When should I take the PCAT?

[PharmBoy90]

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So, I didn't exactly follow the "normal" path to getting into Pharmacy school. After transferring schools and changing majors a couple of times, I figured I would just finish up my Bachelor's in Biology and then apply. So far, I've taken General Chem 1 & 2, and General Bio 1.

I'll be taking General Bio 2 and Organic Chem 1 this Fall, followed by A&P 1, Organic 2, and Calculus in the Spring. Next summer, I'll take A&P 2, followed by Physics in Fall 2013 and I'll probably be able to graduate with my Bachelor's after next semester.

I kind of want to apply to Buffalo's program, but they require Biochemistry, Calc 2, and Micbrobiology, which are not a part of my degree requirements so I'll have to take those after I graduate if I want to go to that school.

When would you recommend I take my PCAT? I'll be turning 22 next month, just in case anyone was wondering how old I am...

 

[gh0lee]

So, I didn't exactly follow the "normal" path to getting into Pharmacy school. After transferring schools and changing majors a couple of times, I figured I would just finish up my Bachelor's in Biology and then apply. So far, I've taken General Chem 1 & 2, and General Bio 1.

I'll be taking General Bio 2 and Organic Chem 1 this Fall, followed by A&P 1, Organic 2, and Calculus in the Spring. Next summer, I'll take A&P 2, followed by Physics in Fall 2013 and I'll probably be able to graduate with my Bachelor's after next semester.

I kind of want to apply to Buffalo's program, but they require Biochemistry, Calc 2, and Micbrobiology, which are not a part of my degree requirements so I'll have to take those after I graduate if I want to go to that school.

When would you recommend I take my PCAT? I'll be turning 22 next month, just in case anyone was wondering how old I am...

There may be a thread at SDN about this but here we go:
PCAT Subjects:

Verbal Ability
Quantitative Reasoning
Biology (General Biology 1 & 2 mostly with a little bit of Microbiology, Cell Biology and Human Anatomy/Physiology)
Chemistry (General Chemistry 1&2, and Organic Chemistry )
Math (Algebra and Calculus)
Writing sample (there is 2)

You might be good after spring 2013, given the fact that you took majority of the courses needed for PCAT. However, take summer off to study PCAT since studying this and going to school at once will not fit all into your brain. And also, you can apply during 2013 for the matriculation for 2014. This means you will have fall semester 2013, spring semester 2014 and summer semester 2014 for you to take those extra classes needed for the matriculation into pharmacy school. 👍

 

[PharmBoy90]

There may be a thread at SDN about this but here we go:
PCAT Subjects:

Verbal Ability
Quantitative Reasoning
Biology (General Biology 1 & 2 mostly with a little bit of Microbiology, Cell Biology and Human Anatomy/Physiology)
Chemistry (General Chemistry 1&2, and Organic Chemistry )
Math (Algebra and Calculus)
Writing sample (there is 2)

You might be good after spring 2013, given the fact that you took majority of the courses needed for PCAT. However, take summer off to study PCAT since studying this and going to school at once will not fit all into your brain. And also, you can apply during 2013 for the matriculation for 2014. This means you will have fall semester 2013, spring semester 2014 and summer semester 2014 for you to take those extra classes needed for the matriculation into pharmacy school. 👍

Thanks so much. 🙂 Any books or material you can recommend for studying for the PCAT?

 

[smercer]

So, I didn't exactly follow the "normal" path to getting into Pharmacy school. After transferring schools and changing majors a couple of times, I figured I would just finish up my Bachelor's in Biology and then apply. So far, I've taken General Chem 1 & 2, and General Bio 1.

I'll be taking General Bio 2 and Organic Chem 1 this Fall, followed by A&P 1, Organic 2, and Calculus in the Spring. Next summer, I'll take A&P 2, followed by Physics in Fall 2013 and I'll probably be able to graduate with my Bachelor's after next semester.

I kind of want to apply to Buffalo's program, but they require Biochemistry, Calc 2, and Micbrobiology, which are not a part of my degree requirements so I'll have to take those after I graduate if I want to go to that school.

When would you recommend I take my PCAT? I'll be turning 22 next month, just in case anyone was wondering how old I am...

This makes no sense. You will get a bachelors of Biology without taking Microbiology? Biochem? This seems like an odd setup, especially if you will be completing core classes (Bio and OChem) in the fall 12 and spring 13. I do not even see how you have taken any upper level Bios as you would need to have completed Gen. Bio 2 to get into them.

To answer your question, you will probably find it best to take the PCAT in the summer of 13.

 

[PharmBoy90]

This makes no sense. You will get a bachelors of Biology without taking Microbiology? Biochem? This seems like an odd setup, especially if you will be completing core classes (Bio and OChem) in the fall 12 and spring 13. I do not even see how you have taken any upper level Bios as you would need to have completed Gen. Bio 2 to get into them.

To answer your question, you will probably find it best to take the PCAT in the summer of 13.

At my school, you don't HAVE to take Biochem and Microbiology to get your Bachelor's in Bio. There are certain elective Biology courses you have to take, and those are 2 of the choices. But Biochemistry isn't always offered at my campus, so I'll have to take that at the other campus after I graduate. My school is really small.

I have not taken any upper level Bio classes yet. I only completed Gen. Bio 1 so far, and will be taking Gen Bio 2 this Fall, followed by A&P 1 in the spring and A&P 2 next summer.

 

[gh0lee]

Thanks so much. 🙂 Any books or material you can recommend for studying for the PCAT?

Yep!

Dr. Collins PCAT book (google it, it's not letting me use the link on here)


and PCAT Destroyer

www.orgoman.com/pcat.html

These are the two books that I recommend, and also if you want to study more (over achiever status) you want to buy some MCAT books from princeton/kaplan and review over materials since the MCAT prep books are pretty detailed.

Don't do Barron's...they suck!

Wish you the best 👍