starsweet said:
Ok, this is all very, very encouraging... so do you recommend that I NOT take some specific prereqs until after I learn that I got into the school or not? Do people do this? Because the schools I am applying to all have different requirements.
UNC - Anatomy and Physiology I
UGA - Public Speaking
UT - Genetics
These are the classes I want to delay. So, if I got into UNC and decided to go there, then I would take A/P I after I found out they accepted me. Same with Public Speaking for UGA and Genetics for UT. Because I'd prefer not to take these now unless I REALLY needed them.... right?? Is this the right way to go about this, or should I take all of them now throughout the end of the year? If I don't, I can study more for the PCAT in October.
Hi starsweet, first off, with regard to your first question ("so do you recommend that I NOT take some specific prereqs until after I learn that I got into the school or not? Do people do this?"), yes, some people DO do this, like yours truly, for instance
After my friends and I learned we go in to USC Pharmacy school, we are going kinda faraway to take this *special* conflict resolution class just for USC--they are the only school in CA that accepts this special public speaking class and refuse to take the "general public speaking" course most schools accept.
Second, as I mentioned in a previous post, even though not all the schools you are interested in require that you take public speaking, I'd DEFINITELY take this class for several reasons--please see the previous post for those reasons (mainly pharmCAS gpa booster, increase self-confidence/comfort in talking to strangers <--a plus for being a pharmacist and for interviews since u'll be interviewed by a bunch of strangers)
Third, if the schools you are interested in require the PCATS and you are therefore pressed for time, I'd recommend skipping the genetics class unless you want to do something in genetics as a pharmacist (e.g. I'm interested in pharmacogenomics). While I am not a pharmacy student yet, I don't think you'd be at a great disadvantage for not taking a specific class in genetics. Most pre-pharms I know don't even take a special class focused just on this. I think if your general biology class has already covered the basic genetics, you should be fine.
Fourth, I, would, however, recommend taking A/P I. It's not called this at my school, but I have taken anatomy and am currently taking physio. I know it will be of GREAT VALUE to you in pharmacy school when you are going to be studying the effects of drugs on the body in GREAT DETAIL.
Basically, here's the summary:
1) take as many science classes as you can that you think will help you in pharm school. What I did was when I got my USC Pharm acceptance package (you can also do this online by doing some searching), I looked through their class schedule for the 1st-3rd yrs to find out what the students will have to take in pharm school. Besides the really specific stuff (e.g. therapeutics), I tried to make sure I have taken some form of those classes in undergrad. For instance, when I saw that pharm students hafta take immunology their 2nd yr, I signed up for the upper division molecular immuno class at my school--I didn't want the pressure so I'm just auditing the class. hey, free education
and great prep for pharm school!
2) even if not all schools require some of those non-science pre-pharm prereqs, I'd say definitely go ahead and take them to get the easy A's (unless you feel you will not get an A in the class) so that you can boost your pharmCAS GPA. ever look into those intersession classes? (they're like 10-14 days long usually before spring and summer semesters) if you have time, pick a few non-sciences that in which you know you can ace. you will want that pharmCAS GPA to go as high as it can.
if you have any other questions, feel free to PM me. After I am done with this semester, I will make a post to offer reading other ppl's pharmCAS personal statements for free if anyone is interested. so be on the lookout
best of luck and I hope this helps!
PS--since you still have yet to take Ochem 1 and 2, I'd DEFINITELY study really hard for that section on the pcats...most ppl who have already taken ochem say that section is really easy, but u haven't taken ochem yet...if you are interested in genetics, maybe take it in the spring?