Someone please give me advice/direction/answers

[JohnKim0801]

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Hello.
I am sorry if this is a topic you might not usually encounter but I am having a hard time finding other resources that can give me guidance in knowing if pharmacy school is the right path for me with my past academic history. I am 26 now and have been going to school ever since I have graduated high school, although not consistently. I attended a university first for a couple of years trying to get into the pre-med program but was not ready for the transition and ended up being dropped. Then I attended a community college right away but for a few semesters was still not ready and ended up receiving poor grades which includes two F's and a D. Ever since then, I have tried to raise my grade and make it a little better, although I fear that the damage is done. I have basically "wandered" through school taking general courses that would fulfill most pre-reqs. Another concern for me is that I spent so much time in a commnunity college that most schools might not look at it too pleasantly. However, it is because I have taken a few semesters off here and there to work. I have spent the last few years debating what I should major in and decided that I still want to go into the medical field. I was always interested in either being a doctor or being a pharmacist. Although I am worried and a bit pessmistic about my chances in getting into a pharmacy school, I would still like to try. I have finished most of my pre-requisite courses excluding a anatomy 2 and a speech course and plan on taking the PCAT in the fall of 2005. I am also trying to find a job as a pharmacy technician so that I can gain experience and maybe use that to gain any advantage when applying for pharmacy school. So I was wondering if anyone can give me any advice or point a finger into what direction I should go, informing me of any other places to seek for advice on the way. I am sorry for the long question, but I felt should explain my situation in its entirety. Thanks.

 

[Tuck]

Excluding classes that do not fill pre-req requirements (non-sciences) what is your GPA. Basically, if your science GPA is below a 2.5 you will most likely not get in because they will assume you are unable to deal with the rigors of the course. If you have shown considerable improvement, then you may have a decent chance if you have a well written personal statement and good recommendations.

 

[JohnKim0801]

Thanks for responding. My Science G.P.A. is about a 2.8 because the two F's that I received were in calculus 1 and 2. This is also with the grades I received when I use to go to a university. However, I did make up for it with a B and a C respectively. Other than that, they are mainly A's and B's with a couple of C's here and there. My grades have been consistently good after my last failing grade in calculus, never falling below a B. I'm not sure if this will help you in assessing my chances for pharmacy school. Also, I was wondering if you knew of any organization that I may be able to contact to get further guidance. Thanks a lot.

 

[npp71681]

Hi!
JohnKim0801,

Get involve in some Extracurricular activites, such as joining in school clubs, volunteering at hospitals, etc. It will also help you, because schools are looking for your involvements in other stuff than just studying.

 

[JohnKim0801]

npp, thanks for helping me out. So far, I have only participated in one extracurriclar activity. It was this research program for organic chemistry honors. Other than that, I don't any clue as to what types of activities I should participate in. And for volunteering in hospitals, do I have to look for anything pharmacy related or can it be anything in the medical field? I'm kind of lost with everything because up until now, all I have been worrying about was trying to raise my grades to show an exponential improvement. Well, once again, thanks for replying to my post and trying to help me.

 

[pharmd-08]

Any health related volunteer activity should be fine. But if possible try to gain exposure to something pharmacy related. Because you will need to be competitive in the extra curricular activities to compensate your grade. Other applicants usually have pharmacy-related experience. Most of them are pharmacy tech. What you can do is go beyond that, after getting a job as a tech, go find something else such as joining a prepharmacy club in your school, be involved in other organizations etc. You still have one year before applying, so it's all possible.

 

[DScheveningen]

Yeah, totally John. Get off your butt and start volunteering at a pharmacy. If your school doesn't offer internships with pharmacist at rite aid or longs, go directly to that place and ask the pharmacist if you can work there. That way, you can get a letter from a pharmacist (get to know all of the pharmacists there, some might not wanna write one for you). If you're applying for fall 05, you have to have a few internships under your belt. I don't have incredibly high grades, but i know i at least i have a shot since i have my BS and i did a list of volunteer work. So make a solid effort to become involved, otherwise, you'll waste your money applying and get bummed. Good luck man.

 

[JohnKim0801]

Thanks to everyone who took the time in giving me advice. As for the pharm. tech. job, I'm not sure about everywhere else because I hear there are a lot of openings in Cali, but in Chicago, there seems to be too many technicians. All the places I have been to so far have all turned me away saying they are overstaffed. I have tried applying at a couple of new stores like Walgreens that are opening up. Hopefully I can get hired there. As for the hospitals, most of the hospital pharmacies tell me I need to have a tech certification and at least a year experience. Which brings me to another question, would it be helpful if I were to become certified as a pharm. tech.? Anyways, I will try to go to hospitals to volunteer this week. If you can give me more advice, please do. 😀 At this point, I don't think there is such a thing as too much advice for me. Once again, thank you all.

 

[npp71681]

Hi!
JohnKim0801,

That's a good idea atleast to start volunteering at hospital, that way you can put your feet in the pharmacy, and meanwhile keep looking for Pharm Tech jobs.

GO FOR IT!

 

[DScheveningen]

yes get certified, bonafide and mortified by these nasty patients who come in thinking the world owe them something. Do anything. Just be active in community work, work at a clinic or hospital, anything that's health related. But make sure you got them letters. they're pain in the ass.

 

[CityMermaid]

Hey, sounds like you're in IL.

To get certified all you need is a high school diploma and $40, here is the link: http://www.ildpr.com/WHO/phar.asp
If you go to school in IL, you might need this certificate anyway once you start Pharm school.

As for jobs/volunteering, I think that any kind of experience related to some aspect of being a pharmacist would be helpful. You can try doing anything from research in a lab that tries to develop new drugs to something at a clinic where you deal with patients. I think main goal of this is to show your interest, show that you have developed certain skills, and if possible to get a strong letter of ref. from a professional.

If your previous jobs have not been in the health field try to make the skills and experiences look like they'd be useful in the health field when you apply for health field jobs and when you're completing your applications.

Good Luck!

 

[imperial frog]

Give it up man...you will never make it to pharm school with that record!!!

But seriously, don't give up hope. I was in almost exactly the same situation except I'm about a decade older than you. I got Fs in history and basic science and withdrew from about 20 classes early on in my community college before I got serious about going (about the time I started to have to pay for school myself). My transcript looks something like

WWWWWWBWWWWWFWWWWFWWCWWWAWWWWWW

for the first couple of years. I'm not joking. I wound up with a business degree and worked in the real world for a while and am now starting a second career in pharmacy.

Stick with it, get good grades from now on, and maybe use a little of your personal statement to explain the beginning problems that you had. I did and am now a member of the UF class of 2008.

 

[DrEaMeRcHiCk]

Seriously don't give up...I may be a little young but I know that if there's a will there's a way. Maybe your gpa is a little low, however I've read on some other threads of people retaking the courses and getting higher grades which you have done...so you're on the right track. Honestly, I stress out over everything so I know how you're feeling. Getting pharm. tech certified would really help and do extracurricular like what others have said. Volunteer, intern, whatever you can get and get to know the pharmacists there. Search for some older threads and you might get ome insight on how you can be a more competitive applicant.

Good luck and don't be afraid to ask...Everyone here is super nice! 🙂

 

[JohnKim0801]

😀 Haha, I really thought you were telling me to give up before I read the whole reply. Thank you all. All of you are very nice and have been extremely helpful. Before I posted on this forum, I was basically wandering in the dark. My community college advisors basically told me things I already knew such as "just get better grades and hope for the best." No joke. They tell me something I already know, and then end it with words that makes me feel more pessimistic than what I felt before I walked into their door. As for trying to volunteer/work in a research lab, can you please tell me more about it? There are companies like Abbot (sp?) but I feel like I would need some sort of degree to be hired at places like that. Anyways, once again, thank you all for all the information and words of encouragment you have given me. It helps a lot.

 

[DScheveningen]

try to think work=volunteer work, meaning pay or no pay, you still would do it. If you go to some research place on campus, other campuses, or even in another city, there are bound be be research places you can work. If they don't pay, that's fine, volunteer. They always need some guy to do the grunt work. Of course you'd want to work and get paid, but you know, the goal is to get some experience. I can't tell you exactly where to go since i'm not from chicago (I'm from LA) but i can tell you there has to be places where you can shadow someone and learn about the job. if you're poor like me, then i guess you have more restrictions. but seriously, just do something, volunteering, working, research some jobs online like www.craigslist.com, or www.biospace.com and submit your resume. there's www.monster.com. just submit to a gazillion places, and you'll get a job. It's all about the effort you put in. I know because i'm lazy myself, but i learned that lesson, so don't be like me. good luck man.

 

[humtum]

Hi guys,

I need some serious advice regarding pharmacy school. I have been going to school for past six years and did not achieve any degree. I transfered to state college from community college. The state college that I am currently in is not easy to get in and easy to stay in, therefore I bought my GPA down to 2.4. I do not know what to do anymore. I work full time to support my family. I have to work lets just put it tht way, but I want to become a pharmacist so badly. Now I am confuse I don't know if I should just graduate first with any degree or what. Oh also in my school if i retake any classes they average the grades instead of replacing it. Please guys someone give me advice on what to do. I feel so lost. Along with that I work in a pharmacy as a tech. I have gone through so many troubles. when I came to this country I did not speak a word of english langauge, so now tht I do speak the stupid pharmacy schools are getting harder and harder to get in. I do not know what to do. On the other hand I am thinking of doing medical technology, or tranfering back to community college and retaking all the classes but by doing tht i m just not achieveing anything meanwhile my family is in great need of money. Someone please advice me, my school advicers are just putting me down and telling me to change my major.

Thank you guys in advance
😕

 

[Glycerin]

Hi guys,

I need some serious advice regarding pharmacy school. I have been going to school for past six years and did not achieve any degree. I transfered to state college from community college. The state college that I am currently in is not easy to get in and easy to stay in, therefore I bought my GPA down to 2.4. I do not know what to do anymore. I work full time to support my family. I have to work lets just put it tht way, but I want to become a pharmacist so badly. Now I am confuse I don't know if I should just graduate first with any degree or what. Oh also in my school if i retake any classes they average the grades instead of replacing it. Please guys someone give me advice on what to do. I feel so lost. Along with that I work in a pharmacy as a tech. I have gone through so many troubles. when I came to this country I did not speak a word of english langauge, so now tht I do speak the stupid pharmacy schools are getting harder and harder to get in. I do not know what to do. On the other hand I am thinking of doing medical technology, or tranfering back to community college and retaking all the classes but by doing tht i m just not achieveing anything meanwhile my family is in great need of money. Someone please advice me, my school advicers are just putting me down and telling me to change my major.

Thank you guys in advance
😕

I think your best bet is to get the degree first. That'll improve your application. Another option is to step-up towards pharmacy. If you are interested in medical technology yet still want to pursue pharmacy, then maybe you could become a med tech in order to make more money for your family while finishing any pharmacy prerequisites. I'm not sure how long that would take or anything, so I'm just shooting off ideas here. You definitely should work on getting a degree, though.

 

[dgroulx]

Med tech has pretty much the same prereqs as pharmacy, so it would be a good field to pursue. It is also fairly competitive, but no where near as bad as pharmacy. When I looked into it a few years ago, USF told me that the average GPA to get into the program was 3.0.

 

[ckv34l]

Yea...also why not take the PCAT this January...and you''ll get a feel for how well you can do on the PCAT in the fall....that could probably help you with ur decision.
Kevin