A few questions about prerequisites.

[Magikarp]

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Hello,

I'm in the process of completing the prerequisites for pharmacy school and have a few questions. I thought this forum would be the appropiate place to ask them since everyone seems helpful and knowledgable.

A friend of mine just told me that when you apply, pharmacy schools only look at your GPA and that the classes you took don't matter as long as they meet the requirements. This saddened me because I just finished General Chemistry for Scientists and Engineers and got B+'s in both of them while I believe I would have gotten A's had I just taken normal General Chemistry. So did I just take a harder class and get a lower grade for nothing? Or will pharmacy schools know that I took them, and if they did, will they even care?

Well, this brings me into my next issue: to take Organic Chem I & II or to take Organic Chem for Scientists and Professionals I & II. My friend who is also applying says that the one for scientists and professionals is the class pharmacy schools are looking for. I want to better prepare myself for pharmacy school by taking these classes; however, I can't afford to get B's which would bring down my GPA even more and lessen my chances of getting accepted; especially if they don't even care that I took them.

So what do you guys(and gals) think?

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Magikarp

 

[jessicaeatworld]

Hello,

I'm in the process of completing the prerequisites for pharmacy school and have a few questions. I thought this forum would be the appropiate place to ask them since everyone seems helpful and knowledgable.

A friend of mine just told me that when you apply, pharmacy schools only look at your GPA and that the classes you took don't matter as long as they meet the requirements. This saddened me because I just finished General Chemistry for Scientists and Engineers and got B+'s in both of them while I believe I would have gotten A's had I just taken normal General Chemistry. So did I just take a harder class and get a lower grade for nothing? Or will pharmacy schools know that I took them, and if they did, will they even care?

Well, this brings me into my next issue: to take Organic Chem I & II or to take Organic Chem for Scientists and Professionals I & II. My friend who is also applying says that the one for scientists and professionals is the class pharmacy schools are looking for. I want to better prepare myself for pharmacy school by taking these classes; however, I can't afford to get B's which would bring down my GPA even more and lessen my chances of getting accepted; especially if they don't even care that I took them.

So what do you guys(and gals) think?

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Magikarp

It has been my experience that Pharm Schools will only accept the courses designed for science majors. I specifically asked U of W about a class geared for nursing majors and it was denied. Most websites explicitly say that only science for science majors will be counted.

 

[RxRob]

For the general chemistry you took the one we all take and the only acceptable one, should be 8 credits over a year.

I've never heard of those distinctions for O-chem as the only people who would ever need any of it ARE scientists.

The only course I know of that you can take the gay version of is Physics if it's required by the school you are applying to.

I will further urge you to please please try harder because you're supposed to be getting your A's now in the beginning... the B's happen as the courses get harder and harder.

 

[JWirawan]

I suggest you contact your school, and ask them to verify those classes. I am not the adcom so I don't know the exact answer. However, if I were in your spot, I'd just take the "normal" O-chem, not the fancy one.

 

[ButlerPharm.D.]

I agree with JWirawan, you can't be too sure unless you call and ask.

 

[rxlynn]

Hello,

I'm in the process of completing the prerequisites for pharmacy school and have a few questions. I thought this forum would be the appropiate place to ask them since everyone seems helpful and knowledgable.

A friend of mine just told me that when you apply, pharmacy schools only look at your GPA and that the classes you took don't matter as long as they meet the requirements. This saddened me because I just finished General Chemistry for Scientists and Engineers and got B+'s in both of them while I believe I would have gotten A's had I just taken normal General Chemistry. So did I just take a harder class and get a lower grade for nothing? Or will pharmacy schools know that I took them, and if they did, will they even care?

Well, this brings me into my next issue: to take Organic Chem I & II or to take Organic Chem for Scientists and Professionals I & II. My friend who is also applying says that the one for scientists and professionals is the class pharmacy schools are looking for. I want to better prepare myself for pharmacy school by taking these classes; however, I can't afford to get B's which would bring down my GPA even more and lessen my chances of getting accepted; especially if they don't even care that I took them.

So what do you guys(and gals) think?

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Magikarp

Hi - I took the first semester of organic for non-majors, and then ended up taking the first and 2nd semester of o-chem for majors as well once I decided to be a chemistry major. Not to sound harsh, but if you can't do reasonably well with the organic chem for scientists, then you are going to have a hard time with all the science in pharmacy school - biochem, micro, immunology, pharmacology, therapeutics, etc.