Should I withdraw from a class or risk failing it? What is the better choice for a pharmacy school applicant?

Question: 
Could you let me me know how an Adcom looks at an F and a W on a transcript? I am struggling with a non preq course and I am going to need to decide whether to withdrawal soon. Is that worse than sticking with it and maybe getting a D or F? Or do Adcoms look at a W as someone who quits?

Answer:

When in doubt, withdraw. As an Adcom, I have fewer concerns with a file of an applicant who withdrew from a course than with someone who failed a course. Part of the reason may be that we don't have any idea why the student withdrew, so it is difficult to hold a W against him/her (it could have been a scheduling conflict, for example). A series of W's, on the other hand, becomes a concern. In this case, a single W in a non-prerequisite course shouldn't hurt your chances.

An F, however, will jump out to any Adcom. Plus, it will hurt your GPA and that can significantly hurt your chances at gaining admission.

Good luck.

Will having an MIP (minor in possession) keep me out of pharmacy school?

Question:  I was cited for minor in possession while in undergrad almost 10 years ago. As I told my parents, I just happened to be at a party where alcohol was present and we all got MIP's In every case I mentioned this on my application when asked about any offenses. This won't negatively affect my chances at admission will it? Has you found something similar to be an issue?


Answer:  We see situations like this quite frequently and I would not anticipate any issues in your case. Problems might arise if you had multiple MIPs (indicating that you didn't learn from the first one) or if you received an MIP in the very recent past (more applicable to 2nd year undergraduate students applying to pharmacy school) as this might indicate maturity issues. A DUI would be scrutinized much more closely and anything on your record relating to possession of illicit drugs (ie, marijuana) or paraphernalia would be significantly detrimental to your chances.

Will military experience in ROTC or the reserves help me get into pharmacy school?

Question:
Do you have any experience with interviewing students with a background in ROTC or belonging to the reserves? I was wondering if having some type of military service on my record would help my chances.


Answer:
I have interviewed applicants with some type of military experience several times over the year.  While I do not think that having military experience will help you get into pharmacy school, I know certain professors, deans, and other administrators who served in the military who might disagree with me. I suppose it is possible that the discipline and character developed in the military would be an advantage to your chances, but I think the real value would come in the built in networking that exists between members of the armed services.

Good luck.

What should I do if I apply to pharmacy school and get rejected?

Question:
I'm looking at pharmacy as a career option since I have a passion for medicine/drugs. But I was wondering: What happens if you get rejected from all pharmacy schools you apply to? Do you wait till next year to apply again? or Do you stop pursuing that career?


Answer:
The key is to identify the reasons you were rejected and try to determine if those areas can be improved. If you PCAT score was low, you can improve that. If your GPA is 2.0 and you have completed 150 credit hours, it could be very difficult for you to make a dramatic overall increase.

I think it is important that you contact the schools where you have been rejected and ask them for their feedback and suggestions on how to improve your application. I am always impressed when we review a re-applicant and the admissions office can tell me that they have been contacted by the person being reviewed and they have made the improvements we suggested.

Good luck.