Pre-reqs > 5 years old??

[candita505]

Have any of you experienced the frustrations of having prerequisites older than 5 years old? I'm running into this now. Here's my story: I graduated high school 10 years ago and I got my BS in Applied Math in 2005. But it took me a while, since I was working full-time. Some semesters I took a full course load and others I took a few classes. My problem is that some of my pre-reqs, including Chem I and II, Physics I and II and Calc I, II and II were required for my major... and I took them many years ago (some as early as 1997). Now as I'm trying to apply to pharmacy school ...after many jobs and some serious thought and prayer, finally deciding what I want to do with my life!

I took Organic Chem I and II, Bio I and II and Microbiology in 2005 and 2006, but the problem I'm running into is that at least one of the schools I want to apply to won't accept pre-reqs more than 5 years old ... they want you to retake the class. I can't retake Chem (2 semesters), Physics and Calc. It isn't feasible, financially or logistically. I got As in all the science classes I've taken recently and I've taken the PCATs and I don't understand why that can't be enough to show my science aptitude and dedication to pursuing this career.

Have any of you run into this problem? I almost feel like I'm being given the short end of the stick because I'm 27 and not fresh out of high school or college. Any advice? Or should I just resign myself to the fact that I can't apply to my wonderful, first choice, low-tuition state school??🙁

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[rxlynn]

I've posted on this before, but my advice is to change your focus to different schools. Some of my prereqs were on the order of 20 years old, and my school accepted them. Remember that a school who has the cutoff type of requirement that you describe will then tend to have very young average age class, so you might not end up feeling as comfortable there anyway. Because my school has no prereq limit, my class ranged from 19 to almost 50 years of age, and it's a good thing. I am enjoying having classmates of all different ages, backgrounds, and experiences. Yeah, most are younger than me, but some of my best friends are significantly younger. I'd like to think that it's keeping me young too🙂

Have any of you experienced the frustrations of having prerequisites older than 5 years old? I'm running into this now. Here's my story: I graduated high school 10 years ago and I got my BS in Applied Math in 2005. But it took me a while, since I was working full-time. Some semesters I took a full course load and others I took a few classes. My problem is that some of my pre-reqs, including Chem I and II, Physics I and II and Calc I, II and II were required for my major... and I took them many years ago (some as early as 1997). Now as I'm trying to apply to pharmacy school ...after many jobs and some serious thought and prayer, finally deciding what I want to do with my life!

I took Organic Chem I and II, Bio I and II and Microbiology in 2005 and 2006, but the problem I'm running into is that at least one of the schools I want to apply to won't accept pre-reqs more than 5 years old ... they want you to retake the class. I can't retake Chem (2 semesters), Physics and Calc. It isn't feasible, financially or logistically. I got As in all the science classes I've taken recently and I've taken the PCATs and I don't understand why that can't be enough to show my science aptitude and dedication to pursuing this career.

Have any of you run into this problem? I almost feel like I'm being given the short end of the stick because I'm 27 and not fresh out of high school or college. Any advice? Or should I just resign myself to the fact that I can't apply to my wonderful, first choice, low-tuition state school??🙁

 

[mustang sally]

Did the school verbally tell you you wouldn't be able to apply or are you just basing this off of what you read on their website? Just wondering because some schools have a disclaimer on the website that they can make exceptions to certain rules on a case-by-case basis (ie. if they really, really like you...). Other schools may list the exceptions outright on their websites. For instance, at UMB you can apply with old prereqs if you have a M.S. or higher, have been working professionally in your field since receiving your M.S., and score at the 80 percentile or higher on the PCAT's biology and chemistry sections. I think a lot of it has to do with what have you actually been doing with your time since you finished your prereqs. Bottom line-I would contact admissions and ask them about your specific situation.

My prereqs are almost all >5 years, but I still hope to have a chance!

 

[candita505]

Per the website: "Applicants must successfully complete ALL prerequisite courses by the end of the spring semester before fall admission. All prerequisites must be completed with a grade equal to or greater than C- and within 5 years preceding admission. If a prerequisite(s) course was completed before 2003, the applicant must demonstrate academic proficiency in science courses by having taken junior or senior level courses while completing a full academic schedule for two semesters afterwards OR repeat the course(s)." They have it bolded!


I have sent an email to the admissions people (with maybe too much detail - I attached a spreadsheet of all my courses and when they were taken), but I'm definitely going to find out for sure before I get really, really discouraged. I'm hoping they can make an exception, but I guess I'll have to wait and see.

It's just frustrating to think of not being able to go somewhere because I have had different life experiences than others. And frustrating that I can't go to the school that is 1/5 the tuition of many of the others!

 

[airen]

Per the website: "Applicants must successfully complete ALL prerequisite courses by the end of the spring semester before fall admission. All prerequisites must be completed with a grade equal to or greater than C- and within 5 years preceding admission. If a prerequisite(s) course was completed before 2003, the applicant must demonstrate academic proficiency in science courses by having taken junior or senior level courses while completing a full academic schedule for two semesters afterwards OR repeat the course(s)." They have it bolded!


I have sent an email to the admissions people (with maybe too much detail - I attached a spreadsheet of all my courses and when they were taken), but I'm definitely going to find out for sure before I get really, really discouraged. I'm hoping they can make an exception, but I guess I'll have to wait and see.

It's just frustrating to think of not being able to go somewhere because I have had different life experiences than others. And frustrating that I can't go to the school that is 1/5 the tuition of many of the others!

What school are you referring to?

 

[candita505]

Buffalo - I'd like to stay in the Northeast and there are already few schools that I have all the pre-reqs for, so I'm limited as it is... but they had been bumped up to #1 on my list until recent revelations 🙂

 

[roanoke]

I'm applying there as well and spoke with an admission counselor about it as well. I graduated in 1997, so my classes are quite old. I'm about to complete my 2nd semester of A&P, re-taking Organic I&II, taking Public Speaking and will take Biochemistry. She thought that this was good but that i should add another science class. So after some thought and searching, i decided what i am doing is more than sufficient given that i did research for 4+ years, transferred assays to automation for another 4 years, now doing oncology clinical research, and worked part-time in a pharmacy. In the end, my solution was to write a letter explaining everything i have been doing to make myself the strongest candidate possible and that i have to factor in my work schedule and finances (i'm supporting my wife as she finishes her Masters) as well and taking another class just is not feasible right now. Basically, the letter said, i've done a hell of alot of work to be a strong candidate and if you can't factor in my professional experience and believe a few basic classes trumps real science work then so be it.

 

[binghamkid]

You may want to contact the school tactfully and explain the fact that you are a non-traditional applicant. While it is true that you probably cannot finish the prereqs in time, there are indeed reasons why the prereqs are set there. Your rustiness in ochem will come back to bite you. Seriously, I kid you not. Even if you weren't required to retake it, I would do a serious refresher because once you're in...it flies by. I would definitely recommend not writing a letter in the fashion that pretty much states "take it or leave it because I think I'm a good candidate" because frankly, in the admissions process, it's their market. You have to play by their game. Now, if you contact the dean of admissions and explain your situation courteously, it is possible they might be able to make accommodations (perhaps make your enrollment conditional on the fact that you prioritize your completion of Ochem courses or a pre-admittance summer program at a local CC). For example, if you have worked in the industry where your ochem knowledge is pretty much used every day, then not having taken a course for 5 years is probably not going to hurt you too much and the admissions committee will probably recognize that fact. However, if you haven't touched your sciences in 5 years...that's a problem in and of itself. It's great that you want to jump start your career as a pharmacist, but you have to remember that pharmacy school is a journey. It does no good to get in only to crash and burn and be held back a year because you can't pass your entry-level biochemistry, drug chemistry, physical chemistry, human biology, microbiology, molecular biology courses (on top of your other courses in professionalism, pharmacy practice and education, ethics, and a few other courses which we have that I can't remember for the first year). I'll tell you we're only 5 weeks in, and many fo my classmates are already feeling the burn. We just had 5 exams this week. You don't have time to study for every class, and even if you do, you feel the burn. The prereqs serve as a foundation; without them, you have to start from scratch and you just don't have the time nor the energy to do so.

So look long term; if you have to retake those prereqs, it may indeed be a good idea to do so. You need to know the knowledge so you can pass your classes. If you fail a class, you get held back a year (and there's really no way out of it). So why bother rushing yourself into it? Pharmacy school is no walk in the park. While it's true that for many people C = PharmD, if you're hoping to go for a residency, specialization program, etc., you do need to do well in school (not to mention that many accolades, scholarships, etc. evaluate you on your PharmD GPA too).

 

[candita505]

I completely understand what you're saying, and I have sent a letter to the admissions contact. I would never NOT be tactful, so I'm hoping it helps.

The thing is, however, the only prerequisites that are old are Gen Chem, Physics and Calc. I just took O.Chem I and II, Gen Bio I and II, and Micro in 2005 and 2006. They are just about as fresh as I can get them and I got As in all of them. I just don't see a reason to have to retake Gen Chem again, when I've "just" taken O.Chem, do you see what I'm saying?

 

[candita505]

I'm applying there as well and spoke with an admission counselor about it as well. I graduated in 1997, so my classes are quite old. I'm about to complete my 2nd semester of A&P, re-taking Organic I&II, taking Public Speaking and will take Biochemistry. She thought that this was good but that i should add another science class. So after some thought and searching, i decided what i am doing is more than sufficient given that i did research for 4+ years, transferred assays to automation for another 4 years, now doing oncology clinical research, and worked part-time in a pharmacy. In the end, my solution was to write a letter explaining everything i have been doing to make myself the strongest candidate possible and that i have to factor in my work schedule and finances (i'm supporting my wife as she finishes her Masters) as well and taking another class just is not feasible right now. Basically, the letter said, i've done a hell of alot of work to be a strong candidate and if you can't factor in my professional experience and believe a few basic classes trumps real science work then so be it.

Have you heard back from them? Were they able to accomodate you?

 

[candita505]

Just as an update... I finally heard back from the admissions counselor and she said "since you graduated in 2005 you are fine to apply to UB". Not really sure how that works, but I'll take it. VERY, VERY pleased.

I guess the moral of the story is: Contact the admissions office with any situations that come up. It may not be as black and white as you think.

 

[Chokita]

So, it sounds like they count 5 years since the graduation not when exactly you took the course. I’m in the same boat – graduated in 2003. Thanks for the update, now I feel relieved. 🙂

 

[candita505]

So, it sounds like they count 5 years since the graduation not when exactly you took the course. I’m in the same boat – graduated in 2003. Thanks for the update, now I feel relieved. 🙂

I'm extremely relieved! I think it would be worth shooting an email to the school you're applying to though... because different schools might have different requirements. Plus, I like the idea of having contact with someone in admissions beforehand... maybe my name will ring a bell when it comes time for them to review my app! 🙂

 

[roanoke]

Have you heard back from them? Were they able to accomodate you?

In my post i summed up the point of the letter, but the letter itself was tactful and professional. Anyways, I included the letter with all my supplemental materials. Now it's just a waiting game... I understand the frustration with course time limits and spent a lot of time over the spring and summer contacting most of the schools regarding this issue to make sure i was in the clear...

Glad Buffalo got back to you and everything is a go... good luck with it all