Potential applicant who NEEDS SOME ADVICE!!!

[jecrunner]

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Hi everybody- I actually usually follow the med school forum because I was planning on applying to medical schools. HOWEVER...I don't think that is going to happen now....I've been strongly considering applying to a pharmacy program, but wanted to get some advice first. Based on the following credentials, where do you think my application would be lacking? What could I do to strengthen it?

Bachelor's in Biology- GPA 3.85
2 years work experience in lab for major pharmaceutical company in drug metabolism & pharmacokinetics
Hospital volunteer ~ 100 hours
Shadowed a doctor for about a year

I have yet to take the PCAT- but after taking an MCAT prep course and studying my tail off for about 4 months (only to not do well!), I think I have a decent shot at doing reasonably well on the PCAT...but who knows, I don't test well.

Anyway, it's obvious that I am lacking in direct pharmacy experience. And I don't want it to appear to admissions committees that I am just interested in pharmacy because I wasn't good enough for med school. Sure, the poor MCAT score played a role in my change of heart, but it helped me to realize that maybe medical school is not the best choice for me and motivated me to look into other healthcare professions...hence, my leaning towards pharmacy.

Okay, sorry for the long post. Any and all advice, criticisms, comments...would be greatly appreciated!!!!! Thanks in advance.

 

[powerdrill]

I wouldnt be too worried. I know guys whgo get into pharmacy with very little experience, let alone research and shadowing. Go for it. you'll be fine!

 

[binghamkid]

Hi everybody- I actually usually follow the med school forum because I was planning on applying to medical schools. HOWEVER...I don't think that is going to happen now....I've been strongly considering applying to a pharmacy program, but wanted to get some advice first. Based on the following credentials, where do you think my application would be lacking? What could I do to strengthen it?

Bachelor's in Biology- GPA 3.85
2 years work experience in lab for major pharmaceutical company in drug metabolism & pharmacokinetics
Hospital volunteer ~ 100 hours
Shadowed a doctor for about a year

I have yet to take the PCAT- but after taking an MCAT prep course and studying my tail off for about 4 months (only to not do well!), I think I have a decent shot at doing reasonably well on the PCAT...but who knows, I don't test well.

Anyway, it's obvious that I am lacking in direct pharmacy experience. And I don't want it to appear to admissions committees that I am just interested in pharmacy because I wasn't good enough for med school. Sure, the poor MCAT score played a role in my change of heart, but it helped me to realize that maybe medical school is not the best choice for me and motivated me to look into other healthcare professions...hence, my leaning towards pharmacy.

Okay, sorry for the long post. Any and all advice, criticisms, comments...would be greatly appreciated!!!!! Thanks in advance.

Your application looks potentially very solid. The best thing to do would be to contact several pharmacists to see if you can get a more 'inside' feel to the profession as well as possible shadowing experience. You don't need much, but just enough to talk about it. The fact that you had a change of heart can be talked about (I did) and it can turn into a strength that you can capitalize on.

 

[rxlynn]

Hi everybody- I actually usually follow the med school forum because I was planning on applying to medical schools. HOWEVER...I don't think that is going to happen now....I've been strongly considering applying to a pharmacy program, but wanted to get some advice first. Based on the following credentials, where do you think my application would be lacking? What could I do to strengthen it?

Bachelor's in Biology- GPA 3.85
2 years work experience in lab for major pharmaceutical company in drug metabolism & pharmacokinetics
Hospital volunteer ~ 100 hours
Shadowed a doctor for about a year

I have yet to take the PCAT- but after taking an MCAT prep course and studying my tail off for about 4 months (only to not do well!), I think I have a decent shot at doing reasonably well on the PCAT...but who knows, I don't test well.

Anyway, it's obvious that I am lacking in direct pharmacy experience. And I don't want it to appear to admissions committees that I am just interested in pharmacy because I wasn't good enough for med school. Sure, the poor MCAT score played a role in my change of heart, but it helped me to realize that maybe medical school is not the best choice for me and motivated me to look into other healthcare professions...hence, my leaning towards pharmacy.

Okay, sorry for the long post. Any and all advice, criticisms, comments...would be greatly appreciated!!!!! Thanks in advance.

Might be pointing out the obvious, but there's really no reason I can think of that you would need to discuss your MCAT scores or even disclose that you took it. Maybe there's a place on the PharmCAS app and I just didn't remember it??

 

[Farmercyst]

I'd say your application looks better than mine when I applied

3.5 cum/3.59sci
BS Chem (Biochem conc. a/o June 07)

1 semester lower division research course (1 unit)
Med Chem
3 Pharm Tech classes
PTCB certified, Licencsed (CA) pharm tech
No behind the counter experience.
No Shadowing.

Now I was pulled from waitlist. I'd suggest shadowing or some form of experience behind the counter, but given that you have hospital hours and shadowed a doctor, I really don't see a problem with what you've given.
You'd probably get in without much additional effort on your part.

 

[sdn1977]

So...you explained your "lean" toward pharmacy, but you really don't know much about pharmacy....am I right?

With what you've given us....the admissions committees won't think so either.

So - why pharmacy? (Might as well think about it - you'll be asked about it).

What do you have that will contribute to the profession?

Why do you want to become a pharmacist (which actually begs the question - why do you now not want to be a physician after one, albeit...one ALMIGHTY test)?

This is the rest of your working career - which could mean - the rest of your life....

Why do you want this????

(Actually - I'm not criticizing....there are real & significant differences in why some folks choose one field & not another & often that is reflected in how happy they ultimately become in their chosen field. I'm a pharmacist, married to a dentist who has a child who is an MSIII.....also has a son who is a computer type guy.....so....I kinda know about why some choose one & not the other.)

 

[omnione]

I was a med school applicant who gradually switched to pharmacy. I didn't have any actual pharmacy experience either but I was accepted into three schools. Here's my guide:

1. Don't mention anything directly related to medicine: If those hospital volunteer hours came from something like working than the ER, then adcoms may wonder how you found the time to work in a non-pharmacy related position while not having any pharmacy experience. My hospital volunteer hours came from interviewing patients, so I could relate that to the pharmacy profession.

2. Don't mention any pre-med related stuff: Don't mention the MCAT or anything like pre-med clubs and honor societies.

3. Do some deep thinking and figure out WHY you made the switch: Pharmacy adcoms will ask "why pharmacy?" and you better have a good answer.

4. Accentuate your pharmaceutical work: That is pertinent to pharmacy. Try to draw upon that experience and how it drove you to pharmacy.

5. Study for the PCAT: In general, the PCAT is easier than the MCAT though the PCAT has an SAT-like verbal section and math section. Though I have read posts from people who scored a 30+ on the MCAT but less than a 90 on the PCAT, I think the difficulty level is still noticeably easier on the PCAT.

6. Get pharmacy experience: You have plenty of time before interviews so try finding a shadowing opportunity.