should i take the pcat before i submit my pharmcas application or after

[pharmacistforever]

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i am taking the pcat on October 6 for the first time. should i submit my application and send it to the schools before i take the pcat. ny friend who is already in pharmacy school told me to submit my application right after i get my primary pcat scores on October 6 so the admission of the schools look at the whole thing. what do you guy think ?

 

[oldstock]

i am taking the pcat on October 6 for the first time. should i submit my application and send it to the schools before i take the pcat. ny friend who is already in pharmacy school told me to submit my application right after i get my primary pcat scores on October 6 so the admission of the schools look at the whole thing. what do you guy think ?

your friend is wrong imho. You should always apply as early as possible. Apply now if you can.

Apply early will give you enough time to deal with any arising complication like transcripts or LORs delays and/or edit or modify your PharmCAS application.

In addition, while it is true that most schools will not consider your application for admission until it is complete or verified, some schools might look and even invite you early for interviews. In fact, that was what happened to me. One of the schools applied for invited me for an interview BEFORE my PharmCAS application was verified.

 

[pharmacistforever]

he was saying finish every thing up aka transcripts and all that stuff but don't submit it till you get your preliminary pcat scores on October 6 ( same day of the test ) so when they look at it , they look at the whole thing instead of putting my application aside because the pcat scores are not there.

 

[oldstock]

he was saying finish every thing up aka transcripts and all that stuff but don't submit it till you get your preliminary pcat scores on October 6 ( same day of the test ) so when they look at it , they look at the whole thing instead of putting my application aside because the pcat scores are not there.

Your friend's advice is great if you have no problem with the time PharmCAS is processing and verifying your application, esp later on in the application when PharmCAS is more and more overwhelmed with applications.

You have to keep in mind that PharmCAS will generally take up to 5-6 wks to process and verify your transcripts snd application. And they do NOT do that until you hit that submit button !!

Up to you bro !! 🙂

 

[pharmacistforever]

the school i am interested in has a deadline of march 2 which means i have plenty of time if i submitted by October 6 but there are a lot of people who say the earlier the better so i am still kind of unsure.

 

[oldstock]

the school i am interested in has a deadline of march 2 which means i have plenty of time if i submitted by October 6 but there are a lot of people who say the earlier the better so i am still kind of unsure.

what is the advantage of delaying the submitting of your application ?? NONE 🙂

 

[athin001]

your preliminary scores on test day mean nothing. actual pcat scores will be available 4-6 weeks after your test date. now its the matter of do you want to wait until nov/dec to submit (with an additional ~4 weeks of gpa verification taken by pharmcas...which takes you to dec/jan), or you want to apply now and maybe even get an interview. like oldstock said, no advantage to applying later, but there is an advantage to applying early

 

[athin001]

and the fact that the deadline is march...prob means it is a rolling admissions school. aka you should apply early. decreasing your chances of getting in by applying late....thats completely up to you

 

[JakeSill]

what is the advantage of delaying the submitting of your application ?? NONE 🙂

Oldstock. Kinda confused. I'm applying next cycle and taking the PCAT in September. Since pharmcas opens in July, are you advising us to submit the application before taking the PCAT? Do I submit it when I'm done with the application itself? That is before getting my LOR and PCAT score? And before sending them the official trascript?

 

[oldstock]

Oldstock. Kinda confused. I'm applying next cycle and taking the PCAT in September. Since pharmcas opens in July, are you advising us to submit the application before taking the PCAT? Do I submit it when I'm done with the application itself? That is before getting my LOR and PCAT score? And before sending them the official trascript?

C'mon bro, this is all common sense 🙂

if you mean to enter pharmacy schools in Fall '15, then the answer is yes, yes, yes and yes. The reason is that your already submitted PharmCAS app will act as a folder for the arriving transcripts, LORs, and PCAT scores. This will minimize the chance of PharmCAS to misplace your application materials.

Also, PharmCAS will not send out the instructions on how to do the LORs to your references/LOR writers unless your PharmCAS application is already submitted. Submitting the application now so that PharmCAS can send out the instructions for LORs to your references will give your references plenty of time to write you quality LORs instead of rushing them.

In addition, PharmCAS will need some time (up to ~6 wks) to process, verify, and update your transcripts while you are waiting to take the PCAT in September and for your official PCAT score to be available and sent in to PharmCAS (~ 4 wks later or ~ Oct).

You do not want to wait for PharmCAS to receive your official PCAT score in ~ Oct then submit your application and start to send in your transcripts which PharmCAS will take up to another 6 wks to verify and update, and/or request your LORs then. That is your PharmCAS application will not be complete, verified and updated until ~ Nov or Dec.

If you submit your application, designate your references for LORs, and request your schools to send in your transcripts now, PharmCAS will be able to verify and update your transcripts and LORs sometime around September. When your official PCAT score is sent to PharmCAS in October, your application is complete and ready for schools to view.

Not waiting for your Septermber PCAT score (which is available a month later, in October) and submitting your PharmCAS app now will help cutting down the time for your app to be complete by 4 wks. This is already an advantage with rolling admission.

Now, do you really want the schools to look at your application 4 wks earlier or 4 wks later while the seats are being taken as the admission is rolling forward ?? 😉

dang, this is really a long post. Sorry 🙂

 

[NejixRockS]

Also, PharmCAS will not send out the instructions on how to do the LORs to your references/LOR writers unless your PharmCAS application is already submitted. Submitting the application now so that PharmCAS can send out the instructions for LORs to your references will give your references plenty of time to write you quality LORs instead of rushing them.

You sure about this? My professors got the instructions on how to do the LORs and I haven't e-submited my application yet. I already have 2/3 letters and waiting on the last one.

 

[oldstock]

You sure about this? My professors got the instructions on how to do the LORs and I haven't e-submited my application yet. I already have 2/3 letters and waiting on the last one.

Yes you are right on tbis one. PharmCAS will email your references once you input their contact info in your application. (it was late last night and my memory was not so fresh 🙂 )

But i stand corrected for the rest of my post above. I see many want to wait for everything to be complete before submitting their applications or just want to wait until the deadlines. If you think it is advantageous for you to procrastinate, I have nothing more to say 🙂

 

[NejixRockS]

Yes you are right on tbis one. PharmCAS will email your references once you input their contact info in your application. (it was late last night and my memory was not so fresh 🙂 )

But i stand corrected for the rest of my post above. I see many want to wait for everything to be complete before submitting their applications or just want to wait until the deadlines. If you think it is advantageous for you to procrastinate, I have nothing more to say 🙂

I totally agree with you lol. In my case I was waiting a few weeks to get my summer transcripts. But as soon as I get that, I will be submitting my application!

 

[YOWAT]

Nejix is funny, you're more careful than me! thanks oldstock