<p>Hi all,</p>
<p>I'm applying to PharmD/PhD dual degree programs this year. For most schools (e.g. OSU and UWash), this requires three applications:
1. PharmD program
2. PhD program (I'm going for Pharmacology or Pharmaceutical Sciences, depending on what each school offers)
3. Joint application expressing your interest in both programs</p>
<p>Essentially I need to gain acceptance to the PhD programs separately. I just took the GRE this week and I received unofficial scores of 650 V, 750 Q. I'm really disappointed in these scores - I barely took time to study and it showed. I know I can do better, but I don't know if I can afford to retest.</p>
<p>With a GPA just under 3.4, 2 summers of research experience in genetics/molecular biology, and 2.5 years of varsity swimming, will my GRE scores hurt my PhD applications? All the schools on my list are large public research universities. There really aren't rankings available for pharmacology/pharmaceutics related fields AFAIK.</p>
<p>Thanks so much!</p>
<p>Those scores seem pretty good to me- but your GPA is a little low (but I don’t know your UG school’s ranking/reputation - which can effect how your GPA is perceived), swimming doesn’t count for anything for sci-related grad school (sorry), who did you do your summer research with? (big name - more weight to the LOR). Also - pharmacy schools are ranked, fyi - how high are you aiming?</p>
<p>Thanks for answering! :)</p>
<p>I know my GPA isn’t spectacular, but my school is notorious for its hardcore science and engineering classes. Dedicating 22+ hours/week to swimming didn’t help with that. (If you really want to know what university I go to I’m sure you could creep through my post history.)</p>
<p>I have a good grasp on the pharmacy admissions process, and I’ve already taken the PCAT (scored a 99 composite - they look at percentiles - & the absolute lowest section score was 96 I think, so I’m definitely good in that regard, and it proves I know my stuff as far as bio/chem/math/etc go). It’s the grad school admissions process that’s a lot fuzzier to me, and they won’t be looking at my PCAT scores anyways.</p>
<p>I’m looking at OSU, UWash, UB, & UIC (although I don’t need a separate app for this school), as well as UMinn & UMich for pharmacy only. I decided if I couldn’t do both at the same time, I’d rather start with the PharmD and earn the PhD afterwards, so I can use my pharmacy license to start paying off student loans while I’m in grad school. Even a weekend a month would make a big difference.</p>
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<p>Here’s your first misconception. You will not be allowed to work beyond your research in a PhD program. They provide you with tuition, fees, health insurance, and a stipend in exchange for your full-time work in the program. Any outside jobs can get you kicked out. </p>
<p>Also, extracurricular activities, unless they are related to your field of study, have no place in a graduate school application. I often joke that they don’t care about your personal life since they don’t expect you to have one anyway as a grad student.</p>
<p>I think your GRE scores are fine, as is. Yes, it would be better if your math score was higher, but hey, it’s still in the 700s. GPA is weak, but not a deal-killer. The quality of your research and your letters of recommendation will be the most crucial parts of your applications. With only two summers of research and none during the academic year, it might be a hard sell. Although I don’t know this, I suspect that you’ll have the best shot at dual programs because they will understand what it takes to prepare for both. Besides, a dual program will cut down on the number of years to obtain both degrees. </p>
<p>I think your plan is a solid one, especially if you can find two more dual programs to add to the list. A pharmacy-only option is a good back-up, although you need to add up the total number of years to do each independently to see whether you really want to do them back-to-back. Most PhD programs will not allow you to apply graduate coursework from one institution to their own requirements; you have to start from the beginning. Although there are exceptions, you can’t count on them applying to you.</p>
<p>I’m going to disagree with Mom on one thing here - while most extracurriculars are irrelevent to grad apps, I know a few varsity athletes in grad school and the professors I have talked to have considered that experience to be an asset. Competing at that level generally indicates a level of drive that most grad programs consider valuable, and the commitment required is a reasonable explanation for a less-than-stellar gpa, especially if you were on a scholarship.</p>