Self Realization?

[smileyman22336]

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Well, I've come to a self realization on the forum today. A member messaged me for advice, and it turns out, I gave advice which I should but unfortunately have not followed myself.

•For the long version, keep reading along...
•For the short version, skip to the bold paragraph...

I am applying this fall for pharmacy school even though if I do get accepted, will start in fall 2012... One of the schools I am applying to offer an automatic interview granted I have a 60 or higher on the pcat and a 3.7 gpa...I am at a 3.6 and have been retaking courses, (I mean heavy duty retaking to make up for my freshman year of college, yeah, talk about 6 C's...in SCIENCE!!!) Okay, so with that said, I've built myself back up to a 3.6 GPA. But to be honest, I am burned out. I'm signed up for this upcoming PCAT on wednesday, and I haven't even had time to review considering I've taken FULL HOURS this past spring, and both summer sessions. This summer session I'm literally in class 8 hours a day, no joke. 2 classes, 4 hours each. So I do not think I'll make the 60 mark for the pcat (that's me being realistic, if I were optimistic I'd say I could...). Well the situation is, the plan was to take the following courses in fall to get that 3.7 GPA that I needed to be able to have the automatic interview...I was gonna take, "Physics 2, Organic 2, Genetics, and (retake BIO 1 and 2 both online)...and study for September's PCAT cause I doubt I'll even score a 60 on this one on Wednesday..." I advised the member on the forum to not overload yourself and its better to spread things out than to have a jam packed schedule which I believe is the situation I am in. And on top of all the things I mentioned for fall, I still would need to work at least weekends as a pharmacy technician (and take the ptcb exam)...

I want advice on a new plan for this fall, and I hope you can give it to me, but before I ask your advice, please consider the following things...

•I'm registering soon for the pctb exam, and want to work as a pharmacy tech sometime by fall.

•I want to register and actually study for September's pcat this time as it's my last shot at this.

• I want to apply for pharmacy school by this fall.

•If I do take (genetics, physics 2, and organic chemistry 2, it would have been my last semester at my community college and I will be graduating in spring, having nothing to do in the spring but wait for graduation).

So should I take those courses all together, or just take ORG 2 by itself in fall, then do physics 2 and genetics in spring (since I find that schedule to be much more predictable) and to forget about taking the BIO 1 and 2 courses online even though I don't make the 3.7 GPA (CONSIDERING I got B's in both Biology courses).

Had I taken the genetics, physics 2, and org 2 classes, I would have been finished at the college I am attending and in Spring the plan was to go a local University and begin taking classes for a bachelors degree in chemistry.

To make a long story short (sorry, I know it's too late now)...

Options:
1) Take genetics, physics 2, org 2, bio 1 and 2 online, stick it out and study for the pcat all together (All of this while working part time as a pharmacy tech in fall)...then in Spring begin the bachelors of chemistry.

2) Take genetics, physics 2, org 2, and forget about retaking bio 1 and 2 online since I got B's in both of them and study for the pcat (All of this while working part time as a pharmacy tech in fall)...then in Spring begin the bachelors of chemistry.

3) Take ORG 2 and work as a pharmacy tech, while studying for the pcat...and finish genetics and physics 2 in spring, and if I am not accepted into pharmacy school begin my bachelors degree in chemistry in summer 2012...

I really wanted to start the bachelors in spring which is why I was rushing to finish...but no matter what I must work as a pharmacy tech by this fall and must complete genetics, org 2, and physics 2 by this spring 2012...

What option do you feel is most efficient and reasonable?

Thanks for reading the long post if you did, and if you read only what was in bold and replied, thank you too, it means a lot to me!

 

[R2pharmD2]

Absolutely, positively do NOT bother with the retakes. Any of them. A 3.6 gpa is very competitive, and even with a lackluster PCAT score you'll probably still get interviews. Why not take the absolute minimum course load that you can and study your ass off for the PCAT? A 3.6 and and 80 on the PCAT would put you in a strong position, I think.

 

[smileyman22336]

Absolutely, positively do NOT bother with the retakes. Any of them. A 3.6 gpa is very competitive, and even with a lackluster PCAT score you'll probably still get interviews. Why not take the absolute minimum course load that you can and study your ass off for the PCAT? A 3.6 and and 80 on the PCAT would put you in a strong position, I think.

So are you saying I drop the retakes, work as a pharmacy tech, take just org 2, study hardcore for the PCAT, and finish physics 2 and genetics in spring?

 

[armorking]

Absolutely, positively do NOT bother with the retakes. Any of them. A 3.6 gpa is very competitive, and even with a lackluster PCAT score you'll probably still get interviews. Why not take the absolute minimum course load that you can and study your ass off for the PCAT? A 3.6 and and 80 on the PCAT would put you in a strong position, I think.

I concur! Definitely not worth retaking a bunch of courses when your GPA is competitive as is. 80+ on the PCAT will be money in the bank for an interview and you have a little more than a month to study for it. You can get a great score in that amount of time if you bust your tail on it (I studied off-and-on for only a month and scored an 80+) . You have a realistic shot this year seriously. Hope this helps!

 

[armorking]

So are you saying I drop the retakes, work as a pharmacy tech, take just org 2, study hardcore for the PCAT, and finish physics 2 and genetics in spring?

Yes that would be the plan!!!

 

[R2pharmD2]

So are you saying I drop the retakes, work as a pharmacy tech, take just org 2, study hardcore for the PCAT, and finish physics 2 and genetics in spring?

That's what I would do for sure. Good luck!

 

[smileyman22336]

I concur! Definitely not worth retaking a bunch of courses when your GPA is competitive as is. 80+ on the PCAT will be money in the bank for an interview and you have a little more than a month to study for it. You can get a great score in that amount of time if you bust your tail on it (I studied off-and-on for only a month and scored an 80+) . You have a realistic shot this year seriously. Hope this helps!

Wow okay for sure. You are the second person to advise me to drop the bio retakes and study for the pcat. So what about the class schedule, in fall ORG 2 while working as a pharmacy tech and studying for the pcat, then spring do the physics 2 and genetics?

 

[smileyman22336]

That's what I would do for sure. Good luck!

Thank you so much!

 

[smileyman22336]

Yes that would be the plan!!!

Okay thank you very much, seems much more chilled out too. It's time for a breather!

 

[AmyChaser]

I have to concur with not doing retakes. Especially of lower course bios. The dean of the Pharm College in Arizona has mentioned that retakes don't look particularly good on an application either.

I've talked with other potential applicants who feel like retaking classes to earn higher grades is their ticket in. Meanwhile, what I hear from advisors and professors is, get everything else in gear. There are a lot more factors they consider on admissions than just GPA.

3.6 is a good GPA. Knock out a sweet PCAT score, and I would say you give yourself the best opportunity. That's what I would do in your situation with the limited knowledge I've got.

 

[xtsukiyox]

3.6 is a good GPA. Knock out a sweet PCAT score, and I would say you give yourself the best opportunity. That's what I would do in your situation with the limited knowledge I've got.

Seconded, er, uh, "fourth'd." I would also add that getting some good pharmacy experience (if you don't have it) would make your application seem more well-rounded.

1) Drop the retakes - B is a good grade, and only will afford a marginal increase in an already competative GPA. Congrats on getting the grades!

2) Consider the PCAT, getting your application in order, and getting a pharm tech job in place of a class. I think it's probably equivalent to a 3 credit hour humanities class. 😛 Also, that will help focus your time if you slot those achievements in just as you would study time for a class.

3) Step back and take a deep breath.

4) Profit?

If you are applying for and get accepted to a PharmD program for Fall 2012, why would you start a Chem bacchelor's in Fall 2011 or Spring 2012?