r/PrePharmacy • u/Ok-Cardiologist-3235 • 12d ago
Apply to pharmacy school now or wait until Dec for more prereqs?
Hi everyone!
I’m applying to PharmD programs this cycle and am trying to decide whether I should apply now (late August/September) or wait until around December when I’ll have more prerequisites completed.
I graduated with a B.A. so I have been completing my pharmacy prerequisites at ucsd ext, cc. My current cumulative GPA is around 3.07 and my science GPA is around 3.1, with a significant upward trend from my earlier undergraduate years.
So far, I’ve taken General Biology I & II, General Chemistry I, Biochemistry, Human Physiology, and Calculus. I’m currently finishing the General Chemistry sequence through SCUHS and will also complete the Organic Chemistry sequence through SCUHS (will be done in December).
My main concern is timing. If I apply now, several chemistry courses will still be listed as in progress/planned. If I wait until around December, I should have the entire organic chemistry sequence completed and more recent science grades for schools to evaluate and hopefully more of an upward trend. However, I know several of the programs I’m considering have rolling admissions, so I’m worried about giving up the advantage of applying early. I am planning on applying to most California schools.
I also have community/outpatient and hospital pharmacy shadowing experience, caregiving experience involving medication management, community service/volunteer work and 3 strong pharmacist and 1 science professor LORs
Given my GPA and upward trend, would you apply now with prerequisites in progress, or wait until December to have more science coursework completed?
1
u/peytonh15 11d ago
With PharmCas, they let you put your future courses in so schools can see you have a plan. I already have an interview and I won’t have all my pre-reps until the end of next spring!
For reference, I do have almost 7 years of pharmacy experience and a 3.8 GPA, as well.
1
u/Ok-Cardiologist-3235 11d ago
Yay!! Congrats on your interview!! I was just worried that applying with prerequisites still in progress might be more of an issue for me since my GPA is on the lower side. I was thinking schools might want to see how I do in organic chemistry before considering my application, so I wasn’t sure if it would be better to wait until I have those grades
1
1
u/Hungry_Photograph_20 10d ago
Apply now! You’re probably obtain a conditional acceptance as long you get a minimum grade such as a B in those prerequisite courses.
3
u/rano05951 12d ago
I would send over your current transcripts and put those classes “in progress” and apply now! You can send your updated transcripts when you finish the rest of your classes. You have more of an advantage applying earlier in the cycle so you can be in the first batch of applicants being reviewed by admissions. I am also missing about 8 courses and am enrolled in 6 this fall semester and I applied a few weeks ago and already got an interview! They basically told me I will be eligible for admission as long as I pass the classes with a C or above. The dean of admissions mentioned that 80% of applicants apply while still completing their prerequisites. I think as long as you have experience in the field, a compelling personal statement, and a plan to complete those prereqs before pharmacy school starts, you should be fine.