University of Maryland Thread

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i think just about every pharm school requires a C or higher, (not C-) for a course to be counted as a pre-req, i have a C- in a course, which is a pass at my university before my school abolished the C- grade, i still get the credits at my own school, but i don't think it'll count for anything for pharm
 
It would be my dream to get accepted into the UMB pharmacy program, its my top choice that iam aiming for, but im not sure if iam going to make it.
I currently have a cum gpa of a 3.486, hopefully being pulled up before i apply.
with a science gpa of a 3.89.
I have gotten two C's and that was in trig and physics.
Iam vice president at a german association at my current university, i also volunteer with working with kids for about 2 years, and volunteer at a store of a family friend near by.
This summer, iam going to be involved in volunteering at a pharmacy to get some experience.
I havent taken the PCAT yet but hoping to do so in the summer and in oct to apply before early decison but iam not sure if iam going to do well considering the fact that i SUCK at standarized tests but i will try to do my best.
So any advice from accepted students that will help me get into this school.
Pleasee.
 
tydaddy99 said:
It would be my dream to get accepted into the UMB pharmacy program, its my top choice that iam aiming for, but im not sure if iam going to make it.
I currently have a cum gpa of a 3.486, hopefully being pulled up before i apply.
with a science gpa of a 3.89.
I have gotten two C's and that was in trig and physics.
Iam vice president at a german association at my current university, i also volunteer with working with kids for about 2 years, and volunteer at a store of a family friend near by.
This summer, iam going to be involved in volunteering at a pharmacy to get some experience.
I havent taken the PCAT yet but hoping to do so in the summer and in oct to apply before early decison but iam not sure if iam going to do well considering the fact that i SUCK at standarized tests but i will try to do my best.
So any advice from accepted students that will help me get into this school.
Pleasee.
Click to expand...

You are definitely on track. All you need to do now is prepare for the PCAT and do well on it (80+) and you will have a very good chance for acceptance. Take the PCAT when you feel well prepared and knock it out on the first try but if you can't, make sure to give yourself ample time to restudy and take it again before ED application is due. Keep up the good work.
 
luckyphooey said:
You are definitely on track. All you need to do now is prepare for the PCAT and do well on it (80+) and you will have a very good chance for acceptance. Take the PCAT when you feel well prepared and knock it out on the first try but if you can't, make sure to give yourself ample time to restudy and take it again before ED application is due. Keep up the good work.
Click to expand...

Thanks so much for the positive comment, im stressing out already haha.
So do you think all the volunteering and the extra curricular activities will be good enough for their needs?
and all i have to worry about is the PCAT?
 
tydaddy99 said:
Thanks so much for the positive comment, im stressing out already haha.
So do you think all the volunteering and the extra curricular activities will be good enough for their needs?
and all i have to worry about is the PCAT?
Click to expand...

Get some pharmacy experience. Concentrate on doing well on the PCAT. Starting thinking ahead about your personal statment and who you are going to approach for LORs. Visit the school during open house if you can. Other than that, you are doing a good job so far: stellar GPAs and ECs.
 
Does anyone know if UMB has started interviewing regular applicants yet?
 
bobak1122 said:
Does anyone know if UMB has started interviewing regular applicants yet?
Click to expand...

No, not yet. The deadline last year was Dec 1st and the first wave of interviews were on Jan 30th. Seeing that this year's deadline is Jan 5th, I don't think interviewing will start until February. I remember emailing the school last year to ask when the admission comittee was going to meet and I was told not until the first weeks of January. So don't expect any invites until the committee meet this year [which is I don't know when].
 
Hi everyone,

I am new on this forum but have been getting along for a long period of time reading all the post. I want to ask one question about UMB school of pharmacy minimum requirement. I saw on the PHARMCAS and they say minimum compositive score for PCATS is 70, so why do people stress 80 being minimum requirement.
 
sha2nkjp said:
Hi everyone,

I am new on this forum but have been getting along for a long period of time reading all the post. I want to ask one question about UMB school of pharmacy minimum requirement. I saw on the PHARMCAS and they say minimum compositive score for PCATS is 70, so why do people stress 80 being minimum requirement.
Click to expand...

Hmm with your composite below 70 you will automatically be rejected?
 
Last edited:
sha2nkjp said:
Hi everyone,

I am new on this forum but have been getting along for a long period of time reading all the post. I want to ask one question about UMB school of pharmacy minimum requirement. I saw on the PHARMCAS and they say minimum compositive score for PCATS is 70, so why do people stress 80 being minimum requirement.
Click to expand...

It seems like they may have loosened their standards on acceptable PCAT scores this year since in previous years, they explicitly stated that a composite score of 80 and bio/chem each of 60 were the MINIMUM scores required to qualify.
 
I have attended their open house before. They say that they make the minimum GPA and PCAT lenient so that if like the PCAT is low they will accept a higher GPA to balance it, and vice versa.
 
swth0208 said:
Hmm with your composite below 70 you will automatically be rejected?
Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply, but I didnot say that i have score below 70; It is just that my score is not above 80 but my Math/Chem/Bio score is above 90
 
Anyone know whether we will hear via email or snail mail?
 
Apparently the admission committee will be meeting tomorrow. So hopefully you guys will hear about interview invites soon. I got my invite via email last year.

The PCAT drop to 70 was to encourage more applicants to apply.
 
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As we creep near interview time - Please keep in mind that you can check out the Maryland interview database within SDN.

This is also a good thread:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=422608

Good luck to all the hopefuls waiting for an interview invite! 🙂

As usual, please feel free to ask any questions!
 
Hello all, just finished reading through all 19 pages of this thread. I have a few questions for all of the students who went through somewhat non-traditional paths to entering pharmacy school at UMB.

About me - I'm currently in my mid-twenties, I have a bachelor's in business and a MBA. I work full-time for the federal government, and will be relocating to Silver Spring, MD in the next few months for work. I've decided that I'd like to do a complete career switch and start my pre-reqs for pharmacy school and apply to UMB.

I worked for 2 years in a retail pharmacy (2004-2006) as a certified tech. I graduated undergrad in 2006 with a 3.31 GPA. I finished my MBA in 2009 with a 3.9 GPA. I'd have to take all the science courses required by UMB in the next few years in order to apply (bio, biochem, gen chem, organic chem, physics, human anatomy & phys). I may also have to re-take calculus, as my only calculus course was in undergrad and it was applied calculus, geared towards business majors.

I'm thinking of this as my plan: continue working full-time as I need to pay all my bills (rent, car loan, credit cards), take the pre-reqs over the next 3 years at a community college (I'm thinking NOVA in Annandale, VA as their schedule allows me to take classes on nights and weekends), and then apply for entry to the Fall 2013 entry class at UMB. I also would like to save money in order to take out less student loans to cover living expenses while in pharmacy school.

If I get a great GPA (higher than 3.5) in my science pre-reqs, score high on the PCAT, I hopefully should have a chance to get in, considering I'd continue working full-time at my current job with the government until starting pharmacy school, and I do have some prior retail pharmacy experience.

I'd appreciate anyone's thoughts or ideas on how to "tweak" my plan to give myself the best chance to get into UMB. Based on my research and the experiences/insight on this board, it sounds like I'd really enjoy this school and since I'll be a MD resident soon, I'd get in-state tuition.

Thanks! 🙂
 
Last edited:
binghamkid said:
This thread is for those of you interested in the University of Maryland SOP. As a P1 attending the institution, I will be glad to field any questions, so post them here instead of spamming my PM inbox, thanks!
Click to expand...
Hi.. I'm a pre-pharm student at Towson U just starting out...and I'm scared stiff about PCAT, etc...I would love to go to UMB for pharmacy... i was wodering - does UMB only except the very top students?
 
BallerinaRx said:
Hello all, just finished reading through all 19 pages of this thread. I have a few questions for all of the students who went through somewhat non-traditional paths to entering pharmacy school at UMB.

About me - I'm currently in my mid-twenties, I have a bachelor's in business and a MBA. I work full-time for the federal government, and will be relocating to Silver Spring, MD in the next few months for work. I've decided that I'd like to do a complete career switch and start my pre-reqs for pharmacy school and apply to UMB.

I worked for 2 years in a retail pharmacy (2004-2006) as a certified tech. I graduated undergrad in 2006 with a 3.31 GPA. I finished my MBA in 2009 with a 3.9 GPA. I'd have to take all the science courses required by UMB in the next few years in order to apply (bio, biochem, gen chem, organic chem, physics, human anatomy & phys). I may also have to re-take calculus, as my only calculus course was in undergrad and it was applied calculus, geared towards business majors.

I'm thinking of this as my plan: continue working full-time as I need to pay all my bills (rent, car loan, credit cards), take the pre-reqs over the next 3 years at a community college (I'm thinking NOVA in Annandale, VA as their schedule allows me to take classes on nights and weekends), and then apply for entry to the Fall 2013 entry class at UMB. I also would like to save money in order to take out less student loans to cover living expenses while in pharmacy school.

If I get a great GPA (higher than 3.5) in my science pre-reqs, score high on the PCAT, I hopefully should have a chance to get in, considering I'd continue working full-time at my current job with the government until starting pharmacy school, and I do have some prior retail pharmacy experience.

I'd appreciate anyone's thoughts or ideas on how to "tweak" my plan to give myself the best chance to get into UMB. Based on my research and the experiences/insight on this board, it sounds like I'd really enjoy this school and since I'll be a MD resident soon, I'd get in-state tuition.

Thanks! 🙂
Click to expand...
Of course you have a chance! Did you take the PCAT yet?...because that's not a bad GPA and great background, although I'm sure you DO need to retake that calculus class. You can meet one-on-one with an admissions counselor from UMB to ask your individualized questions.
To sign up, here's the link on their website: http://www.pharmacy.umaryland.edu/admissions/pharmd/oneonone.html
Good Luck!
 
What are the chances of being accepted without taking anatomy & Physio? Isn't anat & Physio taken in Pharm school?
 
DocAcclamation said:
What are the chances of being accepted without taking anatomy & Physio? Isn't anat & Physio taken in Pharm school?
Click to expand...

you can still be accepted, but you do need to complete it before u go, or whatever their deadline is... usually by the end of the summer
 
BallerinaRx said:
Hello all, just finished reading through all 19 pages of this thread. I have a few questions for all of the students who went through somewhat non-traditional paths to entering pharmacy school at UMB.

About me - I'm currently in my mid-twenties, I have a bachelor's in business and a MBA. I work full-time for the federal government, and will be relocating to Silver Spring, MD in the next few months for work. I've decided that I'd like to do a complete career switch and start my pre-reqs for pharmacy school and apply to UMB.

I worked for 2 years in a retail pharmacy (2004-2006) as a certified tech. I graduated undergrad in 2006 with a 3.31 GPA. I finished my MBA in 2009 with a 3.9 GPA. I'd have to take all the science courses required by UMB in the next few years in order to apply (bio, biochem, gen chem, organic chem, physics, human anatomy & phys). I may also have to re-take calculus, as my only calculus course was in undergrad and it was applied calculus, geared towards business majors.

I'm thinking of this as my plan: continue working full-time as I need to pay all my bills (rent, car loan, credit cards), take the pre-reqs over the next 3 years at a community college (I'm thinking NOVA in Annandale, VA as their schedule allows me to take classes on nights and weekends), and then apply for entry to the Fall 2013 entry class at UMB. I also would like to save money in order to take out less student loans to cover living expenses while in pharmacy school.

If I get a great GPA (higher than 3.5) in my science pre-reqs, score high on the PCAT, I hopefully should have a chance to get in, considering I'd continue working full-time at my current job with the government until starting pharmacy school, and I do have some prior retail pharmacy experience.

I'd appreciate anyone's thoughts or ideas on how to "tweak" my plan to give myself the best chance to get into UMB. Based on my research and the experiences/insight on this board, it sounds like I'd really enjoy this school and since I'll be a MD resident soon, I'd get in-state tuition.

Thanks! 🙂
Click to expand...

Sounds like a legit plan.

If you're gonna be living Silver Springs it might be cheaper to take classes at Montgomery College or PG community college (depending on which county you'll be a resident of) rather than NOVA. They also offer evening and weeknight classes (I'll be taking some myself there this Spring semester). UMUC is another potential option to fulfill your pre-reqs.

Good luck,
 
bobak1122 said:
Sounds like a legit plan.

If you're gonna be living Silver Springs it might be cheaper to take classes at Montgomery College or PG community college (depending on which county you'll be a resident of) rather than NOVA. They also offer evening and weeknight classes (I'll be taking some myself there this Spring semester). UMUC is another potential option to fulfill your pre-reqs.

Good luck,
Click to expand...

Thanks! I think I want to go the CC route as it will be ultimately cheaper for me in terms of racking up the student loans. I will look into those two colleges and take a look at UMUC as well.
 
SDNers,

Just wanted to let everyone know that interview invitations are being offered via e-mail; hopefully I'll see some of you next year!
 
I just got my interview invite as well! I am super excited! =)
 
wow tht ws fast!!Congrats ..wts ur stats??i didnt get mine..fingers crossed🙂
 
Yay! I just got my interview invite like 2 minutes ago!
 
This might be a weird question, but for those who got the invites, what letter does your last name begin with?

I'm trying to see if they go alphabetical or they're just randomly pulling out apps and looking them over.... :laugh: ... I hate being at the end of the alphabet!
 
i wonder on wht basis they r sending out invites!!can somebody help??i m strtng to worry.:xf:
 
I got my invite. I'm in the middle of the alphabet if that helps.
 
My last name begins with a G. And for those who got/will get invites, I just scheduled my interview for Sat. Jan 30th in the afternoon. Will I be seeing any of you there?
 
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I just got an interview invitation too, my last name also starts with a G and im from out of state if that helps anyone! good luck everyone!
 
G, G, and ... middle of the alphabet (possibly G)?

Well, at least they don't seem to be going alphabetically!
 
I'm a G also... I requested Saturday Jan 30.
good luck to everyone
 
i just got the interview email; MY Last name starts with "P"
 
Congrats to interview invites! I can't wait to possibly see some of you guys!
 
Yayy! Just got home from work, I received my interview invite! (Last name begins with C)
 
Uhoh no invite for me yet. If I knew I wasn't going to be interviewed I could drop the microbiology course I'm in right now 😳
 
Hi everyone,
I got my interview invitation this afternoon.
Any advice will be helpful.
Good luck to all
 
From just pharmcas, Maryland interviews a lot of students. The class size is large. So for all those still waiting, keep your chin up. I mean, this thread started in 2007 and has had 65,882 hits up to this point so there's definitely a huge interest.
 
+ 1 for 1/30! also in the middle of the alphabet.
 
I'm invited for an interview too. I'm thinking of reserving for 1/29. I'm so nervous. There will be a group interview as well.
 
I wished I got my interview invite, so I can stop pulling my hair if I even have a chance in for Maryland. Maryland is on the top of my list...

Just wondering for those who got their invites already, when did you submit your supp app?
I think it might be happening that way.
 
jet1 said:
I wished I got my interview invite, so I can stop pulling my hair if I even have a chance in for Maryland. Maryland is on the top of my list...

Just wondering for those who got their invites already, when did you submit your supp app?
I think it might be happening that way.
Click to expand...

10/30

btw, anyone remember what the supplemental app looked like? it's no longer posted and i forgot what it consisted of.
 
jet1 said:
I wished I got my interview invite, so I can stop pulling my hair if I even have a chance in for Maryland. Maryland is on the top of my list...

Just wondering for those who got their invites already, when did you submit your supp app?
I think it might be happening that way.
Click to expand...

I e-submitted 8/27. I decided to apply early decision last minute, since UMD is my first choice. However, one of my transcripts was lost and I had to have them send another, which arrived to PharmCAS after the deadline, bumping me to regular admissions. I could see how the invites may correlate with application submission dates. But, UMD made it clear at their open house that it wouldn't matter when you send your application and that they review all their applications together after the deadline.
 
justjack said:
10/30

btw, anyone remember what the supplemental app looked like? it's no longer posted and i forgot what it consisted of.
Click to expand...

There weren't any essay questions. The only thing I remember is ranking what campus I prefer in addition to the run-of-the-mill name, address, DOB...
 
weetzie00 said:
There weren't any essay questions. The only thing I remember is ranking what campus I prefer in addition to the run-of-the-mill name, address, DOB...
Click to expand...

The supplemental app was just general informations: name, address, dob, email, campus choice, etc...

For people that got invited, what were the dates offered?
 
somehow i doubt that they'll invite 300 people at the same time... i mean alot of people would probably pick the first available dates and it'll be impossible to schedule everyone like that
 
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