Rn advise!!!

[guti001]

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Hey,
First post... and I would like some advise on what steps I should take next. Im hoping to apply for Pharmacy school in 2012 (next cycle). I've been working as an RN for two years in the ICU ,and I have a A.S in nursing and a B.A in Public Health. My biggest isssue is my overall GPA which is at 2.7 and My PCAT was 84. Im only missing my labs for PHY and upper div MCB. I would like to get some advise on my what I should do next (i know I need to raise my GPA but Im at 190 credit). Would it be best to retake the PCAT to try and reach the 90's? Also do my nursing classes count as science courses? (Also the grading scale was grade up 93 and up was an A-> how can i explain that to pharm schools)

THANKS

 

[pharmschooler]

Hey,
First post... and I would like some advise on what steps I should take next. Im hoping to apply for Pharmacy school in 2012 (next cycle). I've been working as an RN for two years in the ICU ,and I have a A.S in nursing and a B.A in Public Health. My biggest isssue is my overall GPA which is at 2.7 and My PCAT was 84. Im only missing my labs for PHY and upper div MCB. I would like to get some advise on my what I should do next (i know I need to raise my GPA but Im at 190 credit). Would it be best to retake the PCAT to try and reach the 90's? Also do my nursing classes count as science courses? (Also the grading scale was grade up 93 and up was an A-> how can i explain that to pharm schools)

THANKS

An 84 PCAT should be just fine. I wouldn't bother retaking the PCAT unless your science subject scores were low.

Nursing classes do count as science courses on PharmCAS, oddly enough (even the social science type nursing classes). I think PharmCAS standardizes your grades; if the school has an unusual grading scale, I'd imagine they'd take that into account.

You might consider taking some upper-division science courses and doing well in them to show you can handle the workload/gained maturity since your first degree/etc, etc. Without extensive pharmacy experience, a 2.7 GPA might make it very hard to get into a school. Consider applying to many schools, as early in the cycle as possible.

Try to get some pharmacy experience if you don't have any. Job shadow, volunteer, get a job in a pharmacy, etc.

 

[guti001]

Working as an RN doesnt count as pharmacy experience 🙁. I constantly have set up drip and adminster meds....that sucks!! How heavy should the workload be?... it's becuz I work full time and I am still under contract till Nov and cant go part time till then. Thanks for you help.

 

[pharmschooler]

Working as an RN doesnt count as pharmacy experience 🙁. I constantly have set up drip and adminster meds....that sucks!! How heavy should the workload be?... it's becuz I work full time and I am still under contract till Nov and cant go part time till then. Thanks for you help.

Don't worry -- you have plenty of time. It's not a race.

Your RN experience will be very helpful as a pharmacist, but it's not the same as pharmacy experience. Experience isn't necessary, but it can help balance your application out if your GPA is lower.

You just want to show the schools you can handle the workload. You might be best off contacting schools and explaining your situation and asking for their suggestions to improve your potential application.

 

[delano2000]

Hey,
First post... and I would like some advise on what steps I should take next. Im hoping to apply for Pharmacy school in 2012 (next cycle). I've been working as an RN for two years in the ICU ,and I have a A.S in nursing and a B.A in Public Health. My biggest isssue is my overall GPA which is at 2.7 and My PCAT was 84. Im only missing my labs for PHY and upper div MCB. I would like to get some advise on my what I should do next (i know I need to raise my GPA but Im at 190 credit). Would it be best to retake the PCAT to try and reach the 90's? Also do my nursing classes count as science courses? (Also the grading scale was grade up 93 and up was an A-> how can i explain that to pharm schools)

THANKS

PharmCAS may count your Nursing classes as science classes but Pharmacy school AdCom will mainly be interested in the fact that you completed all your core/required science courses for admission to pharm school.