URM applying to Pharmacy School

[enneagram83]

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I am a URM applying to pharmacy school. I've been a pharmacy technician for over 8 years, have a couple of hundred hours of volunteer experience, research experience, etc. I just recently graduated from a good NY state school after having returned to school from a 4 year hiatus. I did not do well when I was initially at the school. My history at the school was inconsistent and lengthy. I returned and scored above a 3.5 GPA every semester for the remaining three semesters that I had left. I ended up graduating with a cGPA of 2.84. I unfortunately suffered from a stroke during this past summer which affected the grades in two of my courses I took then, but I quickly focused to ensure that I graduate with a strong GPA in my final semester (3.86). I wanted to note it in my personal statement. Be that as it may, I might have to retake my sciences to score a higher sGPA since the sGPA courses were taken many years ago and might need updating.

My question is I plan on preparing for the PCAT but I wanted to study using the MCAT prep books. Has anyone done this before and if so, was it effective? Additionally, do I even have a chance of getting into a school? I've seen some threads that have some who've gotten in with lower GPAs, but I think my situation is a bit different. Anyway, any help or advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks all.

 

[Biochemistry2014]

If you studied with MCAT books, you would only have coverage for chem and bio. You would still need additional coverage for PCAT math and verbal. Having taken both tests, I personally don't see a problem using MCAT books for the sciences.

That being said, I strongly recommend purchasing the 3 Pearson practice test combo and using them to gauge your progress.

You have a very unique situation, and I am sorry for your previous stroke. I do believe that there is a slight URM boost for pharmacy school, and while your overall gpa is low, you do have an upward trend and a strong story. Obviously rocking the PCAT will help you the most, but I am not quite sure if quality schools will let that overshadow the gpa. I do however believe that you could get in somewhere with a strong pcat.


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