Hi, I am currently a rising senior and have started to compile a list of colleges to apply to. I want to pursue a career as a pharmacist and would prefer to attend a school that offers a 6 year program. However, I am also considering business school but I am not completely sure. The colleges I am currently looking at are:
Northeastern University
Boston University
Rutgers University
University of Pittsburgh
University of Maryland
Penn State University
University of Tampa
Florida State University
My stats:
Gpa (weighted): 4.7/5
Class Rank: 51/400
SAT: 1980
ACT: 29 (retaking in sept/oct)
Classes: -honors and all IB courses
extracurricular:
-JV sport for 3 years
-Medical club for 4 years
-Volunteer service club for 4 years
-Environmental club for 2 years
-Red Cross club for 3 years
-started a different volunteer club for 2 years (president)
-part of youth group for 4 years
-tutoring
-babysitting
-job at a mall for 2 years
**overall have around 120 hours of community service
Race: asian
Gender: Female
State: PA
I know I need to strengthen my ACT score, I’m aiming for a 32. I also will have strong teacher recommendations and hopefully will write strong essays. My main goal is to go to Northeastern but I’m not sure if I will get in with my current test scores and mediocre extracurriculars. I feel like most of my schools on my list are match schools if not reaches. If anyone has suggestions for any safety schools please comment them. I will also need financial aid so that may have an effect on admissions.
Please chance me on these schools, especially Northeastern and Rutgers for their pharmacy programs, and also leave any safety school suggestions. Thanks!
If I were you, I wouldn’t apply to a combined 6 year program if I’m not sure I want to do that. I would want to leave options for myself and not go to a school solely because of their pharmacy program.
Otherwise, Northeastern would be a reach, while Rutgers would be a match. With the exception of BU which is likely a reach, I think you’ll have a great chance of getting into the other schools you mentioned.
You should get into Penn State and Pitt, based on what I’ve seen (I’m from PA and my friends are all attending those schools with similar scores, though yours are slightly higher). Florida State and Tampa also should be fine, your 29 ACT is above average for Tampa and FSU. Northeastern and BU will definitely be a stretch, but if you can raise your scores a little, you should get in. I think you’ll get into Maryland and Rutgers as well, but it won’t be as easy as PSU and Pitt. For a safety, Temple is always a good option for PA residents, though I’m not sure if you’re comfortable with the location. I would try to widen your search, since you noted that you weren’t 100% sure about a pharmacy program. Look at schools that have the option to be pre-pharm, but also have strong business programs, such as University of Texas at Austin (definitely another reach), University of Miami (match) and College of Charleston (safety). Virginia Commonwealth has an awesome pharm program, so check it out. Very similar to Temple.
I’d say you’ve got Pitt and PennState definitely in the bag, and you’ve got a good shot at the rest. Like allison1225 mentioned, VCU has a great pharmacy program (I’m from VA, so I can vouch). Your ECs are pretty good, but definitely try to apply for any internships or volunteer options related to/in a local pharmacy. One girl I knew, who went to Cornell then transferred to University of Pennsylvania for Pharmacy, did some internships at the pharmacy her friend’s mom worked at, so try doing something like that too.