Taking the PCAT exam after first semester university?!

[CC7]

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Hi all,
So I'm technically supposed to take the PCAT exam this upcoming January 2013. I haven't registered yet, because I'm uncertain whether or not I should take the exam. Initially, I wanted to transfer into UBC's pharmacy program. They require all first year courses + the PCAT + 2 references. This is the only available time to take the PCAT exam to be considered for their 2013 fall semester.

I realize you need to have a background in organic chemistry, so obviously I'm at a huge disadvantage, but I am a hard worker and I will put the time and effort it takes to do well on the PCAT. I figured since UBC takes your most recent score instead of the average of all trials, I shouldn't be penalized if I do terribly on the exam (?). With that said, I did end up calling their representatives and apparently, 'plenty of people who have applied for the pharmacy program in their first year have gotten in'

I'm going to take the exam eventually, it's just a debate of whether or not it should be upcoming January or summer. Is it possible to do well on the PCAT after one semester of University?

 

[tommyVoltage]

I really don't see how you would do well on the PCAT with only one semester of undergrad even if organic chemistry is only 20%(?) percent of the chemistry section. You wouldn't even know basic questions like molarity, which structure is an amino acid, acid/base. The biology section you wouldn't know immunology, genetics, or microbiology. And I don't know how you would do on basic calculus. You have time to buy Dr. Collins and get ahead of where you are now, but don't let this hurt your GPA. I don't know how Canadian schools really operate either. I'm sure admissions knows that most people won't have all the information. When is the deadline? A lot of American schools don't take the January PCAT.

 

[CC7]

There's no pharmacy programs where I live, so it's super frustrating trying to figure out how everything works. I have taken calculus previously in highschool, and that covers 75% of first year calculus. I'm not quite sure how in depth the Statistics/Probability part of the exam would be and I'm lost on how to study for the writing/analogies component of the exam. The 30 minutes part really freaks me out but I suppose that means that they can't test you on super long questions that require a lot calculations?

I would have to study organic chemistry beforehand, but I really can't afford Collin's (I don't know how long it would take for the study materials to arrive either?). My professor has given me recommended books/sites to look at, so I suppose I'd start off with learning nomenclature for ochem.

The latest exam date would be January 8th. In between trying to keep up with classes and learning things separately, I don't know if writing the PCAT and doing well is even possible. I don't know when people typically take the exam (???), and I don't know why UBC has this requirement for it. As said before, I was told that 'plenty of first years can get in'. It's a pretty competitive school so I think that was just nonsense.

 

[jerbearox]

There's no pharmacy programs where I live, so it's super frustrating trying to figure out how everything works. I have taken calculus previously in highschool, and that covers 75% of first year calculus. I'm not quite sure how in depth the Statistics/Probability part of the exam would be and I'm lost on how to study for the writing/analogies component of the exam. The 30 minutes part really freaks me out but I suppose that means that they can't test you on super long questions that require a lot calculations?

I would have to study organic chemistry beforehand, but I really can't afford Collin's (I don't know how long it would take for the study materials to arrive either?). My professor has given me recommended books/sites to look at, so I suppose I'd start off with learning nomenclature for ochem.

The latest exam date would be January 8th. In between trying to keep up with classes and learning things separately, I don't know if writing the PCAT and doing well is even possible. I don't know when people typically take the exam (???), and I don't know why UBC has this requirement for it. As said before, I was told that 'plenty of first years can get in'. It's a pretty competitive school so I think that was just nonsense.

What's the rush?

 

[CC7]

I can take it during the summer, or next year in January, but that would mean I'd have to wait another year (they don't accept any admissions for the winter semester) and I guess even though I'm working towards a Bachelor of Science degree it just feels unsettling to know that the courses I'm taking might not be transferable.

In the end though, I figured that taking the PCAT the first time wouldn't do much harm, so might as well try and see what happens? I have approximately 2 months to prepare for it.

 

[jerbearox]

I can take it during the summer, or next year in January, but that would mean I'd have to wait another year (they don't accept any admissions for the winter semester) and I guess even though I'm working towards a Bachelor of Science degree it just feels unsettling to know that the courses I'm taking might not be transferable.

In the end though, I figured that taking the PCAT the first time wouldn't do much harm, so might as well try and see what happens? I have approximately 2 months to prepare for it.

Seems like unnecessary stress in my opinion. By finishing the pre-reqs followed by studying the material I can only see good coming from it. You will have more time to prepare your application as a whole. You will have a better foundation and most likely get a higher score than if you took it in two months and more time to gain pharmacy related experience. Why risk taking the test more than once? Doesn't make sense to me. Finishing 2 years worth of prereqs then getting accepted into a 4 year program is still considered really fast. Many people here, including myself, finished a bachelor's then applied. So back to my first question, what's the rush?

 

[CC7]

I understand your logic, but at the same time I guess I just don't want to wait two years to take the exam. I'm not quite sure how pharmacy schools work in United States, but here I believe only two schools in Canada require the PCAT (the two I really wanted to apply to...figures). The rest require an interview, FIRST year courses, a good GPA, maybe some volunteer experience..

If I were to take the PCAT in about two months, any advice you could give me?
I have Kaplan's 2012-2013, ochem books, I have a decent background in calculus and the current textbooks from my courses.

 

[jerbearox]

I understand your logic, but at the same time I guess I just don't want to wait two years to take the exam. I'm not quite sure how pharmacy schools work in United States, but here I believe only two schools in Canada require the PCAT (the two I really wanted to apply to...figures). The rest require an interview, FIRST year courses, a good GPA, maybe some volunteer experience..

If I were to take the PCAT in about two months, any advice you could give me?
I have Kaplan's 2012-2013, ochem books, I have a decent background in calculus and the current textbooks from my courses.

Advice? Quit making posts, register for the test, and start studying NOW. Not only do you need to know the information, you need to practice and master it.

You seem to be placing plenty of focus on calculus, which in reality, isn't that important on this test. After the experimental questions are removed there are only about 9 calc. questions. The basic math, algebra, and stats are the hardest parts of the math section because most people think they are think they are good at it but in reality it takes practice. The questions are easy but under time restraints the most important thing is to determine what approach will get you to the answer the fastest. Learning how to get over your ego is the next big step, if you don't know the answer don't waste your time.

Start learning some words, perhaps about 10-15 a day for the next two months should suffice. Read journals, the reading comp is ridiculous on the PCAT.

For biology, knowing Bio 1 will help a lot but not so much Bio 2. The microbio is stupid, rather than testing you on interesting and more challenging questions such as comparing types of secretion systems or modes of infection, they choose to ask you tedious questions such as what type of bacteria is this, or this virus is caused by what. Anatomy&Physio caught me off guard. I was under the impression that it was going to be more physio since its more conceptual but there was anatomy too, such as identifying histology slides and bones. For nutrition questions, all I can say is to wikipedia common conditions caused by deficiency or excess of various vitamins and minerals. Anything Plant/Non-human related will not be tested on with the exception of photosynthesis. Once again, very basic and should have been covered in Bio1.

Chemistry, general chemistry is the main focus. There are a few calculations and none of them are hard but you must know how to do them in under 40 seconds. Use your common sense. For example, a question regarding Ksp's or Ka's, do you really think they will ask you something that requires using the quadratic equation or something beyond the 3rd power? Of course not, they aren't jerks. That means theres always an easy way to solve these questions. OChem is very basic, reactions were easy. Since you have never taken OChem before you will be missing out on a great foundation but for the sake of the PCAT, look at all the reactions memorize the reactant and the final product. SCREW THE MECHANISMS and just keep in mind the exceptions. Learn the rules. Learn how electronegativity works, what makes a good leaving group, what is electron donating/withdrawing. That will help you figure out the final product (most of the time) even if you haven't seen it before. The "biochem" is laughable. Biology 1 is a survey course, so it should have gone over this stuff: AA/Protein, carbs, lipid structures. Enzymes, once again even though considered to be Biochem, you should have learned it in Bio 1.

Buy the Pearson Practice Tests, they are the closest to the real thing, albeit magnitudes easier.

Sorry for the lengthy response but I speak the truth. Best of luck to you.

 

[xtsukiyox]

In case it helps, the only O Chem questions I had the time to work out (or remembered how to do) were basic, first semester stuff (at least, where I took O Chem). I believe nomenclature helped. Same with the calculus problems - the complicated ones I took Calc 2 for? Too long, even if I had remembered how to work them out. I scored a 90+ composite with a 90+ on each of those sections (I don't remember exactly), although it was before they reformulated the test this last year. That being said - having a decent understanding of the material and having been exposed to the stuff I forgot 😉 really helped when it came to narrowing down the questions & educated guesses. Yeah, I really couldn't remember how to figure if it's Markovnikov versus anti-Markovnikov, but at least I could narrow down the other two nonsense answers.

I understand the desire to get through as quickly as possible, and as you pointed out, there are few downsides to taking it in January (assuming the school doesn't hold it against you and you're able to keep your GPA up). Remember: this is the long game. If you don't get a competitive score the first time, try again in July. If nothing else, it will focus your studies for the second attempt.

 

[jerbearox]

In case it helps, the only O Chem questions I had the time to work out (or remembered how to do) were basic, first semester stuff (at least, where I took O Chem). I believe nomenclature helped. Same with the calculus problems - the complicated ones I took Calc 2 for? Too long, even if I had remembered how to work them out. I scored a 90+ composite with a 90+ on each of those sections (I don't remember exactly), although it was before they reformulated the test this last year. That being said - having a decent understanding of the material and having been exposed to the stuff I forgot 😉 really helped when it came to narrowing down the questions & educated guesses. Yeah, I really couldn't remember how to figure if it's Markovnikov versus anti-Markovnikov, but at least I could narrow down the other two nonsense answers.

I understand the desire to get through as quickly as possible, and as you pointed out, there are few downsides to taking it in January (assuming the school doesn't hold it against you and you're able to keep your GPA up). Remember: this is the long game. If you don't get a competitive score the first time, try again in July. If nothing else, it will focus your studies for the second attempt.

the only anti-markovnikov that would be tested would be hydroboration (BH3)

 

[litalita]

I know someone who wrote the PCAT one year into university. Did fine - sort of new some organic chemistry but had not taken the course. It is definitely doable.

 

[YelloLola]

I think that is the exception rather then the rule. Better to know ochem in and out.