Some realistic feedback Please

[Steroids]

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I am new to Pharm. MY GPA is below the stated "averages" of schools. I'm not sure if these are means, medians, or some other measure of central tendency? I'm also not sure about the distribution or range of marks, only that the minimum is GPA 3.0 and averages usually 3.5ish+

I was hoping some of you more familiar with admissions processes may give me constructive feedback. Based on my credentials, should I even bother applying? Thanks...


BS in Biology 3.1 GPA (2003-2007)
Master of Public Health (2007-Present)
Good Lab/Research/Leadership Experiences, Teaching Assistant, etc. No relevant Pharm Experience.
I will obviously retake Orgo courses (at the same time as my Master's--tough/expensive).
Is pursuing Pharm still realistic for me?
Any advice is appreciated (please be honest - my feelings won't be hurt).

 

[AbsoluteEthanol]

i always ask this question, which state will you be applying in? if you're thinking california, i'll tell you straight up that you will not make it regardless of what you do in your masters program.


you have a few things going for you, you have a BS and will have a master's degree, that's awesome!

what i would work on are: direct pharmacy experience, get at least a few hours under your belt in retail or hospital, get a letter of rec from a pharmacist! work hard and do as well as you can on the PCAT... i.e high 80's-90's. you're definitely on the low end of the GPA spectrum, but not all is lost, work hard on the aforementioned things and you should get some interviews

 

[JeremyE30]

Retake both organics, work in a pharmacy, and do good on the PCAT

 

[Fost]

Anything below a C in a required course MUST be retaken, or they won't even look at your app.

 

[trailrider400]

I am new to Pharm. MY GPA is below the stated "averages" of schools. I'm not sure if these are means, medians, or some other measure of central tendency? I'm also not sure about the distribution or range of marks, only that the minimum is GPA 3.0 and averages usually 3.5ish+

I was hoping some of you more familiar with admissions processes may give me constructive feedback. Based on my credentials, should I even bother applying? Thanks...


BS in Biology (2003-2007); some courses include:
Bio I---------B
Bio II--------A-
Chem I------A-
Chem II-----A
Orgo I------C-
Orgo II------D-
Biochem-----D-
Mol Bio------A-
Microbio-----A-
Genetics----A-
Metabolism--B+
Enzymology--B
Biotech------B
Mol Biotech--C?
Calc I-------A
Calc II------A
Stats-------A
Physics I---C+
Physics II--C
Anatomy---C+
Physio I----C?
Physio II----A-
Histology---C+?

Overall GPA ~ 3.1?
Master of Public Health (2007-Present, 4.0)

Good Lab/Research/Leadership Experiences, Teaching Assistant, etc. No relevant Pharm Experience.

I will obviously retake Orgo courses (at the same time as my Master's--tough/expensive).

Is pursuing Pharm still realistic for me?

Any advice is appreciated (please be honest - my feelings won't be hurt).

I would say at least the D's on your record do not look good. And its debatable whether or not to retake classes you got C's or C minuses in. But one thing I noticed is you are more than capable of getting good grades in very difficult classes. Your grades are actually a bit of an anomaly. I think with new focus and direction you can bring those low grades up (and i think you need to) Someone who got A's in Calc I, II, Phys, micro, and genetics is far from stupid. If I were you I would focus on retaking the classes you didn't do well in and really focus on them. I'm sure some would argue with me but if your goal is really to get into pharm school i think a master program would be a complete waste of time and money. You should get pharmacy and volunteer experience and concentrate on bringing up your pharm prereq gpa and retaking classes you got a D in. Because even after an expensive master program your still going to have a D in organic and biochem. Unless you retake them. Just my 2 cents

 

[Achilleus]

Honestly, with a 3.1, it will be pretty hard to get in. The BS will help you get an interview with SOME schools but not all. Retake the D's and C-'s. Be sure you do well in them. Afterwards, if your GPA isn't close to the average of the school(s) you are applying to, retake some of the C's as well (I would say maybe 3.3 at the lowest but aim for higher). Do well on your PCAT and get really good letters of rec. At least that will somewhat make up for you GPA. good luck

 

[Hipharm7]

Hey, don't be so depressed. Retake the D's and C-'s too, if you can. You don't want to mess up those important courses (organic and biochem!). Get some pharmacy experience and do volunteer work that can really show your passion. Although schools tend to look at high GPA's, I'm sure there are ways you can make yourself more competitive. I had a lower-than-average GPA myself but managed to get into a pharmacy school.
Are you planning to apply next year? Good luck 👍

 

[NYPharm99]

Some schools accept the CLEP exams that are similar to the AP exams. Please see below.

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/clep/exams.html

 

[RxWildcat]

To be honest, if you have c's and d's in several pre-pharm classes, you will likely have a ton of trouble with pharmacy classes. I would look into another field.

 

[Transformer]

Like many people have already noted, Retake your Organic Chemistry.

Your poor performance in Organic Chemistry and Anatomy is hurting your application.

Like many applicants, You have the potential since you've gotten As in Calculus and Microbio but Organic Chemistry requires a vast understanding of concepts, and applying concepts to problems you may never have seen before.

So, again, retake organic, this time; learn the concepts well and learn to apply them rather than memorizing the reactions.

Taking organic is like playing the piano or playing basketball. you have to practice every single day.

Procrastination is Fatal

study smart/hard...good luck

 

[Steroids]

I really appreciate all the feedback.

I have to take 4 classes this summer: 2 for my Master's, 2 undergrad math classes. In the fall, I need to take 4 classes towards my Master's.

So, I can only fit in 1 retake this summer semester and 1 in the fall semester.

Based on this,
a) which course should I repeat in the summer and which in the fall?
b) Is it too early to apply for the 2009 cycle?
c) I should have a first-author publication submitted sometime this summer (fingers crossed), MPH complete by April 2009, but haven't come across any Pharm school that will care about this- anyone know differently (ie. a school which may look favorably upon this)?

Thanks again for your help guys....

 

[Rumplestiltazepam]

I really appreciate all the feedback.

I have to take 4 classes this summer: 2 for my Master's, 2 undergrad math classes. In the fall, I need to take 4 classes towards my Master's.

So, I can only fit in 1 retake this summer semester and 1 in the fall semester.

Based on this,
a) which course should I repeat in the summer and which in the fall?
b) Is it too early to apply for the 2009 cycle?
c) I should have a first-author publication submitted sometime this summer (fingers crossed), MPH complete by April 2009, but haven't come across any Pharm school that will care about this- anyone know differently (ie. a school which may look favorably upon this)?

Thanks again for your help guys....

MPH should look great on your application at any school. You just have to really tie it into your essays. Explain how having a background in public health will make you a unique pharmacist and how you will bring a unique perspective to the college and your peers. PharmCas opens up in June but it never too early to start getting all your transcripts, LORS, essays and all that stuff in order.

 

[Steroids]

Is it too early for me to apply this cycle (for 2009)? I need to retake some courses...

 

[PharmDforme]

I think you could definitely apply for fall 2009 if you retook Organic I and II this summer and Biochem in the fall. Make sure you have enough time to do really well in these courses though. I would also take the PCAT in August that way if you need to retake it, you could do so in October.

If being a pharmacist is your ultimate career goal, don't let other people sway your thoughts about applying. One pre-health advisor of mine told me not to apply this year however, I didn't listen and applied at the very last minute. I was accepted at my number one choice and interviewed at another school.

Good luck!!

Is it too early for me to apply this cycle (for 2009)? I need to retake some courses...

 

[DrWrong]

Retake both organics, work in a pharmacy, and do good on the PCAT

Pretty much what this guys said. The organic, which you said you plan on retaking, is going to be a BIG negative aspect of your application/transcript.