Relevancy of employment experience

[GreyFox2002]

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Ok, I'm a recent graduate with a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Michigan - Dearborn. I kinda teeter tottered throughout college between the idea of research and development through grad school or pharmacy. Up until mid senior year I was set on R & D, but I've had a change in heart and I've opted for Pharmacy.

GPA is certainly not a problem; my GPA (3.85) is excellent and the scientific coursework I took is very advanced. I haven't received my PCAT scores but I am confident in them.

What I'm concerned about is my secondaries, particularly employment relevancy. I never worked in a pharmacy, and yes I know I should have. I did apply to Walgreen's and I'm looking to pick up a part time position at a retail pharmacy as a Tech for the invaluable experience. I do know that Pharmacy schools admit students based not just on GPAs and PCAT scores but on their ability to communicate well and function in an environment like a pharmacy.

I've held a job for 5 + years in a major office supply store as an electronics dept. leader while going through school. Obviously, my job revolves around customer service and sales. Yes I know its not a pharmacy, but would an admissions committee take a look at my application and possibly say: "Hey, this person probably does have strong customer service skills which could work well into patient-pharmacist relations." Or am I just grasping for straws?

I also did undergraduate research for a semester with a physiologist. Does this pose any benefit for admission?

I'm doing my best not to do the common: My GPA, PCAT scores, etc. are this this and this. Will I get in? I'm still confident that I'm a solid applicant.

Thanks a lot for your replies!

 

[acetyl]

You're money.👍

 

[sdn1977]

Yeah....not to worry....you write a great ps & make your application look great by putting a good spin on what you've done & you are a great applicant.

No worries - come back if you need help!

 

[Mentis]

Heh, funny I'm in kinda the same boat as you. My gpa is good and my pcat is very good. Thing is, I only have like a month of pharmacy experience, and it's not many hours. I guess it's something, but there are people out there with like 40 hours of volunteering and working retail in pharmacy for 2 years, and I definitely can't match that.

I'm just hoping I can get an interview, because I'm pretty confident in my people skills. I'm going to assume you have excellent people skills as well, as per your previous employment.

Personally, I think that you can get an interview to at least one school with your stats, assuming you did good on the pcats, and you can bank on your people skills from there. =P

 

[Farmercyst]

Seems to be a common thread. I've worked the past 6 years for a natural gas utility and my daily routine sounds much like "what I learn from my patients" thread. Only utility jargon instead of pharmspeak. Any way Cum 3.57, Science 3.49 (Average at some schools, decent at others) I've avoided the PCAT and so I'm left with nothing but GPA and work in a field other than pharmacy to rely on. Unless they take into account a wife and two kids as extracurricular.

 

[sdn1977]

Seems to be a common thread. I've worked the past 6 years for a natural gas utility and my daily routine sounds much like "what I learn from my patients" thread. Only utility jargon instead of pharmspeak. Any way Cum 3.57, Science 3.49 (Average at some schools, decent at others) I've avoided the PCAT and so I'm left with nothing but GPA and work in a field other than pharmacy to rely on. Unless they take into account a wife and two kids as extracurricular.

Don't sell yourself short! You've worked 6 years in the same job - shows you take work seriously. Can you speak to your level of responsibility, ability to supervise others, being able to prioritize, multitask, respond rapidly in emergency situations?

As for your wife & 2 kids....well...you can demonstrate the ability to have patience, be able to have a balanced life, will be serious about taking on a new field of study & interest at this stage in your life.

Be sure to look for the positive spin on whatever circumstance you find yourself in!

Good luck!

 

[Farmercyst]

Don't sell yourself short! You've worked 6 years in the same job - shows you take work seriously. Can you speak to your level of responsibility, ability to supervise others, being able to prioritize, multitask, respond rapidly in emergency situations?

As for your wife & 2 kids....well...you can demonstrate the ability to have patience, be able to have a balanced life, will be serious about taking on a new field of study & interest at this stage in your life.

Be sure to look for the positive spin on whatever circumstance you find yourself in!

Good luck!

I know I tend to put a negative spin on things, I'm working on that. The more applications I fill out the more things I find to bring up that help. Like I do back-up lead work (similar to lead pharm tech, less responsibility than a manager, but able to supervise other reps in my area.) We do handle gas leaks and other emergency calls. I've also taken pre-management courses offered at work which I didnt even think of as extracurriculars until my third supplemental. So yeah, I'm learning. Thanks for the boost though.👍