Low GPA, JUNIOR IN COLLEGE? Chance?

Graduate School
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>First off, I am doing this for my brother. He has been down in the dumps lately after evaluating his overall performance in college (more focus on recent semester grades, which just ended)</p>

<p>He is a junior at a commuting college. </p>

<p>his commutative GPA is currently a 2.68 (71 credits completed, 94 attempted)
2 withdrawal, 2 D's (physics 1 & elementary probability theory), retook a class
major is biology, minor in math.</p>

<p>He realizes he only have next semester and senior yr to make a comeback. However, i am not sure senior grades will be considered when applications deadlines are meet. </p>

<p>He is contemplating on staying for another yr to bring his grades up. IS that smart?</p>

<p>His goal is to attend pharmacy school.
Is it still possible? If so, what schools will be willing to take him?</p>

<p>If pharmacy school is out of the question, is there room for graduate school? If so, what schools does he have a shot at?</p>

<p>I always encourage him to join clubs, get involved, find a job but he is never committed. I think this may be his issue. </p>

<p>What should he do now to appeal the admissions?</p>

<p>I'll appreciate any answers provided</p>

<p>Thank you, collegeconfidential!</p>

2

<p>Does he have any research experience, or what else is in his profile? It is hard to say, but professional schools (pretty much all of them) are hard numbers based. You will probably need >3.0 GPA, and solid score on the PCAT (which should’t be hard, most straight foward math section of all standardized tests), and good recs from professors. He can do it, but he needs to commit himself to his goal. No partying, no slacking off, no play; although you may want to, your situation says you shouldn’t. He needs to do research. Tell him to go to his professors who do research, and ask if he could join their lab as a undergraduate researcher. This needs to be done as soon as he gets back to school in the fall. Also, he needs to get a PCAT score locked in. He can study for it himself, or take a prep course w/ Kaplan or Princeton review. </p>

<p>If he can’t raise his GPA to over a 3.0, he may need to get a M.S. before going to Pharmacy school. This will make his profile look good, and show he is commited to scholarship. But the same rules apply. Fall below a 3.0 GPA in graduate school, and they will send you home (get kicked out of school). In the second year of his M.S. he can apply to Pharmacy school.</p>

3

<p>I’d argue it’s actually not that easy to even get into an MS program with a GPA <3.0.</p>

<p>Your brother will need to work his butt off to get into an MS program before he can apply to pharmacy school.</p>

4

<p>I think there are a small number of pre-pharm certificate programs that could be a place for him to bring up his grades and prove himself at a higher level. Similar to the pre-med programs. When I was at KGI, we talked about expanding our pre-med certificate to suit pre-pharm students as well. I don’t know if that has been accomplished.</p>

<p>It will be easier to stay in undergrad for additional courses than to get admitted to a graduate program. Besides one more year of undergrad with strong results may be enough when a grad program would be two years, unless he leaves early.</p>

<p>The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy publishes lots of great statistics about pharmacy education. Two that may help illuminate your brother’s chances are:</p>

<p>Characteristics of fall 2010 First Year Class for Pharm.D. Degree Programs.
<a href=“http://www.aacp.org/resources/student/pharmacyforyou/admissions/Documents/Table%208.pdf[/url]”>http://www.aacp.org/resources/student/pharmacyforyou/admissions/Documents/Table%208.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Two-page narrative that includes General Information, Curriculum, Admission Requirements, and Further Information for each AACP member institution.
<a href=“http://www.aacp.org/resources/student/pharmacyforyou/admissions/Documents/PSAR-1213_narratives.pdf[/url]”>http://www.aacp.org/resources/student/pharmacyforyou/admissions/Documents/PSAR-1213_narratives.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>It is a tough spot to be in and he needs to bring up his grades if he really wants to go to pharmacy school.</p>