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Pharmacy Student in the Philippines and planning to transfer to U.S.
- Thread starter espe
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I am not familar with the educational system in Philippines, but from your post I take it that you are an undergraduate student with a degree in Pharmacy. This degree, probably equvialent to a BS, allows you to practice as a pharmacist when you graduate from the university.
I believe the best action for you right now is to send a couple of emails to the pharmacy schools you are interested. Explain your situation, and ask if the courses you are taking count toward prerequisite completion.
As for recommendation for CC, I know couple of cc that can satisfy most prerequisite courses. You can check the sdccd (san diego community college district) and pcc (pasadena community college in LA). Any community college is fine though, you just have to double check with the pharmacy schools to see if they accept its courses. Just send them course syllabus, they should be able to tell you right away.
You dont need to have a BS to apply to pharmacy school, but you need to get the BS before the matriculation. I have been to several pharmacy info days for UCSF, and I know they value experience more than gpa unlike other california schools. Most people I know that got accepted have unique extracurriculum experience with strong leadership ability. Imo, having just a 4.0 gpa and 99% pcat alone would not get you in UCSF.
There are different opinions regarding to whether or not having a BS can increase your chance. Imo, pharmacy schools favor a bit to candidates with BS. This is just base on my observation alone, so take it with a grain of salt.
I believe the best action for you right now is to send a couple of emails to the pharmacy schools you are interested. Explain your situation, and ask if the courses you are taking count toward prerequisite completion.
As for recommendation for CC, I know couple of cc that can satisfy most prerequisite courses. You can check the sdccd (san diego community college district) and pcc (pasadena community college in LA). Any community college is fine though, you just have to double check with the pharmacy schools to see if they accept its courses. Just send them course syllabus, they should be able to tell you right away.
You dont need to have a BS to apply to pharmacy school, but you need to get the BS before the matriculation. I have been to several pharmacy info days for UCSF, and I know they value experience more than gpa unlike other california schools. Most people I know that got accepted have unique extracurriculum experience with strong leadership ability. Imo, having just a 4.0 gpa and 99% pcat alone would not get you in UCSF.
There are different opinions regarding to whether or not having a BS can increase your chance. Imo, pharmacy schools favor a bit to candidates with BS. This is just base on my observation alone, so take it with a grain of salt.
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In the Phillapines perhaps. In the US, there are several programs for people who have the BS who want to continue on to be a PharmD.
I believe you are talking about a specific school. While the standard is certainly moving towards requiring a bachelor degree, it is not required at all schools, although most in California do require.
At some schools this may be the case. My mileage varies.
ah my apologies, I was thinking of few schools that do not req. BS.
As for the shortcut program in US, I can only think of the common 7 yrs program. Is there program that give you a pharmD in just 4 yr after highschool?
As for the shortcut program in US, I can only think of the common 7 yrs program. Is there program that give you a pharmD in just 4 yr after highschool?
Why don't you try Industrial Pharmacy from UP Manila? Don't they have a five-year Pharmacy program? I know someone who graduated from UP Manila and passed the boards in California. She wasn't a California resident or US Citizen prior to taking the board exam.
Regarding the B.S., some schools require a degree, for example, UC San Diego. I don't know for sure how much UCSF or UOP value a degree so you might as well email the admission counselors. They're pretty nice.
If you want to use credits from foreign universities, you need to have them evaluated. I had mine evaluated by World Education Services because that was what UCSF wanted.
Honestly, I would suggest that you just come over to the US and finish the prerequisites. If you're lucky, you might get into a community college that would credit some of your classes. The community college I went to didn't. I would say community college first because they consider residency status. Since you haven't lived in the US for a year prior to admission, I think they'll consider you out of state and charge you a lot more. If you go straight to university, it will be a lot more expensive.
Regarding the B.S., some schools require a degree, for example, UC San Diego. I don't know for sure how much UCSF or UOP value a degree so you might as well email the admission counselors. They're pretty nice.
If you want to use credits from foreign universities, you need to have them evaluated. I had mine evaluated by World Education Services because that was what UCSF wanted.
Honestly, I would suggest that you just come over to the US and finish the prerequisites. If you're lucky, you might get into a community college that would credit some of your classes. The community college I went to didn't. I would say community college first because they consider residency status. Since you haven't lived in the US for a year prior to admission, I think they'll consider you out of state and charge you a lot more. If you go straight to university, it will be a lot more expensive.
Yep. I studied in the Philippines for two years (UPLB - ChemEng). So I finished some GenChem, Calculus and Physics but my community college didn't take any of it. I heard some community college credit them so you might want to email the community college you're looking into. If a community college does not credit your classes, you have no choice but to retake classes. Now that I look back, I don't regret taking some of the classes again. Even though the course title are the same, some classes just focus on completely different things. It wasn't really a retake of a class because it felt like I was learning new things again. Anyway, comparing universities and community college, universities are more likely to credit you for your foreign credentials (at least that was my impression).
Applying with foreign credentials is a pain. They always request for transcripts, which is really annoying when you have to mail internationally.
I didn't apply to UCSF directly because I didn't think I could get in. I just studied for two years in a community college, transferred to a university and got my degree. Now, I'm applying to UCSF. I really wish I get in...
Applying with foreign credentials is a pain. They always request for transcripts, which is really annoying when you have to mail internationally.
I didn't apply to UCSF directly because I didn't think I could get in. I just studied for two years in a community college, transferred to a university and got my degree. Now, I'm applying to UCSF. I really wish I get in...
It took me four years to finish my degree. I spent two years in community college and two years in a university. If you're looking to just finishing up your pre-pharmacy prerequisites, you should be done in two years.
My parents were nice enough to pay for my school. I was classified as an international student so it was a little bit hard to pay for school. You could apply for grants and loans easier since you're a US Citizen. Hmm.. I knew someone who's been in the US for a while as a permanent resident but she was classified as out-of-state because her parents were not in the US. I don't know if that's going to happen to you. If you're worried about tuition, you should definitely check your would-be residency in the schools you're considering.
Anyway, good luck to both of us (and to everyone trying to get in to pharmacy school)!
My parents were nice enough to pay for my school. I was classified as an international student so it was a little bit hard to pay for school. You could apply for grants and loans easier since you're a US Citizen. Hmm.. I knew someone who's been in the US for a while as a permanent resident but she was classified as out-of-state because her parents were not in the US. I don't know if that's going to happen to you. If you're worried about tuition, you should definitely check your would-be residency in the schools you're considering.
Anyway, good luck to both of us (and to everyone trying to get in to pharmacy school)!
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Just FYI, Western University in California and Nova Southeastern University in Florida have 3 year PharmD programs specifically for international pharmacists. You must complete your foreign pharmacy degree first though.
Some links:
Western
http://prospective.westernu.edu/pharmacy-pharmd-international/welcome
Nova
http://pharmacy.nova.edu/intpharmd/about.html
Some links:
Western
http://prospective.westernu.edu/pharmacy-pharmd-international/welcome
Nova
http://pharmacy.nova.edu/intpharmd/about.html
My wife last year graduated with a 5-yr PharmD degree in Albania. She started working there immediately as a Pharmacist until she moved here recently. We have already gone through WES to do a course-by-course evaluation. They evaluated all of her 160 credits that she earned in her Pharmacist Program. My question is, now that she is here, would she still need to do one of these 3-year international student programs as the above post suggests? Are there other ways for her to convert her Degree so that she is recognized as a licensed Pharmacist here in the States? We live in Massachusetts by the way in case that info helps.
Any input you guys can suggest would be greatly appreciated.
Any input you guys can suggest would be greatly appreciated.
Why don't you transfer to Centro Escolar University in Makati? They have a 6-year PharmD program. Then you can save the big tuition cost, and then you would only have to take one additional test, the FPGEE which is basically a mini-NAPLEX. I think that would be easier. They have a pharmd program: http://www.ceu.edu.ph/index.php?opt...course-offerings-pharmacy&catid=61&Itemid=119
currently 3rd year college in the philippines and i wonder if after i graduate my 4 year degree course do i still need to enroll in college or university california for further knowledge and for other units? please reply. im really confuse
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Is being pharmacist there (Canada and US) really worth it? Im licensed pharmacist here in phil and currently taking BS Pharmacy major in Clinical Pharmacy. Would that be enough for me to take FPGEE and NAPLEX? Or there should be a need for me to earn PharmD before i can take those exams and be called pharmacist there.
Or should i stay here in Philippines and practice my profession?
-- Btw Pharmacy practice here is very different especially in community setting. (Sad to say) :/
Or should i stay here in Philippines and practice my profession?
-- Btw Pharmacy practice here is very different especially in community setting. (Sad to say) :/
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Your opinions are very much appreciated. Thanks.
And I've heard that if Im pharmacist (batch 2013) here and wanted to work in US or Canada, for example. I will just land as a pharm tech?.
And I've heard that if Im pharmacist (batch 2013) here and wanted to work in US or Canada, for example. I will just land as a pharm tech?.
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Hi @espe, knowing that this thread is like really old and all. What did you end up doing with your situation? I'm really curious since I'm almost in the same position that you were in. I'm a US citizen as well, but unlike you I'm a 4th year highschool stuent which is now equivalent to a grade 10 highschool student because of the K-12 program they now recently have here in the Philippines (so I have a lucky/unlucky 2 years added I have more time to decide on where to go to college). So far my goal is going back to the US for pharm school in of course UCSF (go big & try!), but I still can't decide where to go for undergrad to finish my prequisites & get some hands on experience before pharm school. So as experience what did you end up doing? How well did it work out for you? Do you regret your decision?
I'd really like your comments/advice on this seeing as your question is the only thing I've seen so far on here that really relates to me the most. Your advice & others are highly appreciated thank you!
i graduated high school in the philippines as well and went to nursing school for a year before i decided to continue my studies here in the US. my courses were evaluated but not all of them transferred. if i were you i'd move here and do the prerequisites here. its much easier to get into pharmacy school that way. its much safer and lesser hassle.Hi @espe, knowing that this thread is like really old and all. What did you end up doing with your situation? I'm really curious since I'm almost in the same position that you were in. I'm a US citizen as well, but unlike you I'm a 4th year highschool stuent which is now equivalent to a grade 10 highschool student because of the K-12 program they now recently have here in the Philippines (so I have a lucky/unlucky 2 years added I have more time to decide on where to go to college). So far my goal is going back to the US for pharm school in of course UCSF (go big & try!), but I still can't decide where to go for undergrad to finish my prequisites & get some hands on experience before pharm school. So as experience what did you end up doing? How well did it work out for you? Do you regret your decision?
I'd really like your comments/advice on this seeing as your question is the only thing I've seen so far on here that really relates to me the most. Your advice & others are highly appreciated thank you!
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if you are planning to get a pharm.d. from US after you BS in pharmacy, you should consider these schools.
Pharmacy Study in the U.S.
If you have already completed a degree in pharmacy at a foreign institution and wish to pursue a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) in the U.S., you may wish to consider post-B.S. of pharmacy degree programs. The following colleges and schools of pharmacy consider foreign pharmacy graduates for admission into a post-B.S. of pharmacy (non-traditional) Pharm.D. degree program. A U.S. or Canadian pharmacy license may be required for admission. For specific admission information about these programs, please contact these colleges and schools directly:
- University of Colorado
- Nova Southeastern University
- University of Florida
- Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences-Boston
- Howard University
- Shenandoah University
- Western University of Health Sciences
T
torontopharm
These would grant them the PharmD, yes, though they're probably not necessary for that poster.
If he/she graduated from a 5 year curriculum, he can just go through the equivalency process and practice with his BPharm. Seems like the much cheaper option.
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I agree with you. For whatever reason, the poster said he wants to enroll in "pharm.d classes" in the US after, which would defeat the purpose of saving money and studying abroad lol. Perhaps he didn't know how lengthy and expensive that is.
T
torontopharm
Makes sense.
Had a family friend of mine who got his "MPharm" in UK and is now practicing in USA. Interesting path to consider with all the saturation/debt talk, but the additional time to get through the equivalency process seems daunting.
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