Hi! maybe I can help. I'm CPG c/o 2018, a 1st year student at MWU right now so I've completed 2 quarters so far. My brother is an alumni from c/o 2013. And my boyfriend got accepted for c/o 2019. So if you decide to come here say hi to him or me!
So a little bit about myself, I have my BS in biochemistry from UC San Diego, I worked in a lab for 3 years and at the time, only had 6 months pharmacy experience from the hospital. I only applied to MWU, so I can't speak for any other program. MWU is very fast paced, class in usually in session M-F from 8-4pm (give or take a hour or two). We get 1 week break in between each quarter (in Nov we get 3 weeks off!). Each quarter, you will have ~6 courses for total of 16-17 units. At most, each quarter will consist of 2-3 vigorous classes (such as biochemistry, physiology, immunology). If you have taken these courses in undergrad, great! It will be a good foundation for you and you'll have it a little bit easier than others who haven't taken these classes. Expect to have 1-2 exam every week, sometimes 3 exams *yikes*. The curriculum is tough and exhausting, but there is a lot of help offered. Professors have a open door policy. So no office hours, you can stop by anytime, no appointment needed. You also have current classmates and upperclassmen who help out 1st years as well. It's no longer a competition, you made it in! Everyone just wants us to succeed. As far as workload and study time goes, I study about 4-5 hours after class everyday and if it's before a exam, I go all night. It is very easy to fall behind especially when you have 2-3 exams in 1 week. But, just manage your time well and you'll be fine, exhausted, overwhelmed, but fine.
You may remember Mesquite Hall, the clinical stimulation center during the campus tour? Every quarter, we have 3 patient interviews where the school hires actors and we are tested on different clinical scenarios to prepare for the real world, such as counseling on new prescriptions, cough and cold, antibiotics, asthma (interviews I have done so far). It is GREAT learning experience especially if you have no background in pharmacy. It's great practice for those who are nervous talking to patients but, because you are doing interviews consistently, you gain more confidence and it gets less nerve racking each time. It is video recorded and you can replay your interview and see how you look, see what you need to work on, etc. I love that class.
What is there to do outside of school? To be honest, not much in Glendale, AZ. The usual...eating, happy hour at bars, shopping, farmer markets, outdoor activities like hiking, biking. There a lot of chain restaurants. I haven't explored too much because I rather study or sleep
As far as internship go, I would estimate half the class is working right now and most students work ~8hrs/week. It is very doable. There are lots of open positions for retail internship in AZ (CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Fry's) and pharmacy managers are usually very flexible with interns. I suggest testing the waters first, see how you do your 1st quarter then apply for an internship your 2nd quarter. There is no rush to get a job
. I was working my 1st two quarters, but quit to devote all my time to school. I plan on working again my 2nd year. Many of my current classmates have kids, work, and go to school!
Not sure what kind of pharmacy you want to do? You will have a whole course dedicated to what fields of pharmacy are out there! Are you considering a residency? They will help you decide what's best option for you. There are lots of guest speakers during lunch that come in to talk about their field and give you some exposure to different kinds of pharmacy. I believe MWU-CPG NAPLEX passing rate is above national and residency match rates are high as well. They also have their accreditation secure till 2021 so no worries about being on probation like some other schools.
Some cons I have heard....I have heard that compared to UofA, MWU students "cram" the information and can't retain as much because of the accelerated 3-year program. I personally, do not feel like that way (but I'm only half way through my 1st year). The information builds on itself each quarter, so it is crucial to understand, not memorize. I have also heard MWU pumps out a lot of retail pharmacist compared to UofA which prepares you more for clinical pharmacy. But, it's what you make of it right? About 25% of MWU graduates are employed in hospital setting after graduation. Whatever works for you! If you want a position in a institutional setting, network, get an internship, land a residency. All in all, I'm very happy to be a student here. I've learned A LOT in my 1st two quarters here and I do feel like they are preparing me well. Everyone including other programs are very friendly and helpful.
