the point of no return....

[Falokis]

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Ok, here's the deal. I'm a returning student. My first 2.5 years of school I did okay. Nothing bad, but nothing special because I had no direction or motivation to excel. Then, the last semister of my junior year, my father died. It happend during finals and I managed to finish those classes. I went the next 2 semesters refusing to take a break to get my head together. I made straight F's both semesters. After that, I took a 2 year break. After the break, I finally got my head straight and better than ever. I managed to go back and finish my first degree with nothing but A's and B's from the point of my return. I worked for a year, then went back again. I finished a Medical Technology degree. Again, all A's and B's in hard classes. I took the PCAT and scored 94% composite. While I have been working, I took all both freshman and orgainic chem (which was a breese after going through clinical biochem IV) over, along with anat/phys I/II, statistics, and physics. All A's. The last 70+ hours I have a 3.6, but all grades together I have a 2.8. It's crazy how two bad semesters can destroy your GPA. Pre-pharm and math/science GPA's are both 3.1 or better. I have reached the point where a perfect semester doesn't hardly change my GPA. I know I have alot of good things going for me, but I know some schools weigh GPA in more than others. I found one school that PCAT is the most important, while GPA is the least important. The Dean told me I'd get an interview, but I'd like to find more schools like this one to increase my chances. Anyone know of any other schools like this? I'd like to think my recent record is good enough and PCAT score, but is it? Has anyone else been in the same boat and made it? Anything you could say would help.

 

[ndearwater]

Ok, here's the deal. I'm a returning student. My first 2.5 years of school I did okay. Nothing bad, but nothing special because I had no direction or motivation to excel. Then, the last semister of my junior year, my father died. It happend during finals and I managed to finish those classes. I went the next 2 semesters refusing to take a break to get my head together. I made straight F's both semesters. After that, I took a 2 year break. After the break, I finally got my head straight and better than ever. I managed to go back and finish my first degree with nothing but A's and B's from the point of my return. I worked for a year, then went back again. I'm finished a Medical Technology degree. Again, all A's and B's in hard classes. I took the PCAT and scored 94% composite. While I have been working, I took all both freshman and orgainic chem (which was a breese after going through clinical biochem IV) over, along with anat/phys I/II, statistics, and physics. All A's. The last 70+ hours I have a 3.6, but all grades together I have a 2.8. It's crazy how two bad semesters can destroy your GPA. Pre-pharm and math/science GPA's are both 3.1 or better. I have reached the point where a perfect semester doesn't hardly change my GPA. I know I have alot of good things going for me, but I know some schools weigh GPA in more than others. I found one school that PCAT is the most important, while GPA is the least important. The Dean told me I'd get an interview, but I'd like to find more schools like this one to increase my chances. Anyone know of any other schools like this? I'd like to think my recent record is good enough and PCAT score, but is it? Has anyone else been in the same boat and made it? Anything you could say would help.

Congratulations on pulling through such a difficult tragedy. I think any adcom who took the time to look at your situation would consider your story one of triumph over adversity and that speaks volumes about your character.
I had a similar situation as far as difficulty bringing up my GPA because I had so many credit hours and a 4 year degree- no matter how many A's I got, it would barely budge. I did manage to bring it up to a 3.0 by the skin of my teeth and was accepted to 3 schools this year. I know of people who have gotten in with less than that and so by all means, there is hope for you!
I don't know about all the schools but Shenandoah, where I will be attending in the fall, accepted some students with less than a 3.0 this past application cycle.
Also, some schools like UF and probably others, only take your pre-req courses into account when calculating GPA. So if those F's were in classes for your major that didn't apply to pre-pharm you may end up with a much higher GPA than you think!
Good luck- I am sure you'll get in somewhere!

 

[csa78]

apply to USN, they will only look at the last 5 years if you tell them to.

 

[Falokis]

Thanks to both of you. USN looks like it might be a good place to go for. 3.6 with their forgivenss policy. Anyone else know of school with forgiveness for really old grades?

 

[sdn1977]

Ok, here's the deal. I'm a returning student. My first 2.5 years of school I did okay. Nothing bad, but nothing special because I had no direction or motivation to excel. Then, the last semister of my junior year, my father died. It happend during finals and I managed to finish those classes. I went the next 2 semesters refusing to take a break to get my head together. I made straight F's both semesters. After that, I took a 2 year break. After the break, I finally got my head straight and better than ever. I managed to go back and finish my first degree with nothing but A's and B's from the point of my return. I worked for a year, then went back again. I finished a Medical Technology degree. Again, all A's and B's in hard classes. I took the PCAT and scored 94% composite. While I have been working, I took all both freshman and orgainic chem (which was a breese after going through clinical biochem IV) over, along with anat/phys I/II, statistics, and physics. All A's. The last 70+ hours I have a 3.6, but all grades together I have a 2.8. It's crazy how two bad semesters can destroy your GPA. Pre-pharm and math/science GPA's are both 3.1 or better. I have reached the point where a perfect semester doesn't hardly change my GPA. I know I have alot of good things going for me, but I know some schools weigh GPA in more than others. I found one school that PCAT is the most important, while GPA is the least important. The Dean told me I'd get an interview, but I'd like to find more schools like this one to increase my chances. Anyone know of any other schools like this? I'd like to think my recent record is good enough and PCAT score, but is it? Has anyone else been in the same boat and made it? Anything you could say would help.

Falokis - You are not kid, but you're not old either. However, you have gone through some things which those of us who have lived twice your lifetimes have trouble assimilating! You need to write a tremendous personal statement...I'd even be willing to read it for you! Thats how much I believe in someone like you. But...you must search your soul - is this what you really want?

I'd advise you not only to apply thru the traditional sense, but also contact those schools you really want to go to & make a personal visit. Sometimes, a personal visit when you can explain a bit of your personal experience & ask advice might make or break a special look at your application.

Be sure you are very ready! Losing a parent is difficult at any age! Best of luck!

 

[Falokis]

Falokis - You are not kid, but you're not old either. However, you have gone through some things which those of us who have lived twice your lifetimes have trouble assimilating! You need to write a tremendous personal statement...I'd even be willing to read it for you! Thats how much I believe in someone like you. But...you must search your soul - is this what you really want?

I'd advise you not only to apply thru the traditional sense, but also contact those schools you really want to go to & make a personal visit. Sometimes, a personal visit when you can explain a bit of your personal experience & ask advice might make or break a special look at your application.

Be sure you are very ready! Losing a parent is difficult at any age! Best of luck!

I might have to take you up on that offer when the times comes. I'm sure Pharmacy is what I want to do. It was what I wanted before I finished highschool and working as a Med Tech has solidified it even more. Med Tech is a good job, but I'm stuck off in a hole in my hospital. It would be the same anywhere. I like to see people and help them. Most of the jobs I worked at to get through school were in the service industry (bartender, waiter, service consultant). Now that I don't see people all the time, I miss it a lot. Even if a good number of them are not going to be friendly.

 

[popsugarAddict]

Texas Tech has a forgiveness policy. Your gpa is calculated by using only the last grade you received for a repeated course.