What are my chances...applied to these 27 schools...complicated situation

[klampster23]

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Still waiting for interview invites from the following schools:

Palm Beach Atlantic
New Mexico
Appalachia
Virginia Commonwealth
Wingate
Campbell
Hawaii
St. John Fisher
Midwestern-Glendale
Midwestern-Chicago
Harding

Does anybody know if any of these schools are still inviting applicants for interviews. I only know that I'm placed on hold for Midwestern-Glendale, but are they pretty much done inviting applicants for interviews? I applied right before the dealine for all of them, except for the last 3 listed, in which supplemental was submitted in mid February. I really want to go to St. John Fisher....it's my number 1 choice.

I've already been rejected w/o interview by the following schools:

Oregon State
Illinois
Maryland
Buffalo
Creighton
Mercer
Touro
Mass-Worcester

I've been rejected by the following schools for incomplete application by deadline:

U of Pacific
Loma Linda
Xavier
Possibly Texas Kingsville (still waiting it hear from them)

I've interviwed/will interview at the following schools:

Howard
Pacific
Charleston
Western

Haven't been accepted anywhere, but waitlisted at Pacific with a really low rank.

Here's my stats:

cumulative GPA (includes 1 year of pharm school): 3.3
Pre-pharm GPA (before pharm school): 3.75
Pre pharm math & Sciences: 3.5-3.6
PCAT: 68 (includes 95 in chem and 87 in quantitative)
pharm tech experience: 4 years
credits: 130 hours but no degree.
extracirricular: - President of my fraternity (did habitat for humanity, bone marrow drive, AIDS awarness presentation, rely fro Life)
- Particiapted in Poison Prevention week by going to kindergarten classes and talking about this to kids
- Vice-President of an actual pharmacy student organization. (CAPSI)
Volunteer experience: Assistant for a basketball youth league program

Here's my situation which will explain why I've had to apply to so many schools: I was enrolled in 1st year of pharm program at Buffalo last academic year and was dismissed for poor academic performance. (got 2.0 and needed 2.2 to stay) Even though I have 2 straight semesters of around 2.0, my cumulative is still a not bad 3.3. (At Buffalo 1st year pharm is undergrad, so it's included in my undergrad GPA) I feel as though I've been given the short of the stick, because I had to continously go home to care for my mom who is in middle towards late stage of Parkinsons. It was my mistake for not opening up eariler and seeking help. I'm suppose to be 3rd year pharmD student next year at Buffalo, instead I might have to face reality that schools just look at me as a risk and think I will mess up again. I haven't given up and I never will What really are my chances to get an interview at those 11 schools?

 

[klampster23]

I forgot to add Michigan to the list of schools I'm still waiting to hear from. Not too sure i would get an interview with them though, because they received my application materials after the Feb.28 final deadline. But still what are my chances?

 

[jun99]

Wow what a sad situation; I'm really sorry for your circumstances.🙁 If I were you, I would contact all the schools that have rejected you so far, and ask why exactly you were rejected and what you can do to improve your application for next year. (Maybe they'll suggest taking some specific classes, or writing a detailed letter explaining your circumstances, or something else concrete that you can do). Then, take the info these schools give you and try to use it to beef up your stats for the schools that you're still waiting on.

Good luck; I really hope you get in.

 

[Mentis]

You know, many schools have an extra section in their supplemental application that ask you to explain any outstanding circumstances that may make you an excpetion to consider. If you haven't done that, why not give it a shot? The stituation with your mother sounds like a sufficient explanation for why you did so poorly in Buffalo, and the fact that you're reapplying shows you are devoted to it.

 

[klampster23]

Problem is a lot of these schools conisder me as a transfer pharmacy student, even though I'm currently not in a pharmD program. Any credits they see that a student has that are pharmacy, are considered trasnfer. Then as a policy, they require a letter from the dean at previous institution, stating I'm in good academic standing. (not possible, since I was dismissed) Some other schools that have a transfer policy understand that I cant get a letter from the Dean.

Other schools are saying I'm just not competitive enough, especially for schools that prefer insatte students. I'm from Canada, but did my 2 years pre-pharm and 1 year pharm at Buffalo. But really these schools just think I will mess up again and are not considerate of my situation. It's just so frustratin because I did learn a lot last year. I was phamracy intern last summer before I found out about my dismissal, meaning I had same duties as pharmacist including counseling on all meds, except pharmacist just has to co-sign the prescription. No other applicant has the knowledge I have about, but I guess that's expected because I've been through first year.

Any advice on any of these schools I'm hoping to hear from would be appreciated.

 

[klampster23]

For each school I've applied to, I send a page of information that describes my circumstances last year. I even submitted a letter from a parkinson's specialist to verify it....but in the end schools just aren't considerate. They feel as though an applicant's last year is indicitive to their future perfromance.

Maybe beacuse I'm taking a year off this year. (I've had to look after my mom more closely-wont have to in a month, because my aunt is coming to canada to look after her, so I can be fully focused again and get back to the level I was at in my pre-pharmacy years.)

I have however taken online classes last summer and this past fall and got all A's, which partially shows I'm back on track....but I guess a degree is holding me back. I just dont want to wait another year. By then, I'll be thinking that I'm suppose to be 4th year pharmD student the followinf year, instead of at ground zero.

 

[Omega168]

Dont want to get on your case or anything, but you were an intern and you are only a prepharm?.. and you did some counseling? Anyways, sorry about your situation. You should let people aware of your unique situation.

 

[klampster23]

No I was not pre-pharm. Buffalo isnt even 0-6....it's early assurance. I did 2 year pre-pharm at Buffalo and did the 1st year of the Doctor of Pharmacy Program at Buffalo. During that year, we had numerous of counseling exercises that were videotaped and gotten to know all the drugs for hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol, asthma, infectious diseases (anitobiotics) and OTC, which was to prepare us as interns after 1st year of pharmacy. That licence in New York state means you're given exact same responsibilites as a pharmacist, except a pharmacist has to co-sign each prescription you work on. I was doing that for a month after I completed 1st year until I found out about my dismissal.

 

[snooz3]

sorry to hear about your situation..

quick question.. which program did you apply to in creighton? was it the online pathway or the campus pathway? I believe you have a better chance at the online pathway because of your situation.. perhaps if they knew that you're better off studying near home and that their school's distance pathway is the best way.

Also, I don't see why with your gpa and everything else you can't get into a program... you will be fine.. again.. i'm sorry about your situation but in regards to your pharmacy career, stick to it and you will be fine.

 

[klampster23]

For creighton I got rejected for campus pathway. They rejected me on pharmcas....no letter even. I called to find out why i got rejecetd. I found out they rejected me w/o looking at my 68 pcat score....i got 63 on first one. My overall GPA just wasn't high enough. What I was really lacking was a degree.....in the end the fact I was dismissed from a pharm school means they consider me a transfer and he says it takes a lot for an entire committee to be sure a dismissed student is ready for their program. It's basically hard for an entire committee to change their minds about a dismissed student. This is just an awful situation.

Now I'm forced to apply to schools in the UK. It's funny.....A Canadian from Canada goes to the U.S, now has to go to the UK just for pharmacy.

 

[kidlove]

I'm sorry to hear this. I wish you luck in the future!

 

[klampster23]

Any word on any of those 12 schools I'm waiting to hear from. Are they going to still be inviting applicants for an interview. Should I still even be hopeful or is my interview next sat. in western my 4th and final and that since i've already been waitlisted at Pacific with low rank, that I have to now rely on Howard, Charleston (interview didn't go too well) and Western. (low quality of schools)

Out of highschool in 2003, I rejected offers of acceptance to 0-6 pharmacy programs from Albany, Mass and Philly. I ended up going to Buffalo, which has early assurance. I didn't even know/care Buffalo was reputable. I was ignorant. I just went there because it was close to home (Toronto) and very cheap. Their early assurance requirement was only 3.2 in math/sciences at the time. But I still worked hard and got about a 3.55 in their math/sciences and got notfied of my acceptance during second semester of sophmore year. (at the time had 3.75-which is higher than my high school GPA!!!!!!!!) So now after all that has happened, I cant even get into any pharmacy school (accredited or not, reputable or not)

 

[Hosstheboss]

So the course work at Buffalo wasn't the problem I'm guessing it was your family situation. I'd tell the admissions people about your situation. I'm probably going to Buffalo next year and your freaking me out a little.

 

[klampster23]

Advice for those going to Buffalo next year:

Honestly, first year isn't as bad as long as you stay on top of your work everyday and work hard and fully focused with no distractions on your mind. It is tough, first year avergae of all students is around 2.7-2.8. The course work is getting harder. For advanced physiology they changed their curve so the course is aimed for most people to get a C average rather than the normal B-/B average.

Second year is where you really get nailed and that's the year that determines whether you will become a pharmacist or not. Third year isn't as bad as your second as you mostly have projects rather than weekly exams. Fourth year is of course rotations.

First semester wil be a bit of an adjustment for you and a bit shocking with the dip in one's GPA, but you'll do better in second semester, beacuse your used to the course load and you'll allocate your time better.

All I can say is good luck and get on Professor Karl Fiebelkorn (Assistant Dean of Student Affairs) good side!

 

[Hosstheboss]

Do you think the fact that I have taken all of the course work that is required for the first year pretty much would help the transition? Also a 4 year degree in biochemistry.

 

[klampster23]

Yea you should be fine. If you want to get expemted from any of the upper science classes, think you need at least a B, not sure if policy is changed. Just watch out for courses like pharmacy law and pharmacy calculations. (may sound easy but hard since cant use calculators)

Anyways, back to my depressing situation. Any other advice or any hope left as I get ready for the united kingdom next year.

 

[Hosstheboss]

dude don't give up. What happened to you is not a good situation but it isn't the end. My buddy who is going to St. John Fisher now didn't get accepted or interviewed until this time last year. That school looks awesome its just so expensive. Their average stats last year were 3.4 GPA 75 PCAT so you are close to those stats. If I were you I'd retake the PCAT. Your chemistry and quantitive are good so work on the other sections. Biology is just sheer memorization so get the General biology Schaum's review book. For the section that has to do with reading......get a book on for LSAT review a cheap one with LSAT tests. May seem stupid but I also took the LSAT and it was far better then anything for the PCAT. For the analogies sections there are these things called GRE vocab review cards...my brother is using them now and they are great and really are helping him. Like I said before make you explain your previous situation to the admissions office at the schools. There is an admistrator from St. John Fisher on the this forum, I think it's SJFCInsider. Most importantly don't give up. Also I'd call St. John Fisher. The assistant dean there is a really nice guy and he may help you if you ask. Good luck man.