What are my chances?

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Hey guys, I'm graduating this summer, and i'm applying for pharm schools this June. However, I'm very nervous and worried about my stats because my GPA is not as competitive as other applicants. The following is my stats:
3.0 overall GPA. 🙁 2 years of research experience, and co-author of two research publications (a third one is comimg up). About one year pharmacy cashiering experience at Longs Pharmacy. Doing volunteer work with a volunteering student organization for about 3.5 years, and i was an officer for 3 years. A Coordinator (1 yr) and an instructor (1.5 yr) for a decal class (on campus student hold classes).

As i said before, my GPA really makes me feel very nervous, and I was just wondering what are my chances of getting into a pharmacy school? Also, any advice for me to improve my GPA? Thanks a lot!

 

[beccala33]

There's always a chance, what was your major? Do you have your prereqs done yet? that's a good way to raise your gpa if you haven't. Also, have you taken the pcat yet? That's another good way to make yoursef more competitive. There's always a chance, I got in with a gpa below 3.0!

 

[ndearwater]

It sounds like you have a lot of great volunteer and work experience so that's in your favor. Your GPA may not be awesome, but I got into 3 schools this year with a 3.02 so it can be done. If you are graduating this summer (with a 4 year degree) you may have too many credit hours to bring up your GPA with just a few classes. But take any classes that increase the number of pharmacy schools you can apply to; in other words, maximize the number of programs whose pre-requisites you meet. Check the pharmcas school pages for this info.
Get ready to blow the PCAT out of the water. Start studying as soon as possible! This forum has a great PCAT section with a lot of advice so check that out.
FYI: Register for the PCAT asap because certain locations will fill up fast!
Applying early is definitely in your favor! Start PharmCas in June when it's available and start getting your LOR's... this seems to be the "rate determining step" for most people... haha chemistry joke- what a nerd!
Good luck! 😍

 

[skeksis]

Start PharmCas in June when it's available and start getting your LOR's... this seems to be the "rate determining step" for most people... haha chemistry joke- what a nerd!

I didn't much care for the LOR step either... Not only is it rate determining, but it's Sn2 as well...

 

[IMG_0008]

There's always a chance, what was your major? Do you have your prereqs done yet? that's a good way to raise your gpa if you haven't. Also, have you taken the pcat yet? That's another good way to make yoursef more competitive. There's always a chance, I got in with a gpa below 3.0!

I only have one more prereq class which I'll be taking this summer. I'm applying for schools in CA which do not require PCAT; however, I did think about taking PCAT to show that I can handle the studying and the prereq subjects.

 

[pharmacology]

How did you calculate your GPA? When/if you repeated a course did the first one magically disappear from your GPA calculations? If this is how you calculated, be aware that Pharmcas applications do not just drop repeat courses...everything is calculated.

What is your science GPA....Pharmacy has a lot of science and some schools may really look at this GPA.

PCAT? Some require it and some do not

Pharm experience can be important.

Research and peer reviewed papers will make you stick out depending on who is actually reviewing your application.

Interview - if you go to an interview you need to be positive, have a positive attitude, know why you want to go into pharmacy or why pharmacy is your area of interest. Knowing why you applied to the specific school might be important. They want someone who can actually talk and communicate with people. Not someone who isn't excited about the prospect of talking about pharmacy. Some may want to see if you have a pharmacist mentality when answering questions....think about what a pharmacist does, the morality and ethics of the job of a pharmacist...if you were a pharmacist, how would you handle situation X. They may not say "If you were a pharmacist.." but you ought to think like you are one

 

[Moxxie]

I didn't much care for the LOR step either... Not only is it rate determining, but it's Sn2 as well...

 

[pharmDaisy]

don't worry too much about it. you have really good research and leadership experience already. Pharmacy school doesn't only look at GPA. However, most schools that I know have a minimum GPA requirement of 3.0, so you should be fine. I hear of people who have around 3.0-3.2 and have gotten in to good schools.

Good Luck! I know it'll be very stressful for you. 😍