Pitt's Conditional Pharmacy Program

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pittsburgh
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<p>I don't mean to write so much or sound bratty! Okay, so hear me out. Thanks.</p>

<p>The University of Pittsburgh-Main Campus is my top choice. I will be a senior in high school and I was wondering what the world thinks about my chances of being accepted into the Dietrich School of Art and Sciences for the first two years. And then the Conditional Acceptance Pre-Pharmacy Program. </p>

<p>Background: I am a first generation Asian female actually living in Pennsylvania. My parents finished high school in their home country, but never proceeded to college, so I guess I will be first generation college-goer as well.</p>

<p>What I aspire to be: I want to go to college for pharmacy. I love all the subjects that are involved with it and I've met and volunteered with some pharmacists and I seem to really like the job. The school of Pharmacy of Pitt says:</p>

<p>"The School of Pharmacy does not admit freshman directly to the professional program. However, the School offers conditional acceptance to a limited number of high school seniors who enroll at one of the University of Pittsburgh campuses. Students who rank in the upper 10% of their graduating class and score 1300 or higher on the SAT I (Math and Critical Reading sections), with a minimum of 680 in the Math section, and specify Pharmacy on the application will be offered conditional admission. Based on availability of seats, applicants that specify pharmacy on their application, are in the top 10% of their graduating class, and score at least a 1250 on the SAT 1 (Math and Critical Reading sections), will be considered for conditional admission. Since only one half of the spaces in the pharmacy class will be allocated for this type of admission, the number of offers will be limited."</p>

<p>Activities: I have been working at my family business (restaurant) for 5 years, so that has taken up most of my middle and high school life. I've had no time for extracurricular activities such as sports or band. So, they are out of the question. But I have been taking art classes since the 9th grade, and I have been in the National Art Honors Society for 2 years and I will be treasurer as a senior. I have also been in executive council for 3 years. I have been in various clubs in my school over the years, but not religiously. I have been volunteering at my local hospital for this summer--totaling to 100 hours. Also, I have placed 3rd at the Local County Science Fair.</p>

<p>School and Grades: </p>

<p>Freshman year- 66/411 kids-- 3.900 GPA
Sophomore- 34/424 kids-- 4.119 GPA
Junior- 17/366 kids-- 4.3658 GPA
I bumped from top 20% to top 5%, on a weighted scale. I have improved over the years, so hopefully colleges will take that into consideration. My senior year schedule will be extremely rigorous, with 3 AP courses and 2 college in the classroom courses.</p>

<p>SAT and ACT Scores:
I don't plan on taking the standardized tests anymore, because I took them multiple times.
MY ACT Score is:
Composite score: 26
Math: 29
English: 24
Science 25
Writing essay: 8</p>

<p>My SAT score is 1910:
Critical Reading: 580
Writing: 590
Math: 740
CR+M = 1320
Essay: 10</p>

<p>To wrap things up, I will have three letters of recommendations and a personal essay that I will submit along with my application. I applied Mid-August, and I am so nervous. What are your thoughts on the whole situation? Thanks for taking time to tell me your opinion.</p>

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<p>Or, in other words, is it difficult to get accepted?</p>

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<p>@asdf My son is just starting P1 meaning he completed his two years in A&S and is starting the Pharmacy school. He was had the conditional acceptance into the Pharmacy School. By their criteria, you would receive conditional acceptance. The thing I would stress is that you should apply ASAP! Since the number of spots is limited (it was 54 when he applied) when they give them out they are gone, even if a more qualified candidate applied later in the process. My son applied by 9/20, was accepted early October. Also if you are looking for scholarship money it is important to apply as early as possible.</p>

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<p>@titanmom16 thank you so much! I applied mid-august so hopefully I will at least be considered.</p>

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<p>Also if you end up not getting it automatically as a freshman, you can still apply into the program as a sophomore. I had a friend who wasn’t in the program, but studied hard/did well his first year and then took the PCAT and applied into the program as a sophomore. He’s now starting his last year of Pharm School at Pitt and going through rotations!</p>

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<p>My daughter submitted application, transcript, recommendations and checklist on their website seems to be complete. She had been invited to apply early, waiving the application fee which she did, and they indicated she should have an answer in 3 weeks. She too is nuts about UPitt and is dying to get the conditional acceptance into pharmacy. Her stats are:</p>

<p>4.2 weighted
32 ACT
1930 SAT (did not submit)
top 5%
NHS, Nat’l. World Language HS, Nat’l. English HS
Founder/President - Leo’s Club (Lion’s club for high schoolers)
Debate - all 4 years of high school
Tennis - varsity all 4 years; now Captain
Part time job at retail store - 15 hours/week
300+ hours volunteering - various, synagogue, Costa Rica, Leo’s, etc.</p>

<p>Wondering what anyone thinks of her being accepted conditional, and more importantly for me, if she’ll get any merit. We are OOS (NJ).</p>

<p>Thank you.</p>

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<p>@pharmdmom-- see my post under the chances of merit$? thread. I personally think she’ll definitely get conditional acceptance unless something has changed drastically from previous years. Hopefully merit also but it’s hard to tell. The good news is you’ll know what ahead of other schools what your financial package will be!</p>

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<p>Whew!!! Letter rec’d. today!! Conditional admission to the School of Pharmacy’s PharmD program. We are psyched. Now we wait for any possible merit. It also says she’s “eligible to participate in the University Honors College”. Does anyone know if this is a guarantee of some merit? We’re very happy and hoping to take her out there as an accepted student to make sure it’s right for her and will try to meet with someone in the Pharmacy School.</p>

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<p>Not a guarantee of money.</p>

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<p>I guess nothing is guaranteed. Just wait and see.</p>

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<p>Congratulations PharmDmom! My son participated in the Honors college also. He ended up taking Honors Bio as he had taking AP Bio in high school. He said it was challenge, but he enjoyed the professor and smaller class size. He also lived in honors housing and was in one of their book clubs.</p>

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<p>Congratulations! i know that you are hoping for merit dollars, and i certainly don’t blame you, the costs of attending any school are always of primary concern. D1, who started at Pitt with the conditional acceptance to Pitt Pharmacy as well as participating in the UHC, is currently a P4 - and so Mom and Dad are finally approaching the end of tuition payments! Yes, we well know the cost impact of attending Pitt - even in-state! I just wanted to to mention the world of opportunity that attending Pitt for pharmacy can open up. </p>

<p>So far, in five and a half years of schooling, she’s published research papers in peer-reviewed journals, had three research fellowships, three paid research and/or intern positions (including paid positions during everyone of her summer breaks), two project grants from national pharmaceutical organizations, three named fellowship positions, as well as internships and/or rotations from the Mayo Clinic to Honduras to Australia to Utah and elsewhere. Pitt Pharmacy opens doors and provides unparalleled opportunities for their students.</p>

<p>Be sure to take everything into account when you decide on what school to attend. Pitt, especially in the health sciences, offers tremendous opportunities for students.</p>

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<p>@quiettype - thanks for that info. I read it to her and she’s now even more excited, as are we! I’m still hoping for some merit as we are out of state, but I know the benefits of being in this program are amazing, and of course, we’ll consider it as we write those big checks. Thanks again and good luck to your daughter in her final year!</p>

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<p>@quiettype Thank you for posting that information, and it’s awesome to hear! With my DS just starting his P1 year he’s excited about all of the opportunities being offered and is busying deciding which groups to join, and starting his classes and experiential learning. I’ve been asked several times by people from our area why he didn’t go to University at Buffalo or Wegman’s School at St. John Fisher because they are close by. You have certainly confirmed what we had hoped–Pitt offers a vast array of opportunity that other schools just can’t offer!
If you wouldn’t mind I’d love to her where your daughter ends up after graduation!</p>

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Sorry for restarting this thread but I am also interested in UPitt’s conditional acceptance pharmacy program. If I’m not in the top ten percent of my class by the time i apply but all my other stats qualify, will i be eliminated from the application pool or will i still be considered?

Also when is the earliest I can apply?