Those with low GPA's--What set your application apart??

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uncinmyheart

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I know there's probably a ton of threads on this subject, but I'd really appreciate it if I could get some updated input.

To those of you who got accepted to pharmacy school with lower-than-average GPA's, what did you do to set your application apart?? High PCAT score?? Extra-curriculars?? (please be specific) Volunteer abroad?? Affliation with some kind of student pharmacy association??? Please tell me!

Right now, my GPA sucks big time, and I'm working on pushing it higher, but it's going to take at least 4 semesters or so of basically straight A's to pull it up to the 3.0 range. So in the meantime, I want to take on something that'll give me a competitive edge, something that'll set me apart and make my application alittle more appealing. Does anyone have any ideas?? I'm currently a certified pharmacy tech; have been for 2.5 years.
 
high pcat, unique personal statement (imo), degree from berkeley
 
Long time commitment to community volunteer positions especially those involving leadership.
 
I had a good PCAT score in the 80's, and my interviewer seemed pretty impressed that I had alot of extracurriculars. Most of my extracurriculars were service oriented. I also got my bachelors.
 
Get a higher PCAT score. Heck, I took it 4 times. Also, get lots of EC's and if you were working and supporting a family let them know it in your personal statement. Your GPA doesn't have to be excellent but it does need to show an upward trend. Besides that, a kid that has nothing to do but study and have mom and daddy pay for everything is just that,...A KID!
 
--99 PCAT, with 99 in everything except for verbal (1st try).

--6 years of biotech research

--1 year retail pharmacy

--1 year hospital/clinical pharmacy

--leadership positions at school

--Biochemistry BS from University of California San Diego
 
Besides that, a kid that has nothing to do but study and have mom and daddy pay for everything is just that,...A KID!

funny, it sounds like someone is a little bit bitter. Why do you care what other people do with their time and money? It doesn't contribute to your success or your failure as a individual/student/father/mother/brother/employee, etc.
 
1. Become a founder of some fund for underprililedged kids or abused women.

2. Become a mentor to kids from low income families.

3. Spend a year in Africa working for a non profit organization.

These are the things that I know people have done to offset their low GPA.
 
I know there's probably a ton of threads on this subject, but I'd really appreciate it if I could get some updated input.

To those of you who got accepted to pharmacy school with lower-than-average GPA's, what did you do to set your application apart?? High PCAT score?? Extra-curriculars?? (please be specific) Volunteer abroad?? Affliation with some kind of student pharmacy association??? Please tell me!

Right now, my GPA sucks big time, and I'm working on pushing it higher, but it's going to take at least 4 semesters or so of basically straight A's to pull it up to the 3.0 range. So in the meantime, I want to take on something that'll give me a competitive edge, something that'll set me apart and make my application alittle more appealing. Does anyone have any ideas?? I'm currently a certified pharmacy tech; have been for 2.5 years.

what is ur gpa and how many credits?
 
I took the PCAT three times until I got a score above 90. I figured the first things they would look at would be GPA and PCAT, and if I didn't catch their attention with those, I'd be thrown into the rejected pile.

I also have a degree, 3 years CPhT experience, volunteered overseas, mentored low income children, volunteered at hospitals, animal shelters, soup kitchens, food pantries, etc. But I don't think they would have even gotten that far on my application if I had both a low GPA and a low PCAT score.
 
too embarassed to say:cry: i have a lot of credits, don't know exactly how many though. my GPA is in the low 2.0 range.🙁

If you GPA is that low then you need to do some drastic :idea:to set your application apart- all those volunteering at a pharmacy/local community service will not set your application apart.
 
i'm not in yet but i got 3 interviews.

- bachelor's degree
- parent of 2 kids
- mentor for 2 years
- good personal statment.
- good pcat score

if i were you i would work to get a good pcat score. i think once you're in the 80's-90's a lot of doors will open for you. you can always "explain" why your grades were low in your personal statement. don't harp on it though.

stay focused and motivated. you'll get there!
 
Here is what you might consider doing.


Since your GPA is quite low (I assume below 2.5), take two years off and concentrate strictly on school full time (12-16 units/quarter or semester). Retake all science and pre pharm classes you got a C in.

Many applicants got accepted because they have high PCAT scores and low/average GPA. In your case, your GPA will still be marginally average even if you study your butt off for 2 years. The positive part of retaking your classes is if you do well, this will help you prepare for the PCAT exam.


Realistically, inorder for you to get an interview invite, you should be working towards the getting across the ( "magic line" = 3.0 GPA ) and high PCAT (above 80 composite)

What will help even more is great Letters of Recommendation, an awesome personal statement, and quality volunteer experience.

Also, look into becoming a pharmacy clerk or technician.
 
Wholesome good looks
 
Good point, I am a ***** who lost an entire year because of my own stupidity. 😳

I wouldn't say your a *****, as long as your learned from your mistakes, I say your doing great! 🙂
 
i'm not in yet but i got 3 interviews.

- bachelor's degree
- parent of 2 kids
- mentor for 2 years
- good personal statment.
- good pcat score

if i were you i would work to get a good pcat score. i think once you're in the 80's-90's a lot of doors will open for you. you can always "explain" why your grades were low in your personal statement. don't harp on it though.

stay focused and motivated. you'll get there!

Don't take this the wrong way, but I notice people using parenthood (single or not) as an item of hardship. One school in Texas even lists being a single parent as something to give extra points to your application.

Really, except in horrific circumstances, being a parent is a life decision that people make. I chose not to have kids, while others chose to have them. They shouldn't receive any hardship points for this.

Meanwhile, having a poor upbringing makes me nervous and quiet; a bit less friendly to people I meet for the first time. That is held against me, even though it is really a hardship from mental abuse.
 
Don't take this the wrong way, but I notice people using parenthood (single or not) as an item of hardship. One school in Texas even lists being a single parent as something to give extra points to your application.

Really, except in horrific circumstances, being a parent is a life decision that people make. I chose not to have kids, while others chose to have them. They shouldn't receive any hardship points for this.

Meanwhile, having a poor upbringing makes me nervous and quiet; a bit less friendly to people I meet for the first time. That is held against me, even though it is really a hardship from mental abuse.

Nicely said, Knick. I feel exactly the same way - but often bite my tongue and do not say anything as I am already known as a mean:luck: cheburashka.

Having kids is a personal choice that people make and as much as I recognize that it must be a serious obstacle/hardship to getting your education, it's, however, the one they brought on themselves.
 
Nicely said, Knick. I feel exactly the same way - but often bite my tongue and do not say anything as I am already known as a mean:luck: cheburashka.

Having kids is a personal choice that people make and as much as I recognize that it must be a serious obstacle/hardship to getting your education, it's, however, the one they brought on themselves.


I have a kid, but I never use it as an excuse. I was just having this conversation with someone who is also a parent and a bio major like me. It was my choice to go back to school with a child, and it was my choice to pick a hard major. I very easily could have majored in English or graphic design or whatever, but the fact is that I didn't, and I don't blame parenthood for the hard or stressful times I've had while I'm in school because I knew going in it would be like this. I don't even tell people I have a child really, unless it comes up.

The one thing I hate though, is people who don't have a job, kids, and STILL complain about the amount of work they have, and how much it sucks. It just makes me want to slap them :meanie:

I do think that the reason schools like parents is because it shows how much you wanted to go through school (and do well), despite the challenge.
 
I have a kid, but I never use it as an excuse. I was just having this conversation with someone who is also a parent and a bio major like me. It was my choice to go back to school with a child, and it was my choice to pick a hard major. I very easily could have majored in English or graphic design or whatever, but the fact is that I didn't, and I don't blame parenthood for the hard or stressful times I've had while I'm in school because I knew going in it would be like this. I don't even tell people I have a child really, unless it comes up.

The one thing I hate though, is people who don't have a job, kids, and STILL complain about the amount of work they have, and how much it sucks. It just makes me want to slap them :meanie:

Like I said I applaud👍👍👍 people like you - you guys have it much worse than we do. Me and Nick are referring to people that put having kids on their applications as some sort of hardship.


As for people that do not do anything besides go to school and wine - I want to slap them too. There is a girl in my class who is taking 1 😱👎 class and not working/volunteering or doing anything ( I kid you not:meanie: ) and she still always complains how hard the class is/unfair teacher.
 
Like I said I applaud👍👍👍 people like you - you guys have it much worse than we do. Me and Nick are referring to people that put having kids on their applications as some sort of hardship.


As for people that do not do anything besides go to school and wine - I want to slap them too. There is a girl in my class who is taking 1 😱👎 class and not working/volunteering or doing anything ( I kid you not:meanie: ) and she still always complains how hard the class is/unfair teacher.

Ohh man I can't help but give people like that dirty looks all the time 😀.

It's like come on if you can't handle school now how are you ever going to handle a job? Isn't the way you preform in school supposed to reflect the way you will be preforming in your workplace? Give me a break! I'd never hire those people!!
 
I'd say your best bet is to focus on recreating yourself academically (as in retaking your classes) and working hard to really make a difference in your community. Become involved in a volunteer program you care deeply about (that is what will keep you going when things get tough.) Schools like to see people who can multitask and handle multiple responsibilities, so if you need to focus on doing your classes while showing increased involvement in your community, it might be beneficial to either take a class on time-management for academics or get a tutor for your difficult classes. For volunteer work, I'd suggest 1 or 2 organizations or projects that you can fully wrap yourself around. It would be great if one of those ongoing projects was science-based (maybe mentoring students in the sciences, etc.) and the other focused on improving conditions for people in your community. Again, if they are things you care about they will be much easier to stick with...Oh yeah, somewhere in there, it's a good idea to work at a pharmacy, too. Maybe during semester breaks or just 1-2 shifts per week during the semester. Realize you can also combine some portion of your volunteer work with pharmacy work as well (volunteering at a general or hospital pharmacy, flu clinics, immunization clinics, health-awareness campaigns--contact your local public health group for info on that...there's lots of stuff you can do.)
 
As far as the kids thing--meh. It doesn't really bother me if people put that they are parents on their application. Unless it's a major form of hardship (as in being a SINGLE parent with no family to help) I don't think it receives much attention. I do feel strongly that single parents who want to change their lives and turn things around are at a distinct disadvantage compared to most students. I don't know if it really helps them to just list that they are a single parent on their application, but if they relate some of the challenges they have overcome despite being a single parent, I'd say that's a good character-building argument. I guess it ultimately depends on how it comes across. It doesn't matter if you're a single parent, but you failed organic chemistry and can't write a decent essay.
 
I got in bc i flirted with the older woman there i love the smell of old age, its refreshing 😀 makes me think about retirement and all the perks associated with it 😀😀
 
Here is what you might consider doing.


Since your GPA is quite low (I assume below 2.5), take two years off and concentrate strictly on school full time (12-16 units/quarter or semester). Retake all science and pre pharm classes you got a C in.

Many applicants got accepted because they have high PCAT scores and low/average GPA. In your case, your GPA will still be marginally average even if you study your butt off for 2 years. The positive part of retaking your classes is if you do well, this will help you prepare for the PCAT exam.


Realistically, inorder for you to get an interview invite, you should be working towards the getting across the ( "magic line" = 3.0 GPA ) and high PCAT (above 80 composite)

What will help even more is great Letters of Recommendation, an awesome personal statement, and quality volunteer experience.

Also, look into becoming a pharmacy clerk or technician.

yeah, i've been a certified technician for 2.5 years. but you're right about the GPA thing. I'm not looking to apply for pharmacy school until I pull it up to at least 3.0, if not higher. That's gonna take a while, so I'm probably gonna have to take a minor in something, and then apply when I get my B.S and graduate with at least a 3.2 GPA. so I don't wanna take anymore time off 'cos i feel like i'm already behind.
But I'm currently retaking some pre-reqs that I did bad in like, organic 1 and microbiiology. Plus, I wanna get into UNC so I know I'm gonna have to bust my tail 'cos it's sooo competitive to get in.
 
I'd say your best bet is to focus on recreating yourself academically (as in retaking your classes) and working hard to really make a difference in your community. Become involved in a volunteer program you care deeply about (that is what will keep you going when things get tough.) Schools like to see people who can multitask and handle multiple responsibilities, so if you need to focus on doing your classes while showing increased involvement in your community, it might be beneficial to either take a class on time-management for academics or get a tutor for your difficult classes. For volunteer work, I'd suggest 1 or 2 organizations or projects that you can fully wrap yourself around. It would be great if one of those ongoing projects was science-based (maybe mentoring students in the sciences, etc.) and the other focused on improving conditions for people in your community. Again, if they are things you care about they will be much easier to stick with...Oh yeah, somewhere in there, it's a good idea to work at a pharmacy, too. Maybe during semester breaks or just 1-2 shifts per week during the semester. Realize you can also combine some portion of your volunteer work with pharmacy work as well (volunteering at a general or hospital pharmacy, flu clinics, immunization clinics, health-awareness campaigns--contact your local public health group for info on that...there's lots of stuff you can do.)

Thanks so much for the advice!!🙂
 
No problem 😀

One more thing to consider: you may want to apply to as many schools as you can afford if you are not geographically bound to one school's area--that way if you don't get your first choice, you'll still have some backup hopefuls.
 
I would study like mad for the pcat and retake as many classes as possible. Chances are retaking classes won't completely reshape your GPA but make sure to tell your interviewer that you have matured and your grades got better the farther you got in school, not worse. They look for people who dont plateau or get burned out.
 
In the following order of importance:

1) Personal statement -- I related cultural movement as art to the art of pharmacy.
2) 92 on PCAT -- Justified that I'm a smart *** mother****er who had partied and punished his liver as an undergrad.
3) University of California degree (B.S.) -- Graduating from a top 50 university

The following did not make any significant difference IMO:

1) Community pharmacy experience (& CPhT certificate)

In addition, my interview was on point. I managed to get a look at my UHH interview evaluation sheet and scored all 5's out of 5 across all areas of evaluation. Since this is not part of my application, I omitted it from the top 3 in the above list. However, if I were to include it, this would be the #1 reason why I was accepted with my low GPA.
 
In the following order of importance:

1) Personal statement -- I related cultural movement as art to the art of pharmacy.
2) 92 on PCAT -- Justified that I'm a smart *** mother****er who had partied and punished his liver as an undergrad.
3) University of California degree (B.S.) -- Graduating from a top 50 university

The following did not make any significant difference IMO:

1) Community pharmacy experience (& CPhT certificate)

In addition, my interview was on point. I managed to get a look at my UHH interview evaluation sheet and scored all 5's out of 5 across all areas of evaluation. Since this is not part of my application, I omitted it from the top 3 in the above list. However, if I were to include it, this would be the #1 reason why I was accepted with my low GPA.




For applicants with low to average GPA (2.8 to 3.0), an high PCAT composite score can be your "GOLDEN TICKET" to receiving an interview invite or potentially acceptance to pharmacy school.
 
The posts here make it sound like a high PCAT score is the answer to a low GPA and it is not. I got a 99 on the PCAT and I had a easier time getting interviews in California schools that don't look at PCAT than schools that look at PCAT. I think my overall application was good since I got interviews and I got into a school but I applied to a lot of schools since I had a lower GPA and those schools were quick to reject with a 99.

There is no magic equation, just write a good essay, have pharmacy experience, and pray. I think a key thing to do is have all A's especially if you are attending a community college. I graduated from a major University with a low GPA and went to a community college to take the pre-pharmacy classes, I took at least 16 units a semester sometimes, 26 units for 2 years, it barely brought up my GPA but 2 years of A's with that many units, no matter what is impressive.
 
The posts here make it sound like a high PCAT score is the answer to a low GPA and it is not. I got a 99 on the PCAT and I had a easier time getting interviews in California schools that don't look at PCAT than schools that look at PCAT. I think my overall application was good since I got interviews and I got into a school but I applied to a lot of schools since I had a lower GPA and those schools were quick to reject with a 99.

There is no magic equation, just write a good essay, have pharmacy experience, and pray. I think a key thing to do is have all A's especially if you are attending a community college. I graduated from a major University with a low GPA and went to a community college to take the pre-pharmacy classes, I took at least 16 units a semester sometimes, 26 units for 2 years, it barely brought up my GPA but 2 years of A's with that many units, no matter what is impressive.




For non-California applicants with low GPA, high PCAT scores can help get an interview invite (its not the answer but an opportunity to explain your struggles to pharmacy admissions committee).

Keep in mind, every school is biased and favors applicants from their own state. California pharmacy schools take more students from California than any other state. This is the same way with many pharmacy schools from other states (there are exceptions).

I agree there is no single magic equation, because every applicant is different and every pharmacy school is looking for different type of applicants.

Wow, you brought up your GPA with 2 years of A's; I'm not surprised you earn 99 on your PCAT.

Congrats! you deserved it.
 
Hmm I personally think CA p-schools accept lots of CA students because a large number of CA undergrads apply exclusively to CA schools. Also, given the sheer number of students from the Univ. of California system that apply, these students are looked upon favorably due to regional "brand awareness" of the system.

Ok I think I just proved your point in there too..haha.
 
I got 3 interviews and have been accepted by two schools. I have a low overall GPA and an even lower science GPA but I do have my A.S. Pre-Pharmacy and am in the pursuit of a B.A. Biology. I took the PCAT several times and only made it in the low 70s, have some experience as a retail pharm tech, not too many extracurriculars but did hold office for a college honor society for one term, am bilingual, and have great LORs (my interviewers told me so). What really set me a part was my ethnicity and my personal goals as a pharmacist. You really have to find what is truly unique about yourself and what you can offer the pharmacy field.
 
In the following order of importance:

1) Personal statement -- I related cultural movement as art to the art of pharmacy.
2) 92 on PCAT -- Justified that I'm a smart *** mother****er who had partied and punished his liver as an undergrad.
3) University of California degree (B.S.) -- Graduating from a top 50 university

The following did not make any significant difference IMO:

1) Community pharmacy experience (& CPhT certificate)

In addition, my interview was on point. I managed to get a look at my UHH interview evaluation sheet and scored all 5's out of 5 across all areas of evaluation. Since this is not part of my application, I omitted it from the top 3 in the above list. However, if I were to include it, this would be the #1 reason why I was accepted with my low GPA.

that's awesome. did you retake any classes to pull your GPA up?
 
No problem 😀

One more thing to consider: you may want to apply to as many schools as you can afford if you are not geographically bound to one school's area--that way if you don't get your first choice, you'll still have some backup hopefuls.

Actually, I'm planning on applying to one school. UNC-chapel hill, because i'm in-state, and i love the school so much. plus, it has one of the top pharmd programs in the country.
 
The posts here make it sound like a high PCAT score is the answer to a low GPA and it is not. I got a 99 on the PCAT and I had a easier time getting interviews in California schools that don't look at PCAT than schools that look at PCAT. I think my overall application was good since I got interviews and I got into a school but I applied to a lot of schools since I had a lower GPA and those schools were quick to reject with a 99.

There is no magic equation, just write a good essay, have pharmacy experience, and pray. I think a key thing to do is have all A's especially if you are attending a community college. I graduated from a major University with a low GPA and went to a community college to take the pre-pharmacy classes, I took at least 16 units a semester sometimes, 26 units for 2 years, it barely brought up my GPA but 2 years of A's with that many units, no matter what is impressive.

I totally agree. I applied to 3 in-state schools (I'm in Cali: UCSF, Touro, and UOP), and 2 out-of-state schools, one public (Hawaii-Hilo) and private (Creighton online), got interviews for 2 and waitlisted for both (UCSF and Hawaii-Hilo, along with waitlisted for Creighton). Had a really bad GPA in undergrad but nailed mostly A's and a couple of B's doing the postbac for the past couple of years, going from a 2.6 to a 3.0 science GPA, and scored 99 on the PCAT.

I think it's true that Cali schools, particularly the UC's, will look favorably on people who went to UC, but at the same time, it's a whole combination of things that gets you into the interview round, regardless of where you are and where you want to apply:

o writing a killer statement that sets you apart from all the other applicants (for me, managerial experience in a healthcare nonprofit; relating my identity as queer and a person of color into my desire to become a leader and activist in both the queer and HIV/AIDS fields; volunteer experience in a pharmacy, which oddly enough didn't seem to be that important in the interviews);

o good LORs by people who know you very well and can write very detailed and specific letters that show why you want to go into pharmacy (and not necessarily by high ranked people who wouldn't know you from a dishrag);

o improvement in your grades, whether that be through post-bac or from 1st/2nd to 3rd/4th years in undergrad;

o the high PCAT for non-Cali schools does help, but I'm not sure how important it is in regards to everything else.

o showing your familiarity with a specific school, which served me well for my UCSF interview (I've been working and otherwise involved here at UCSF for nearly 10 years).

Hopefully this all helps. 🙂
 
that's awesome. did you retake any classes to pull your GPA up?

No I did not...I had so many units that I calculated I would need a full year of classes with A's to make a decent sized dent in my GPA. However, I was prepared to take classes all this year (2008) depending on how interviews were coming along. Once I scored two interview invites in late December...i decided to not take classes because I was confident enough at this point at nailing the interview.

I thought at the time my issue was getting my foot in the door (interview) with my academic credentials. Once I was at that point, I figured that meant the school thought I was academically prepared, now it wanted to see if I was socially adept.
 
I know I'm getting a little off topic here but I can totally agree with both sides of what people are saying here. It bugs me when some priveledged child is allowed to spend daddies money and not work while going to a private college for 4 years. It is such an advantage to be able to study all the time instead of working 40 hours a week. No one could argue that more study time = better grades. But at the same time it sucks that some people have an advantage just by circumstance that has nothing to do with them. One of the questions on some applications is how would you diversify the student population. I'm white and I was the 5th generation of my family born in the United States. I'm sorry I can't diversify your student body. DUMB! I'm sure I might be labeled bitter but I know there are people on both sides who can feel what I'm saying. I'm not sayin... I'm just sayin.... 🙂
 
Ah but that's life...I mean, I'm technically a "minority" and the first in my family to be born in the US, but at the same time, I grew up privileged in an upper-middle class family. I get to argue diversity while not having had to work while applying to school, and I make no apologies for it. I do empathize with those who aren't lucky, but this is how life is...you just gotta take the cards you're dealt and go with it.
 
Ah but that's life...I mean, I'm technically a "minority" and the first in my family to be born in the US, but at the same time, I grew up privileged in an upper-middle class family. I get to argue diversity while not having had to work while applying to school, and I make no apologies for it. I do empathize with those who aren't lucky, but this is how life is...you just gotta take the cards you're dealt and go with it.

Most people I know playing the race card are better off than most caucasians at my school. The actual minorities in need simply aren't there for some reason.
 
Most people I know playing the race card are better off than most caucasians at my school. The actual minorities in need simply aren't there for some reason.

An interesting byproduct for the system - it's the rationale for affirmative action within health care in hopes that those minorities will go back to their respective communities to help the underserved. To an extent, this does work.
 
An interesting byproduct for the system - it's the rationale for affirmative action within health care in hopes that those minorities will go back to their respective communities to help the underserved. To an extent, this does work.

I wonder to what extent... I really see people saying "screw that, I'm making $100k+ a year, I'm going to live in a nice suburb in Dallas/Austin/Houston/etc" more often than "I'm going back to work and live in the ghetto from whence I came."
 
I wonder to what extent... I really see people saying "screw that, I'm making $100k+ a year, I'm going to live in a nice suburb in Dallas/Austin/Houston/etc" more often than "I'm going back to work and live in the ghetto from whence I came."

A completely valid argument, but at the same time, one can say it's a niche market to open a pharmacy that has an exclusive clientele.
 
Actually, I'm planning on applying to one school. UNC-chapel hill, because i'm in-state, and i love the school so much. plus, it has one of the top pharmd programs in the country.

If you are going to pin your hopes of becoming a pharmacist on one school and one school only, you had better make d@mn sure that you will get into said school.

I don't get it. How can you be a citizen of this incredible country, and not want to experience anything beyond your back yard? (I'm an international student, by the way)
 
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