Should I continue pursuing Pharmacy school?

[Random Steve]

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Greetings all,

I just finished up with my spring semester and did very well, all a's with the exception of a c+ in calculus. Last spring I took 15 credits, became severely depressed, never went to school, and failed every class. Since then I have been diagnosed and treated of bipolar disorder and have done much better in school. I tried appealing to be withdrawn from classes that semester but my appeal was denied. So i retook 3 of the classes and still need to retake 2 of those classes that i failed. And with taking classes this summer and fall, I should be finished with all of my requirements to apply for pharmacy schools after next spring. But my gpa will likely still be around a 2.8, or at best a 3.0 or so. Do I have any chance of being considered by any pharmacy schools?

 

[ApproxInfinite]

I think that most schools look at your overall application, not just your GPA. There are schools that will take your GPa but you have to show them that you'll be able to handle the workload once you get into school, if taking 15 credits a semester is what got you depressed, how do you think you'll handle pharmacy school?
My overall gpa was a 2.8, science gpa 3.5

 

[lavenderhearts]

If I was you.. I would try to get administratively withdrawn from the semester that you got sick during again. They should have not denied your claim in your condition. Did you make sure you had all the necessary paper work and doctor's backing on the situation? The same thing happened to me and I'm also biploar and I have been out of school for about three years now because I owe three schools money. Since then I have gained a diploma in pharmacy technician and gotten certified as a pharmacy technician so I can get a job and pay off those schools so I can go back to college and finish my pre-pharmacy courses and go to pharmacy school.

 

[Random Steve]

I think that most schools look at your overall application, not just your GPA. There are schools that will take your GPa but you have to show them that you'll be able to handle the workload once you get into school, if taking 15 credits a semester is what got you depressed, how do you think you'll handle pharmacy school?
My overall gpa was a 2.8, science gpa 3.5

Thanks for the reply. I guess that was a poorly worded sentence. It wasn't because of the 15 credits that made me depressed. I just happened to be taking 15 credits at the time that I went through that period of severe depression. What else should I be doing to boost my overall application?

 

[Ilasper]

Thanks for the reply. I guess that was a poorly worded sentence. It wasn't because of the 15 credits that made me depressed. I just happened to be taking 15 credits at the time that I went through that period of severe depression. What else should I be doing to boost my overall application?

Write a stellar essay, get really good at interviews and show them you've changed and are a capable student by scoring very highly on the PCAT. Get very good letters of recommendation. Your GPA is a bit weak but if everything else makes up for it you should get in somewhere.

 

[Myohmy2010]

Greetings all,

I just finished up with my spring semester and did very well, all a's with the exception of a c+ in calculus. Last spring I took 15 credits, became severely depressed, never went to school, and failed every class. Since then I have been diagnosed and treated of bipolar disorder and have done much better in school. I tried appealing to be withdrawn from classes that semester but my appeal was denied. So i retook 3 of the classes and still need to retake 2 of those classes that i failed. And with taking classes this summer and fall, I should be finished with all of my requirements to apply for pharmacy schools after next spring. But my gpa will likely still be around a 2.8, or at best a 3.0 or so. Do I have any chance of being considered by any pharmacy schools?

You should try to raise your gpa to at least a 3.5

 

[zhangys]

If you do well in your remaining classes, destroy the PCAT, and are willing to go out of state, I definitely think you have a chance at getting into pharmacy school. Do you have any pharmacy experience? I would suggest that you do some volunteering or become a tech to really be sure that this is what you want to do (this will also contribute to your app, PS, and interview).

 

[AstraZ]

If you do well in your remaining classes, destroy the PCAT, and are willing to go out of state, I definitely think you have a chance at getting into pharmacy school. Do you have any pharmacy experience? I would suggest that you do some volunteering or become a tech to really be sure that this is what you want to do (this will also contribute to your app, PS, and interview).

Extracurricular activities and community service are also good to have too, but not at the expense of GPA or PCAT.