will research help to get in?

[Lisochka]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I was thinking to do some research or at least volonteer or shadow in the
pharm department at my college. Do you think it will improve my chance to get into the pharm program?
I have heard from my o-chem instructor about a girl who was very research oriented with high stats (GPA, etc...,) who did not get into the pharm program explicitly because she was "too much research oriented". So, they figured she would be bored counting peels. And sort of did her a favor.
I am not interested in research whatsoever, but I just want to improve my chances. Will it help? And if yes, how to avoid being in this gir's shoes?
(P.S. I already work at my local hospital pharmacy as a pharm tech and my GPA is 3.77 now)

 

[fenixtnlfan]

If you aren't interested in it, don't do it. Find something that will be fun for you to do in your extra time. Most pre-pharm students don't have research experience. I had a good bit of research experience and got accepted to a four different schools, so if you do decide to do research you can get in. It's completely possible this girl you are referring to gave off the vibe of really wanting to do research rather than be a pharmacist.

 

[lwang81]

I was thinking to do some research or at least volonteer or shadow in the
pharm department at my college. Do you think it will improve my chance to get into the pharm program?
I have heard from my o-chem instructor about a girl who was very research oriented with high stats (GPA, etc...,) who did not get into the pharm program explicitly because she was "too much research oriented". So, they figured she would be bored counting peels. And sort of did her a favor.
I am not interested in research whatsoever, but I just want to improve my chances. Will it help? And if yes, how to avoid being in this gir's shoes?
(P.S. I already work at my local hospital pharmacy as a pharm tech and my GPA is 3.77 now)

i don't think it was the research that made her lose your chance at admissions. it must have been something else that made them probably suggest to her to do the phd route? most school i think like to see students with a variety of backgrounds. i was a chef so being an ex chef didn't hurt me. but whatever you do, please do something to put on your app.

 

[Snake Doctor]

If you aren't interested in it, don't do it. Find something that will be fun for you to do in your extra time. Most pre-pharm students don't have research experience.

Agreed. You'll end up hating it if you don't like it. There's only so much control you have over your experiments time-wise. Sometimes you have to come in during the wknds to run them, sometimes certain parts of the experiments have to be conducted in consecutive hours, etc...
Use your time wisely.

 

[sasukewalker]

you should do the research only if you are geniunely interested in it. research won't hurt you in an interview (your friend probably had a bad time explaning research and its relevance to her goals as a pharmacist). Maybe you could volunteer somewhere (other than a hospital; since you already work there). go to www.volunteermatch.org if you're interested. You could probably write some good stuff for your personal statement if you choose the "right" place to volunteer at.

 

[sUrface]

I did research for a year and a half. I even have a publication as a junior in college where Im listed as one of 4 authors on an article in a major chemistry journal . I dont think many undergrads have that achievement.

But then I really really really started to loathe doing any type of research. Pretty much bull****. The stuff I was working with really had 0 connection to the real world besides getting publications. Maybe the research I was doing wasn't for me, but I really started to hate it these past couple months. Also, who wants to spend another 5-6 years in grad school getting a PhD, working in a lab, with barely any human contact. Screw that. On the other hand a really good friend of mine totally loves the research she was doing in the same lab as me. Im happy that I figured out that I hate it this early, though.

 

[Lisochka]

you should do the research only if you are geniunely interested in it. research won't hurt you in an interview (your friend probably had a bad time explaning research and its relevance to her goals as a pharmacist). Maybe you could volunteer somewhere (other than a hospital; since you already work there). go to www.volunteermatch.org if you're interested. You could probably write some good stuff for your personal statement if you choose the "right" place to volunteer at.

thank you guys.
I have volonteered about 6 months few years ago. I think it was in 2005
Will it still count?
Do I need to volonteer again?

 

[UES Girl]

I was thinking to do some research or at least volonteer or shadow in the
pharm department at my college. Do you think it will improve my chance to get into the pharm program?
I have heard from my o-chem instructor about a girl who was very research oriented with high stats (GPA, etc...,) who did not get into the pharm program explicitly because she was "too much research oriented". So, they figured she would be bored counting peels. And sort of did her a favor.
I am not interested in research whatsoever, but I just want to improve my chances. Will it help? And if yes, how to avoid being in this gir's shoes?
(P.S. I already work at my local hospital pharmacy as a pharm tech and my GPA is 3.77 now)

I just wanted to add that whether or not you decide to go through with a research, it is one kind of a hellacious, challenging and at the same time rewarding experience and you could later on feel free to "front" it left and right.

 

[sasukewalker]

thank you guys.
I have volonteered about 6 months few years ago. I think it was in 2005
Will it still count?
Do I need to volonteer again?

if you were in college in 2005, use it. but if you were in high school, don't.