What do I do now?

[sablemagus]

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I've applied to 16 schools this cycle and so far I've had only 1 interview (resulted in being put on the wait list) and 7 rejections. I'm still waiting to hear anything at all from 8 schools, but when I do, I don't think it's going to be positive. So my question is, what's next?

First, let me tell you my story. I went to undergrad for 3 years, planning to go to medical school. My grades were mediocre by pre-med standards, and my advisers were all very negative and told me that I would never get in, so I needed to come up with a back-up plan. So I applied to pharmacy school and got in, and in May of last year (2009) I graduated with my PharmD. Since then, I've been finishing my BS in biology and will graduate with that this May (2010). I've also been applying to medical schools. I got a decent score on the MCAT. My GPA from pharmacy school is not terrible, but mostly mediocre (but AMCAS classifies most of my pharmacy courses as non-math/science), and my undergraduate GPA on AMCAS is also not favorably presented because of unusual coursework, but it's not terrible.

I'm thinking the fact that I went to pharmacy school is what is killing me. It was a very challenging four-year curriculum, and I think my GPA from there is pretty respectable. Unfortunately, it is not very good-looking on an application; however I graduated in the top 1/3 of my class. I just got licensed as a pharmacist in my state but have not worked yet (been focusing on completing my BS degree, but I'm only taking one class this semester [the last I need for the degree], so I'm looking for part-time work now). Could this be why I've fared so poorly?

As far as ECs go, I've shadowed a physician on and off for the last 7 or 8 years, for a total of probably 500+ hours. I completed a research project and presented it to the entire pharmacy school while I was enrolled there (not published, though). I am a member of a professional pharmacy fraternity that does a lot of community service and I have been VERY active in that, and held a leadership position on the executive board for two consecutive years. I was a tutor at a local elementary school for a year.

So, what are my options? I could do a special master's program, but those grades would just get averaged into my pharmacy GPA, and no special master's program will be enough to overcome 140 credit hours of pharmacy coursework. A post-bac wouldn't really be worthwhile, because I already have all my pre-reqs completed. So I'm at a loss. Some have told me to work for a year or two and reapply, others have said to go to a foreign school, still others have said to start reapplying for this next cycle (for the 2011 entering class). I need some advice!

Sorry for the long post. I appreciate your taking the time to read it.

 

[mechanictodr]

Should post in "What are my chances" forum... I'm sure you're stuck on MD but have you tried any DO schools? There are some pretty nice ones to which I'll be applying.

It's a little late in the game as well... time to get that app ready for next year.

 

[Catalystik]

Fortunately for you, your low PharmD GPA isn't going to kill you, because graduate level degrees really aren't considered in the med school application process. (I'd work in that you graduated in the top third of yor class somewhere, though, next time). What's killing you is the low BCPM GPA. What will it be with the new coursework figured in? The steep upward trend will help you too. Too badyou didn't ake a fuller courseload this semester.

It sounds like you have most of the expected elements of a good med school application, but you didn't really mention formal clinical experience. I know you must have some since pharmacy school usually includes being part of a team that rounds in various departments in a hospital as well as being a working member in the ICU. You should really highlight the patient education, etc that you've engaged in. It wouldn't hurt to work directly with sick people in a clinic or ER until you apply for about 4 hours a week, continuing through the next application year, so you have recent clinical experience to mention in update letters and at interviews.

Otherwise: 1) Did you apply to a mix of schools with a few selective ones, most in your stat range, and a few safety schools? 2) Did you apply in June for maximum consideration? 3) Did you call schools rejecting you, make an appointment to speak with a dean, and ask what you can do to improve? 4) Are you positive your LORs didn't raise red flags and that the recommenders were supportive of your goals (might be stretch if you used Pharmacy profs, and if you aren't sure you may need to replace them) 5) Are you sure of a strong PS due to multiple reader input? You need a very convincing reason to jump ship (so to speak). PM MiniMoo and J DUB for input on this issue, since they made a successful application after PharmD.

 

[TexasPhysician]

I would consider MD and DO schools. All of your gpa's are a little lower than average. Your graduate level degree is a bonus, but at the same time, school's will wonder why you wasted your time if med school is what you wanted to do. DO's seem to prefer non-traditional students, so maybe consider this.

 

[morning]

Your GPA isn't awful but your MCAT isn't amazing, which might be your problem. If you are average in one area you need to be awesome in another area. Doesn't sound like you have a ton of volunteering either. And I always heard that getting a professional degree and IMMEDIATELY attempting to go into medicine was not a good idea because they won't believe you're really committed to medicine.

 

[Morsetlis]

SMP grades do not get averaged. They get looked at separately, and most of them have LINKAGE. A very very high % of SMP graduates get accepted to a medical school (and most likely the linkage school/s).

 

[sablemagus]

SMP grades do not get averaged. They get looked at separately, and most of them have LINKAGE. A very very high % of SMP graduates get accepted to a medical school (and most likely the linkage school/s).

Which SMPs have linkage? I've tried looking, but it seems like the ones with linkage are only for groups underrepresented in medicine, which I'm not, unfortunately.

And jumping to MD right from PharmD is hurting me, too, I think. I don't think they know that I want this as badly as I do... I've wanted to go to medical school since the start of pharmacy school. I feel like going there was a mistake I can't recover from. But my GPA seems to be the biggest problem, and I doubt I can overcome that. I simply have too many credits of coursework behind me...

I'll start checking a bit deeper into SMPs and DO programs. Not to mention contacting the schools I got rejected from and see what I can improve upon. Thanks for your advice, everyone.

 

[MiniMoo]

And jumping to MD right from PharmD is hurting me, too, I think. I don't think they know that I want this as badly as I do... I've wanted to go to medical school since the start of pharmacy school. I feel like going there was a mistake I can't recover from. But my GPA seems to be the biggest problem, and I doubt I can overcome that. I simply have too many credits of coursework behind me...

As long as you're clear in your PS about why you're switching from Pharm to MD and have the clinical experience to show that you know what you're getting yourself into, going straight from pharmacy school shouldn't be a hindrance. The few Pharm.D/MDs that I know all went straight into medical school after obtaining their pharmacy degree. J Dub is also going straight into medical school after graduating pharm school this year.

Anyways, I PM'd you. So check it when you get a chance. 🙂