Questions~~ Help~~

[imkim01]

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Hi, I am trying to apply for fall 2006. I am 26 and also a career switcher. Since my undergradute degree is computer science, I need to pick up some prerequisites such as chem/bio classes.

Below is my tentative schedule.

Summer
G-chem(I&II), Micro Bio.

Fall
O-Chem(I), G-Bio I, Anatomy

Spring
O-Chem(II), G-Bio II, Physiology

My first choice is either UOP or USN because they have 3 year program and below is a few questions/concerns for each school.

USN

Since they don't use PharmCAS and their deadline is January 2006, I have any problem or worry of submiting my application because I will be done most of their requirements. However, since they don't have a federal loan available, I am wondering how expensive taking private loan would be and how much I can get.

UOP

I will not have a grade for O-Chem since I will be taking it in fall. Will this be a big disadvantage? I also have heard that they are using a rolling system so the earlier you submit the application, the higher chance you may get in. I downloaded their supplemetary application and found out that they are asking if you have a Pharmacy Technician license. I will take a test on July 23 and will get the license probably around late August or early september depending on how fast they process. How helpful is it having a technician license? Do they give some points if you have a license? If so, is it worth while waiting until I get the license then submit the application? If i wait, then my application will be in third tier instead of second tier. What would you guys think?

 

[endlesslove]

Hi, I am trying to apply for fall 2006. I am 26 and also a career switcher. Since my undergradute degree is computer science, I need to pick up some prerequisites such as chem/bio classes.

Below is my tentative schedule.

Summer
G-chem(I&II), Micro Bio.

Fall
O-Chem(I), G-Bio I, Anatomy

Spring
O-Chem(II), G-Bio II, Physiology

My first choice is either UOP or USN because they have 3 year program and below is a few questions/concerns for each school.

USN

Since they don't use PharmCAS and their deadline is January 2006, I have any problem or worry of submiting my application because I will be done most of their requirements. However, since they don't have a federal loan available, I am wondering how expensive taking private loan would be and how much I can get.

UOP

I will not have a grade for O-Chem since I will be taking it in fall. Will this be a big disadvantage? I also have heard that they are using a rolling system so the earlier you submit the application, the higher chance you may get in. I downloaded their supplemetary application and found out that they are asking if you have a Pharmacy Technician license. I will take a test on July 23 and will get the license probably around late August or early september depending on how fast they process. How helpful is it having a technician license? Do they give some points if you have a license? If so, is it worth while waiting until I get the license then submit the application? If i wait, then my application will be in third tier instead of second tier. What would you guys think?

Sorry to be the thorn that pops your bubble but I am 99% sure you will not be admitted for Fall 2006, regardless of how early you apply, purely because of the lack of at least an O-Chem I grade. From speaking with Liz, an admissions counselor at UOP, she said they expect to see at the bare minimum an O-Chem I grade (a decent one too). So, if you REALLY want to try to get in for Fall 2006, your best bet is to pull an A in every pre-req for this summer and fall, hope they'll be kind enough to even consider looking at your transcript in December (they won't really care in Sept b/c u won't even have an O-chem grade yet) and MAYBE (very very very slim) chance they will grant you an interview. Interview invites are limited towards the end of their application cycle (you'd have to be a strong or really decent candidate in their Tier 3 cycle to get an interview, I'd say).

So my advice is not to waste your time on applying to UOP, get an A in everything, and apply as soon as their admissions cycle opens for fall 07. Or, you can try applying to other schools...but like I said, the fact that you don't even have at least a grade in one of the O-chem will severely limit your chances of getting accepted...I'm not trying to deter you, but am just passing along information I already know...if you had finished at least 1 of the O-chems, I'd provide more encouragement...anyone want to comment on this?? As for the Pharm Tech license thing, I never asked the Ad Com at UOP, but my impression was that they were just curious as to how many of their incoming students had one...not that big of a deciding factor as to whether or not you get in.

But hey, maybe the fact that you already have a BS and have been working for a while could help you get in! you never know

Good luck.

 

[All4MyDaughter]

I agree with Endless Love, although I think it's worth talking to the admissions counselors at the schools you are considering before you give up completely on 2006 admissions.

I was in the EXACT same situation last summer. I wanted to apply for 2005 admission, but needed all the pre-reqs. The Kentucky admissions people told me I would have to wait because I would have needed to complete OChem I, Physics I and either Micro or A & P by the end of the fall 2005 semester.

Are you working and trying to complete your pre-reqs? I worked for the first year of pre-reqs and it was challenging.

I took College Algebra and Chem I (with two credit hours of labs) in the fall 2005. That was an OK schedule with my job.

In spring 2006 I took Microbiology + Lab, Chem II (with one credit hour of lab), and Anatomy/Physiology. With 32 hours of working each week, that schedule was daunting. At my institution, Microbiology is very difficult and Anatomy is extremely time consuming because of the AMOUNT of material you have to memorize. That said, the thing that has taken up the majority of my time is the writeups for Chemistry lab.

This summer I am taking OChem I and II with lab. The labs are very, very hard and the writeups take forever. I was in the lab 4 hours on Monday, came home and worked 6 hours on my writeup. I could have done more, but I was too tired. We have three experiments per week and they take between 6-8+ each hours just to write up.

Only you know what you can handle and fit in around other things in your life. I wouldn't rush things to the point where you end up with a bunch of C's and hurt your chances at admission. As a career switcher (in my opinion) you need to demonstrate that you can handle the chemistry and lab stuff. A's and B's should be your goal.

Talk to the people at the schools you want to attend and get their perspective. The people at Kentucky told me I needed all A's and B's in the science and math classes because I didn't take any of that stuff in college the first time. They said one C MIGHT not hurt me but it would be better to have no C's. I took it to heart, decided not to rush, applied myself and have gotten ALL A's.

You can do this! Just take your time, gather all your information and make good choices! Good luck!

 

[ButlerPharm.D.]

Looking at your above listed schedule there is one thing that caught my eye. Although this may not be the case at the school you are attending, it is my belief and personal experience that you have to take general biology before you take microbiology. Just something you might want to look into.

 

[Smilescali]

Your schedule looks tedious to me, but doable. I agree that Anatomy will take TONS of time it has really nothing to do with logic. I found it the most time consuming class ever. I like classes where you can learn a concept and apply it to anything using your brain of course. Physiology and Chemistry were more like that and I loved it! Biology is a prereq for Micro at my school too, but only bio 101 which no pharmacy school accepts.

I also agree that Chem lab write ups can be a pain to do especially taking them with another time intensive lab. If you have a family or are working then you will have your work cut out for you. Good luck!

 

[starsweet]

I agree with Endless Love, although I think it's worth talking to the admissions counselors at the schools you are considering before you give up completely on 2006 admissions.

I was in the EXACT same situation last summer. I wanted to apply for 2005 admission, but needed all the pre-reqs. The Kentucky admissions people told me I would have to wait because I would have needed to complete OChem I, Physics I and either Micro or A & P by the end of the fall 2005 semester.

What if you have all the prereqs done except for O Chem I and II? Can you still apply for Fall 2006? Because that's how I am right now; I will take O Chem I and II in the fall and am applying for next fall. I also have a degree and am working at the same time.

 

[endlesslove]

I agree with Endless Love, although I think it's worth talking to the admissions counselors at the schools you are considering before you give up completely on 2006 admissions.

I was in the EXACT same situation last summer. I wanted to apply for 2005 admission, but needed all the pre-reqs. The Kentucky admissions people told me I would have to wait because I would have needed to complete OChem I, Physics I and either Micro or A & P by the end of the fall 2005 semester.

What if you have all the prereqs done except for O Chem I and II? Can you still apply for Fall 2006? Because that's how I am right now; I will take O Chem I and II in the fall and am applying for next fall. I also have a degree and am working at the same time.

You can't (concurrently) take O-chem I and II this fall...I is a prerequisite for II. Is your GPA above a 3.5? Is it at a university or a community college? did you pull an A in every prerequisite (or mostly A's with very little B's). If above are good, then combined with thefacts that you have a degree and are working full-time, maybe that will impress the AdCom 🙂 it'll certainly you make you unique as most people I know finish O-chem before finishing all the other prereqs.

GL

 

[starsweet]

I agree with Endless Love, although I think it's worth talking to the admissions counselors at the schools you are considering before you give up completely on 2006 admissions.

I was in the EXACT same situation last summer. I wanted to apply for 2005 admission, but needed all the pre-reqs. The Kentucky admissions people told me I would have to wait because I would have needed to complete OChem I, Physics I and either Micro or A & P by the end of the fall 2005 semester.

You can't (concurrently) take O-chem I and II this fall...I is a prerequisite for II. Is your GPA above a 3.5? Is it at a university or a community college? did you pull an A in every prerequisite (or mostly A's with very little B's). If above are good, then combined with thefacts that you have a degree and are working full-time, maybe that will impress the AdCom 🙂 it'll certainly you make you unique as most people I know finish O-chem before finishing all the other prereqs.

GL

I should have explained in more detail...I will be taking O Chem I/II at a CC where they have 2 fall quarters with each quarter equivalent to a semester class. Fall I begins in August, Fall II begins in October. I took Bio II, Microbiology, and A/P I at this school also. So I will have both O Chem I and II completed by December (taking each respectively in Fall I and Fall II).

I have all the other prereqs completed at a tough four-year university (GT) and all were As, though my overall undergrad GPA NOT including the additional pre-pharm classes I am taking now is lower (3.09) because of my engineering classes. But basically my pre-pharm GPA should be pretty high.

So what do you think?

 

[All4MyDaughter]

I should have explained in more detail...I will be taking O Chem I/II at a CC where they have 2 fall quarters with each quarter equivalent to a semester class. Fall I begins in August, Fall II begins in October. I took Bio II, Microbiology, and A/P I at this school also. So I will have both O Chem I and II completed by December (taking each respectively in Fall I and Fall II).

I have all the other prereqs completed at a tough four-year university (GT) and all were As, though my overall undergrad GPA NOT including the additional pre-pharm classes I am taking now is lower (3.09) because of my engineering classes. But basically my pre-pharm GPA should be pretty high.

So what do you think?

If you will have a grade in Ochem I sometime before December, you'll probably be fine, in my opinion. But you should call the school and ask them what they think, what their policy is.

 

[endlesslove]

I should have explained in more detail...I will be taking O Chem I/II at a CC where they have 2 fall quarters with each quarter equivalent to a semester class. Fall I begins in August, Fall II begins in October. I took Bio II, Microbiology, and A/P I at this school also. So I will have both O Chem I and II completed by December (taking each respectively in Fall I and Fall II).

I have all the other prereqs completed at a tough four-year university (GT) and all were As, though my overall undergrad GPA NOT including the additional pre-pharm classes I am taking now is lower (3.09) because of my engineering classes. But basically my pre-pharm GPA should be pretty high.

So what do you think?

I'd work on the applications and put off sending them until you can send them in with your transcript that INCLUDES the O-Chem I grade. I'd also try to take some easy 3-unit classes at a JC that will boost the GPA. 3.09 is not an impressive GPA but it is not that bad either, and while most of it was due to your engineering classes, you may not even be granted interviews to some schools purely because GPAs are used as the initial screening process (sometimes regardless of what other awesome things you have to offer to the university 🙁 )--I wast old that now on at UCSD, if your GPA is below a 3.3, they will automatically toss out your app. I'm sure you have a lot to offer to your pharmacy schools and you want to make sure that these schools give you a chance and take a look at your app...so, if you have some time this summer, I'd recommend taking one or two REALLY EASY 3-unit classes if you can and get A's in them to try to pull your GPA up to even a 3.2.

GL

 

[starsweet]

I'd work on the applications and put off sending them until you can send them in with your transcript that INCLUDES the O-Chem I grade. I'd also try to take some easy 3-unit classes at a JC that will boost the GPA. 3.09 is not an impressive GPA but it is not that bad either, and while most of it was due to your engineering classes, you may not even be granted interviews to some schools purely because GPAs are used as the initial screening process (sometimes regardless of what other awesome things you have to offer to the university 🙁 )--I wast old that now on at UCSD, if your GPA is below a 3.3, they will automatically toss out your app. I'm sure you have a lot to offer to your pharmacy schools and you want to make sure that these schools give you a chance and take a look at your app...so, if you have some time this summer, I'd recommend taking one or two REALLY EASY 3-unit classes if you can and get A's in them to try to pull your GPA up to even a 3.2.

GL

So do pharmacy schools look at the pre-pharm GPA or the overall GPA? I thought they use the pre-pharm GPA to compare you to other applicants. If so, I should be in better shape because it's above 3.6.

 

[endlesslove]

So do pharmacy schools look at the pre-pharm GPA or the overall GPA? I thought they use the pre-pharm GPA to compare you to other applicants. If so, I should be in better shape because it's above 3.6.

I don't think I can give you a definite "Pre-pharm GPA" or "overall GPA" answer b/c diff schools use diff ones.

GL