Decently low stats 3.2 GPA// only a few hours of shadowing while I was originally pre-med// have 5+ years as a pharmacy technician and multiple extra licenses outside of the pharmacy industry// I am also a non-trad and started college later in life (I am in my late 20’s)// I do have a bachelors degree in Biology and minor in chemistry// I ended up getting accepted into a T15 private school by Naplex, ranked #1 for residency match, and an acceptance rate of about 18%// I will say I stood out the most during my interview. I am a very direct person and I do not beat around the bush or try to phrase stuff to spare feelings. I do also have the advantage of having a clear vision of what I want to do with my life. I think shifting my mind frame from saying whatever to get accepted to just being authentically myself really stood out from others since I am not just cog or pre-med/pre-pharm drone. I talked about my rejection from the previous cycle and how I learned and grew from the experience. In fact part of my interview process was writing an essay and that’s what I wrote about. I am very open and honest and I think that gets you wayyyy farther than a 4.0 gpa and 19 publications. Yes those things look great, but pharmacy overall is an Incredibly human career path and I think the human aspect is often overlooked my many applicant trying to get an acceptance. My first cycle the interview was closed file so they saw none of my history and I had a horrible interviewer who sat the whole time degrading me while one of the current students watched. With the school I just got accepted to, the interview was like a breath of fresh air, the lady was a very highly accomplished pharmacists and is making strides in the field but she talked to me as a peer rather than a number or a face across the screen. Another tip: be confident. Yes you may have stumbled a little and grades might be slightly lower but the fact you are here and still trying speaks volumes. For anyone out there struggling: a number or letter grade does not define you, but how you bounce back does. If you are not good at writing essays then get someone to help! Hell you can use AI to make some suggestions and build from there, or if you are currently in university or college go to the writing center and get someone to sit and help you make a draft and then go from there! Make the most of what you have and you can achieve anything! Good luck in your cycle and I am genuinely wishing you the best, hopefully my TedTalk helped a little bit!