Should I be so down?

[moses2002]

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Graduated with a 2.75 with a degree in business administration. Totally bored with corporate environment. Want to pursue something more interesting and rewarding with better job security and pay. Currently taking pharm science pre reqs at a community college. After this semester I will only need 17 more units at a 4.0 to bring my GPA up to a 3.0 overall.

My advantages:

• I CAN obtain all A's in the pre reqs so my BCMP gpa should be almost perfect .
• Very young so I have plenty of time to persue this goal.

Disadvantages:

• My overall gpa even with obtaining a 4.0 in all the science pre reqs will only be around a 3.1.
• No pharmacy experience or volunteering.

My plan:
Get a job as a pharm tech for experience. Persue some sort of leadership/volunteer activity. Continue at a 4.0 in my science pre reqs. Obtain good letters of rec. Take pcat but I plan on applying to mostly schools that dont require it and ones in California since I am a resident. I would love to go to UCSD but with my stats I don't think it is possible. I might have a shot at Western University, University of the Pacific, or Touro University in California.

My question: Should I go for this or is my overall gpa just not competitive enough. I have seen people get in with sub par overall gpa like mine but I am still uneasy that my upward trend in grades and high science gpa just won't cut it. In my situation what would you do? Thank you for the input.

 

[Phrm Girl 24]

Graduated with a 2.75 with a degree in business administration. Totally bored with corporate environment. Want to persue something more interesting and rewarding with better job security and pay. Currently taking pharm science pre reqs at a community college. After this semester I will only need 17 more units at a 4.0 to bring my GPA up to a 3.0 overall.

My advantages:

• I CAN obtain all A's in the pre reqs so my BCMP gpa should be almost perfect .
• Very young so I have plenty of time to persue this goal.

Disadvantages:

• My overall gpa even with obtaining a 4.0 in all the science pre reqs will only be around a 3.1.
• No pharmacy experience or volunteering.

My plan:
Get a job as a pharm tech for experience. Persue some sort of leadership/volunteer activity. Continue at a 4.0 in my science pre reqs. Obtain good letters of rec. Take pcat but I plan on applying to mostly schools that dont require it and ones in California since I am a resident. I would love to go to UCSD but with my stats I don't think it is possible. I might have a shot at Western University, University of the Pacific, or Touro University in California.

My question: Should I go for this or is my overall gpa just not competitive enough. I have seen people get in with sub par overall gpa like mine but I am still uneasy that my upward trend in grades and high science gpa just won't cut it. In my situation what would you do? Thank you for the input.

I think you should go for this....if you get a 4.0 science gpa i think you would have a pretty good shot for getting interviews. Once you get an interview its not just grades anymore they look at your personality and how well you answered there questions.

 

[JohnLennon]

You shouldn't avoid taking the PCAT. A good score on the PCAT is what will help the schools look past a subpar GPA.

 

[futurerx212]

And BTW...its PURSUE...not persue.

 

[medicalCPA]

And BTW...its PURSUE...not persue.

Tsk, tsk. Clarity of expression should transcend minor errors in spelling. Your previous posts haven't exactly been error-free.

 

[moses2002]

And BTW...its PURSUE...not persue.

Thanks for the correction. Its true though in a situation like mine and for many others every little thing counts hehe.

 

[Rumplestiltazepam]

And BTW...its PURSUE...not persue.

Its= possessive pronoun
It's= contraction

🙄

 

[Allure]

You should go for it, but since your GPA is not high, you have to approach it carefully like looking into schools that only look at your pre-req GPA such as UF, or schools with forgiveness such as USN or newer, private schools. Don't just apply to public schools that only care about stats such as Georgia. I think you should apply to more schools outside of California because they are very competitive and your chances of getting in is slim to none. I'm not saying you shouldn't apply to those schools, but you need to be realistic. I have a friend with a GPA of around 2.8 and PCAT of 99, he applied to 17 schools and got accepted at 5. The key is to apply to the right schools, schools that want what you have.

 

[bwsalvas]

Graduated with a 2.75 with a degree in business administration. Totally bored with corporate environment. Want to pursue something more interesting and rewarding with better job security and pay. Currently taking pharm science pre reqs at a community college. After this semester I will only need 17 more units at a 4.0 to bring my GPA up to a 3.0 overall.

My advantages:

• I CAN obtain all A's in the pre reqs so my BCMP gpa should be almost perfect .
• Very young so I have plenty of time to persue this goal.

Disadvantages:

• My overall gpa even with obtaining a 4.0 in all the science pre reqs will only be around a 3.1.
• No pharmacy experience or volunteering.

My plan:
Get a job as a pharm tech for experience. Persue some sort of leadership/volunteer activity. Continue at a 4.0 in my science pre reqs. Obtain good letters of rec. Take pcat but I plan on applying to mostly schools that dont require it and ones in California since I am a resident. I would love to go to UCSD but with my stats I don't think it is possible. I might have a shot at Western University, University of the Pacific, or Touro University in California.

My question: Should I go for this or is my overall gpa just not competitive enough. I have seen people get in with sub par overall gpa like mine but I am still uneasy that my upward trend in grades and high science gpa just won't cut it. In my situation what would you do? Thank you for the input.

In my personal opinion, as a current pharmd. student...Take that PCAT.

The PCAT is a test designed specifically to predict success in pharmacy school...A good grade says you're up for it, and the schools that take the PCAT really believe in it. At some schools a great grade can absolve some mediocre grades in the past, at least giving you a chance to explain yourself in an interview.

If you get the grades you say you're going to get and also have a well rounded complete application I think you have a strong chance. The upward trend alone speaks volumes more than the GPA and they will see that.

 

[Pharmpills]

Honestly ur in a tough situation. i mean i know everyone here says take the pcat and do well but i have a near perfect PCAT but have a difficult time getting interviews bc my gpa is ~3.0 even though ive taken aton of difficult classes and will have a degree. Then again i got interviews with a 70 pcat by applying early so its hard to say. All i can tell u is if u want it then keep trying but keep in mind that u are unlikely to get into ur favorite schools but u will still have a good shot if u apply early with a good score.

i mean ive taken biochem (A), cell/molec bio, anatomy, microbio and did very well but still i remaing without an interview from schools in florida except 1 that dosnt use the PCAT which is odd in itself.
I mean i have an acceptance but i dont plan to go there but i have an interview next month and i might go there but i dont know.

 

[moses2002]

Honestly ur in a tough situation. i mean i know everyone here says take the pcat and do well but i have a near perfect PCAT but have a difficult time getting interviews bc my gpa is ~3.0 even though ive taken aton of difficult classes and will have a degree. Then again i got interviews with a 70 pcat by applying early so its hard to say. All i can tell u is if u want it then keep trying but keep in mind that u are unlikely to get into ur favorite schools but u will still have a good shot if u apply early with a good score.

i mean ive taken biochem (A), cell/molec bio, anatomy, microbio and did very well but still i remaing without an interview from schools in florida except 1 that dosnt use the PCAT which is odd in itself.
I mean i have an acceptance but i dont plan to go there but i have an interview next month and i might go there but i dont know.

Thanks for the input everyone. Pharmpills what was your science gpa when you first applied and what did you do for activities/experience? During the interview did they question you about your overall gpa? How many schools did you apply to and how many invited you for an interview. Thanks!

 

[lkrsfanforever]

don't feel discouraged, a lot of the schools look beyond gpa--they want a well rounded individual. i have a friend who got an interview and his gpa is below a 3.0...so you never know.

and also, they like to see that you've improved...and getting a 4.0 in all the prereq classes is an awesome way of showing this!

i would give this a try, but just to be on a safe side...apply to a lot of schools 🙂

best of luck