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Dear aspiring pharmacists,
Since last year, I have noticed numerous threads which pre-pharmacy students ask whether their GPA/PCAT is good and if it will get them into pharmacy school. I understand the concerns of getting in and getting that reassurance; I have been in your footsteps.
I feel that many of you who ask this may lack self confidence. If you seek simple words from strangers for encouragement, then I ask of you to please dig a little deeper and evaluate yourself.
You, should know how you stand as an applicant. Understand why you have made bad grades or did not do well. Make a strategic plan to try to improve your shortcomings. Trust me, we're not all perfect. If you do enough research, you will be able to find the average GPA and PCAT scores for each class at a school. Utilize that as reference, but not a be-all-end-all data sheet. There are other factors which could get you into pharmacy school as well, including pharmacy experience, leadership skills, and community involvement.
I graduated with a B.S. in Hotel and Restaurant Management and managed in the hotel industry for almost 3 years. Pharmacy is my second career choice, and after deciding to go back as a pre-pharmacy student, I looked at myself as an applicant and found that my biggest hurdle would be my GPA. When applying for pharmacy schools in Texas, all your past grades are also factored in. Needless to say, my failing grades from my first go at University of Texas would all be factored in. I calculated the highest GPA I could obtain even if I made all A's to fulfill all pre-requisites, which came to 2.7. I had it in my plan that it may take me 2 years of applying to get into pharmacy school.
With this information, I did what I could to improve my chances of getting into pharmacy school. I had to work to meet my financial needs, and was able to obtain retail experience, followed by hospital experience through networking. This helped tremendously when (1) getting letters of recommendations and (2) providing a great explanation as to why I wish to become a pharmacist. I also led the Pre-Pharmacy Association at UH, which consists of over 300 members, providing numerous volunteer opportunities and having the highest number of active members since previous years.
Everything I did, I gave it my all. I am passionate about pharmacy. I am very fortunate to have guidance along the way and friends who helped me, which is why I am committed to helping others if I am able to do so. If you exhibit passion and truly care for others, I have no doubt in my mind you will become a respected pharmacist.
So to sum things up:
(1) Be confident with yourself
(2) Understand your strengths/weaknesses
(3) Strengthen your weaknesses
(4) Find other ways to improve yourself as an applicant
(5) Be passionate about pharmacy
(6) Remember to help others along the way
One more thing: please look for the answer to your question prior to asking others. I do not mind helping, but there are many who I feel always want to be spoon-fed. If you do not have the effort to even look up a simple answer, then please find it in you to be more assertive/ambitious.
Believe in yourself, and don't give up.
I wish you the best on your path to pharmacy, aspiring pharmacists.
Since last year, I have noticed numerous threads which pre-pharmacy students ask whether their GPA/PCAT is good and if it will get them into pharmacy school. I understand the concerns of getting in and getting that reassurance; I have been in your footsteps.
I feel that many of you who ask this may lack self confidence. If you seek simple words from strangers for encouragement, then I ask of you to please dig a little deeper and evaluate yourself.
You, should know how you stand as an applicant. Understand why you have made bad grades or did not do well. Make a strategic plan to try to improve your shortcomings. Trust me, we're not all perfect. If you do enough research, you will be able to find the average GPA and PCAT scores for each class at a school. Utilize that as reference, but not a be-all-end-all data sheet. There are other factors which could get you into pharmacy school as well, including pharmacy experience, leadership skills, and community involvement.
I graduated with a B.S. in Hotel and Restaurant Management and managed in the hotel industry for almost 3 years. Pharmacy is my second career choice, and after deciding to go back as a pre-pharmacy student, I looked at myself as an applicant and found that my biggest hurdle would be my GPA. When applying for pharmacy schools in Texas, all your past grades are also factored in. Needless to say, my failing grades from my first go at University of Texas would all be factored in. I calculated the highest GPA I could obtain even if I made all A's to fulfill all pre-requisites, which came to 2.7. I had it in my plan that it may take me 2 years of applying to get into pharmacy school.
With this information, I did what I could to improve my chances of getting into pharmacy school. I had to work to meet my financial needs, and was able to obtain retail experience, followed by hospital experience through networking. This helped tremendously when (1) getting letters of recommendations and (2) providing a great explanation as to why I wish to become a pharmacist. I also led the Pre-Pharmacy Association at UH, which consists of over 300 members, providing numerous volunteer opportunities and having the highest number of active members since previous years.
Everything I did, I gave it my all. I am passionate about pharmacy. I am very fortunate to have guidance along the way and friends who helped me, which is why I am committed to helping others if I am able to do so. If you exhibit passion and truly care for others, I have no doubt in my mind you will become a respected pharmacist.
So to sum things up:
(1) Be confident with yourself
(2) Understand your strengths/weaknesses
(3) Strengthen your weaknesses
(4) Find other ways to improve yourself as an applicant
(5) Be passionate about pharmacy
(6) Remember to help others along the way
One more thing: please look for the answer to your question prior to asking others. I do not mind helping, but there are many who I feel always want to be spoon-fed. If you do not have the effort to even look up a simple answer, then please find it in you to be more assertive/ambitious.
Believe in yourself, and don't give up.
I wish you the best on your path to pharmacy, aspiring pharmacists.
