[shishkabab]

huh? what is that suppose to mean? you gonna ask everyone that comes into this forum that question just because they came in for help? isn't that what this forum is all about? maybe i'm just blowing this outta proportion, and i understand i'm a first time poster, but my passion for pharmacy shouldnt concern you.

now....all of you that helped out, THANKS!

 

[NYCillini]

huh? what is that suppose to mean? you gonna ask everyone that comes into this forum that question just because they came in for help? isn't that what this forum is all about? maybe i'm just blowing this outta proportion, and i understand i'm a first time poster, but my passion for pharmacy shouldnt concern you.

now....all of you that helped out, THANKS!

Young skywalker actually has a point. It is important to know why you want to be a pharmacist because nothing sucks more than getting into a career that you can't stand. Others who are more familar with the field can help you to overcome preceived notions about pharmacy... so if along the way if you decide pharmacy is not for you can consider other fields before investing a lot of time and money applying to schools.

 

[ultracet]

huh? what is that suppose to mean? you gonna ask everyone that comes into this forum that question just because they came in for help? isn't that what this forum is all about? maybe i'm just blowing this outta proportion, and i understand i'm a first time poster, but my passion for pharmacy shouldnt concern you.

now....all of you that helped out, THANKS!

hahaha

that would be a great addition to the what not to say in an interview thread!


honestly since you have no experience that is a very valid question how do you know you want to go into pharmacy?


that
and you need to take a big fat chill pill

 

[shishkabab]

me take a chill pill? i came in here seeking help, not to justify why i want to get into pharmacy. If i really felt the need to explain, i would have found the "why i wanna be a pharmacist" topic and replied. Now if you guys don't wanna help me just because i haven't stated WHY that's your right. I'm not trying to start anything here, just seeking answers.

 

[alibasterbox]

me take a chill pill? i came in here seeking help, not to justify why i want to get into pharmacy. If i really felt the need to explain, i would have found the "why i wanna be a pharmacist" topic and replied. Now if you guys don't wanna help me just because i haven't stated WHY that's your right. I'm not trying to start anything here, just seeking answers.

In a forum such as this, one can only assume that the others are here to help. Its difficult to really understand what a person is saying along with his or her attentions. The words have to be taken at face value in this situation. I believe the guy just wants to help you. Since you are here to seek help, you should give him the benefit of the doubt. Everyone has their own right to do whatever they want. Noone has to take a chill pill if they dont want to. In this case, thats not necessary. Only when its obvious that someone is just trying to cause trouble should you respond in the manner you did. Like the other guy said, take things witha grain of salt and be welcomed to everyones feedback or replies. 🙂 I love this site and it has been such a great tool and aid in my decisions, etc. BE COOL BRO~

 

[WVURxGal]

me take a chill pill? i came in here seeking help, not to justify why i want to get into pharmacy. If i really felt the need to explain, i would have found the "why i wanna be a pharmacist" topic and replied. Now if you guys don't wanna help me just because i haven't stated WHY that's your right. I'm not trying to start anything here, just seeking answers.

Yes, take a chill pill is what was said, and I second that. At one point or another, yes, that question DOES get asked to just about everyone. If you're seeking help, then that's the best question anyone can ask you. With a 3.1-3.2, your chances aren't terribly great. WVUSoP's average GPA runs around 3.65 and it will be higher this year; it's even higher than our medical school. We're not considered one of the best schools in the country, either. You need to be totally prepared for an interview, as if you plan on getting in that's where you'll need to shine. If you can't answer a question like "why pharmacy" without becoming defensive... well... just make sure you're 100% prepared with absolutely perfect answers for every other question. And I'm talking "stalk your interviewers for weeks, know exactly how they feel about just about every pharmacy-related topic and tell them exactly what they want to hear" 100% perfect. Anything else, and I'd say your chances are slim to none. I'd imagine schools that don't look at PCATs will very heavily base their decisions on GPAs, experience, extracurricular activities, and interviews because that's all they have to go on.

If you want advice, go ahead and apply in the fall, and be extremly prepared for the interview. Start practicing right now. Start on any essays you might have to do, and make sure they're grammatically perfect. Take the PCATs as soon as possible. Make sure you get a really good score. If you don't get in for that admission cycle, finish your Chemistry degree, and make sure you pull your GPA up as much as possible. Since you have so many credits, even 2 4.0 semesters might not bring it up too much, but schools will look at trends in grades. Make sure you talk to schools where you were rejected and find out why, and fix whatever they see as wrong. Apply to some of those same schools; although it's not a given that you'll get in, trying again will make you look like you really want to go into pharmacy.

Anyway, feel free to tell me how I'm crazy / obviously out to get you / being any array of curse words you can think of.

 

[ultracet]

me take a chill pill? i came in here seeking help, not to justify why i want to get into pharmacy. If i really felt the need to explain, i would have found the "why i wanna be a pharmacist" topic and replied. Now if you guys don't wanna help me just because i haven't stated WHY that's your right. I'm not trying to start anything here, just seeking answers.

if you want help from me change your attitude

the "PLEASE READ!!!!!" is a clear indicator of the fact that you need to take a chill pill
along with "WHAT ARE MY CHANCES????!!!!" and you admit that you are "freaking out"


if you want to know what interviews are going to be like, you are going to have to answer why pharmacy a million times you better have a better answer than what you have currently

and honestly everyone wants to ask that same question but others don't make it SUCH a matter of DIRE urgency especially when its not even time to apply yet

 

[shishkabab]

Well, thanks for the advice, i really appreciate it. i don't know why you felt the need to throw in:

"Anyway, feel free to tell me how I'm crazy / obviously out to get you / being any array of curse words you can think of"

but hey, what can i do.

 

[shishkabab]

you know what guys, i just wentback and read what lukeskywalker asked and i may have misread it. this is an internet forum and maybe he was trying to help, but i just couldnt tell. ya i spazed out a little, thats just me tho. sorry if i sent the wrong message, im really a nice guy! i promise!

 

[ultracet]

you know what guys, i just wentback and read what lukeskywalker asked and i may have misread it. this is an internet forum and maybe he was trying to help, but i just couldnt tell. ya i spazed out a little, thats just me tho. sorry if i sent the wrong message, im really a nice guy! i promise!

🙂
its good to see my Rx is working....

 

[shishkabab]

what? who said it was you that changed my mind? do you think you know me or something? i come in here and everyone thinks they know me? this is bs!!











...........iiiiiimmmmmmmmm joooookiiinnnnnn

 

[Apteka]

Hi there- I did my prereqs at a Cal State as well, so hang in there & definitely consider applying if you are up for the time commitment- the UCSF (and soon UCSD) applications are quite the proh-cess. As skywalker said, it is a good idea to really have in your head (clearly) the reasons why you are interested in pharmacy, as this is the key question that they are looking for you to answer in your essays, as well as quite a few other questions relating to experience not directly related to pharmacy.

Since you are in SoCal, it's a great idea to perhaps visit as many of the campuses as possible (maybe make a few friends on this forum and see if you can sit in on a class) and definitely take advantage of the 'pharmacy days' that UCSF and UCSD offer (and i suspect UOP, LLU, Western, & USC do too.) For now if you are close to finishing your prereqs, it might be a good idea to @ least look at the applications (some of them are quite long with essays) so you know what types of questions you should be mulling over. I can say that it took me a very long time to finish my applications (the forms are available for the UC system in June I think) after reviewing them, rewriting, asking for recommendations, etc... so keep in mind that it can feel like a part time job for a few months!

Good luck!

 

[aubieRx]

shiskabab: you were starting to remind me of me when i have had 5 moutain dews and have pms.

nothing wrong with being exciteable but I have found that a few good laps around the track will do wonders for your overall energy level (if indeed an excess of energy is your problem) 😉