Should I appeal

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shal

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I applied to UOP and was rejected after an interview. So, I finally decided to give them a call today and find out ways to improve my application. However, they were unable to come up with any reason why I was not accepted except for the fact that its competitive. I was even told that if it had been any other given year, I should have been accepted. According to the person I spoke with, I did possess all the necessary skills. The only drawbacks she mentioned were that my interview wasn't outstanding, however it didn't create a negative impression either. I asked why I was not waitlisted and was informed that there's a limit to how many students they can waitlist. I don't know if the admissions committee looks favorably upon an appeal. Would appealing hurt me if I plan to reapply.. isn't it kind of saying that you made a wrong decision in my opinion? By the way, my stats are as follows. I have a BS degree, 3.5 overall, 3.86 science gpa, community service, leadership and pharmacy volunteer experience.
 
Your stats really indicate that you are quite a strong applicant for pharmacy schools. However, as part of rejection, they will not tell you exactly what you have done "wrong". I personally do not think appealing will change the status (chances are very small). But if you feel that you truly deserve it, then just appeal. I don't think it would effect if you reapply next year to the same school you'd like to have an appeal. They won't even remember after 1 year....Trust me.

Good luck with everything.
 
I say go for it. I would write a letter indicating why I am qualify and how UOP fits me perfectly.
 
It doesn't work....I tried that once and all I got back was a letter of apology telling me to apply again next yr. I just did it to see what would happen. Although, I did get in elsewhere. By the way my stats were just similar to yours...3.8 overall and 4.0 science, 90%PCAT. Hard to believe they reject people like us. Like a friend of mine told me- its a matter of luck.
 
I agree it is probably futile to appeal... I just can not belive the credentials of the people that are being rejected from schools! (I havn't gotten in anywhere yet either, and I thought I was competitive) I am just wondering, what are the credentials of the people who actually got in this year? Did everyone have a 4.0 and 99 percentile GPAs and have 5 years pharmacy experience? Did they just get lucky, or fit some demographic? I am just very confused by this whole experience.
 
when did you apply? I am not sure if UOP has early or rolling admissions. If they do and you applied later, that may explain why. Other than that, I would've thought you were a shoe in.
 
Originally posted by VCU07
It doesn't work....I tried that once and all I got back was a letter of apology telling me to apply again next yr. I just did it to see what would happen. Although, I did get in elsewhere. By the way my stats were just similar to yours...3.8 overall and 4.0 science, 90%PCAT. Hard to believe they reject people like us. Like a friend of mine told me- its a matter of luck.

Did you appeal at UOP or another school? Also, what did you write in the letter... ie did you mention your strengths etc and why you should be admitted? I just don't want it to have a negative effect if I reapply.
 
Originally posted by eddie269
when did you apply? I am not sure if UOP has early or rolling admissions. If they do and you applied later, that may explain why. Other than that, I would've thought you were a shoe in.

UOP has rolling admissions and I applied in the middle of the application process. However, I had to reschedule my iv to a later date since I had a UCSF iv on the same day.
 
I agree with others on this topic. You can try writing an appeal but I highly doubt that they'll reconsider your application. First off its too late in the process and interviews are over and secondly, UOP is like that. I too have friends who were in your shoes a year ago and they talk to them about it and nothing happened.

They just say to re-apply the next year.

Life is unfair!
 
Hey Shal,

I was wondering how long it took before UOP gave u a rejection after the interview. I interviewed march 12 and i've been waiting for an answer. I've already gotten into Hawaii, but UOP is still my first choice, and i was wondering if i should call or not. Yea, i dont know how you didnt get in? I have about a 3.0 cumulative and my science gpa is a little lower. Im gettin my bachelors this spring at UCI. We'll c if i get in or not. But, my cousin is a pre-phar at UOP and she tells me that a lof of the undergrad prephar studnets got in this year. THat may be one reason why they didnt accept that many transfer students. I just hope i get it..if no hawaii here i come.
 
It took 3 weeks, exactly the time they told us at the interview. So, you should probably get it this week if they told you the same timeframe.
 
hey shal!
judging from my own personal experience, i have a feeling it was the interview that screwed you over. i am in the same boat as you, only with usc. i know i am qualified for the program but my interview was pretty bad in that i didnt blow them away. as a result, i am waitlisted. i have a feeling that if i had done as well on my usc interview as i did at my uop interview, then i probably would not be waitlisted. its sad to say but a lot of it has to do with luck and how lucky you are to get a interviewer that you click with. I was "unlucky" for my usc interview because my interviewer was not exactly the friendliest person ever and i was "lucky" for my uop interview where i chatted with a professor non-stop about the pharmD phD program and how i can fit research into my schedule...since its getting SO competitive, i think the interview with either make you or break you, so to speak. so dont give up! definitely reapply or maybe request another interview? i am not sure if they would be willing to do it but you never know! good luck!
 
I am sorry to say but your stats definately indicate that you are a more than qualified candidate for UOP. I am sure that if you apply to any of the other Cali schools you will get in. This just proves the flaws that exist in the admissions processes all around America. They have no justifications for the decisions they make, only that they say were made with complete obedience. Come on. Who are they trying to fool? If you put your heart into applying and they still deny you with your exceptional record, who needs them, when you can get into probably a much better institution in a much better area.

All I can say is that you got swindled by the oldest tactic of the application process. Don't waste your time applying there again.
 
If there are still slots to fill you have to appeal. I know a lot of ppl, albeit in med school apps, who appealed and had at least nominal success. It can't hurt. I would write the letter that BMB spoke of and get two more stellar LOR and submit them. Don't ever go down without a fight!!!!!!
 
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