Retaking pre-req vs. Masters/postbacc program

[LongShot09]

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Hello_
I have a small dilemma and was looking for some guidance. To make a long story short, I didn’t decide to take my academic career seriously until my third year in college which has forever branded me with an extremely embarrassing GPA (2.6 i kno_ DISGUSTING!!!! even after receiving a 4.0 my last semesrer) My question is this, which would be better to help bring up my gpa? Masters program or retake pre-reqs. thanks in advanced!!!

 

[Passion4Sci]

hey there...

It'd help to know what your grades in your pre-requisite courses were.

If you got all As in science classes and got Cs in Economics and Psychology, it'd be helpful to know that.

Care to give us a little more detail?

 

[pharmacygopher]

I went the grad school route. When I finished my undergrad degree, I had a PharmCAS science GPA ~ 2.8-2.9 and a overall of ~3.0-3.1 I had a few C-, C, C+ grades in prerequisites (microbiology, biology, gen chem II, anatomy). Not good, I know.

I only applied to one school at the time. Grad school was my backup plan to pharmacy school. I went into the School of Public Health and really did well. I have a 3.6 grad GPA, taking public health courses (biostatistics, epidemiology, public health management, etc). I also sprinkled in a few courses (biochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacotherapy)to help me prepare for pharmacy school and to show schools I could handle a Pharm.D curriculum. I brought my overall GPA up to 3.27 and science to 3.1.

I was accepted to pharmacy school this year (actually multiple schools) and I'm pumped. I feel like I accomplished something between undergrad and pharmacy school. I actually really liked public health and plan on finishing my MPH during pharmacy school.

 

[LongShot09]

so u applied to pharmacy school after one year in the masters program?

 

[LongShot09]

My science pre-reqs are not the best (mostly c's and a few A's and B's). Economics and Psyc. i got A's lol.Like I i said befor i wasnt serious about school as a freshman but i know if i take the classes over i can get all A's

 

[LongShot09]

last question....lol, when applying to the MPH program did you tell them you were planning to apply to pharmacy school or did you not reveal that?

 

[bugg]

.

 

[Dr.iz-n]

Thanks for the great story! I too have an MPH, and I concentrated in epidemiology. I really want to educate the public about drug safety and conduct research, so I think the PharmD/MPH route, rocks!

I had a question. Since you had graduate courses in public health, did your other science from graduate school get calculated in your Pharmcas GPA? I'm sure you're graduate school coursework got tallied in your overall Pharmcas GPA, correct?

I went the grad school route. When I finished my undergrad degree, I had a PharmCAS science GPA ~ 2.8-2.9 and a overall of ~3.0-3.1 I had a few C-, C, C+ grades in prerequisites (microbiology, biology, gen chem II, anatomy). Not good, I know.

I only applied to one school at the time. Grad school was my backup plan to pharmacy school. I went into the School of Public Health and really did well. I have a 3.6 grad GPA, taking public health courses (biostatistics, epidemiology, public health management, etc). I also sprinkled in a few courses (biochemistry, pharmacology, pharmacotherapy)to help me prepare for pharmacy school and to show schools I could handle a Pharm.D curriculum. I brought my overall GPA up to 3.27 and science to 3.1.

I was accepted to pharmacy school this year (actually multiple schools) and I'm pumped. I feel like I accomplished something between undergrad and pharmacy school. I actually really liked public health and plan on finishing my MPH during pharmacy school.

 

[uclasushi]

I also went the grad school route (MPH with an emphasis in Community Health Science) before applying to pharmacy school. Grad school is expensive and time consuming, so you have to really be sure you are going to utilize both degrees once you're done. If you just plan on doing retail and work at CVS, than a Masters is probably not worth it.

 

[Cangri One]

I have a 3.2 gpa overall and a 3.0 gpa science...and was thinking of getting an MPH since I probably wont be able to get into pharmacy school just yet. Can someone tell me what would be the benefits of having a PharmD with a MPH? Would getting an MPH help me get into pharmacy school...how does admissions view it?

 

[bugg]

.

 

[MRSA Sucks]

I have a 3.2 gpa overall and a 3.0 gpa science...and was thinking of getting an MPH since I probably wont be able to get into pharmacy school just yet. Can someone tell me what would be the benefits of having a PharmD with a MPH? Would getting an MPH help me get into pharmacy school...how does admissions view it?

Seems like you should get into pharmacy school with that GPA if you apply broadly.

 

[Cangri One]

I was thinking of getting an MPH since I probably wont be able to get into pharmacy school just yet with a 3.2 overall gpa and a 3.0 science gpa. Can someone tell me what would be the benefits of having a PharmD with a MPH? Would getting an MPH help me get into pharmacy school...how does admissions view it?

 

[koercive]

asking for a friend, how competitive are the MPH programs? Is there a min GPA of 3.0?

 

[Pharmacceptance]

I'm ALMOST in the same boat... Graduating with my undergrad in Bio, but I don't have the GPA for a pharm app.. (currently at 2.7) I'm doing well this semester, but I should have stepped it up sooner. Anyway, I'm wondering the if I should go post-bacc to boost the GPA while I get some more work experience in, or go towards a master's. To be honest, I really think a master's would be a waste for me as I am aiming to work in retail. I would need about 3 or so more semesters to get up to a 3.1 or so which would hopefully not look as bad with a good PCAT, strong work record, and solid volunteer hours.

Does this seem like the safer route to go?

(Should I even bother apping this year?)

 

[Cangri One]

quick question: if I decide to get an Masters in Public Health...would those classes I take count towards my current GPA or will they be their own separate "Masters GPA." In other words will it raise my current GPA of a 3.2?

 

[Cangri One]

I'm ALMOST in the same boat... Graduating with my undergrad in Bio, but I don't have the GPA for a pharm app.. (currently at 2.7) I'm doing well this semester, but I should have stepped it up sooner. Anyway, I'm wondering the if I should go post-bacc to boost the GPA while I get some more work experience in, or go towards a master's. To be honest, I really think a master's would be a waste for me as I am aiming to work in retail. I would need about 3 or so more semesters to get up to a 3.1 or so which would hopefully not look as bad with a good PCAT, strong work record, and solid volunteer hours.

Does this seem like the safer route to go?

(Should I even bother apping this year?)

im in the same boat as you...I am also finishing up my bachelors in science and dont know whether I should waste money applying or not...or if I should go into a masters program or if I should retake classes

 

[uncbiograd]

are all of you sure you need to go into a program/retake classes? there are plenty of stories of people getting in with ~3.0 GPAs. have any of you taken the PCAT yet? I would say you should at least give that a try before making a final decision. I wasn't sure if I should apply right away with my GPA, but ended up getting a great PCAT score and am applying for fall 2010... if pharmacy is what you want to do, then don't waste your time/money on something you will likely never use..

 

[Pharmacceptance]

Took my PCAT in Oct but I don't feel as if I did very well on them. Ultimately, I'm waiting on my PCAT scores, but even so, my GPA is just hideous. (Not even making min GPA at most schools)