Aging applicant, what are my options?

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[kcwang]

I believe most pharmacy schools require 1 yr of organic chemistry with 1 yr of general chem. Not 2 yr of organic chemistry. You should contact pharmacy school to make sure they accept those courses from cc. If your cc doesn't offer summer chemistry courses, you can check out other cc. I think you can finish all the pre req in 2 yrs.

You don't need to worried about your high school gpa. Concentrate on your cc courses.

 

[xNeenax]

look at what courses are offered for wintermester, maymester, and summer semester,

 

[keefis]

look at what courses are offered for wintermester, maymester, and summer semester,

x2

You could probably take the introductory chem course in the summer then gen chem in the fall and spring. Some colleges will offer o-chem I and II during the summer. It might be a little intense especially if your working full time but you could knock it out in a year.

 

[xtsukiyox]

Hi.
I enrolled in a community college this fall intending to become a pharmacist.

Hi! Welcome to SDN. Congratulations on starting your education again. Just getting over that mental hurdle can be enormous. "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." 👍

However, most pharmacy school's prerequisite courses list 2 years of organic chemistry,

I have not seen a COP that required 2 years of O Chem. The ones I've seen require 2 semesters. Which schools are on your "top choices" list?

but my school's curriculum for chemistry is the following:

1. intro to chem (very basic course, not a single college validates this course's credits, but it is still a requirement to take in my school)

2. gen chem I
3. gen chem II
4. Organic chem I
5. Organic chem II

This is identical to the requirements the local CC had for my s/o when he started taking classes recently. The Intro to Chem (they called it something else) was required as a "remedial" class because he hadn't had Chemistry in the last 5 or 10 years, something like that (he's been out of high school that long). If you don't want to take the class and you think you'll do fine without it, you might be able to get an override from the instructor of a Gen Chem class or from the department chair. It's always worth asking, if you feel it will be a waste of time. My s/o said he enjoyed the chem class because he felt it was a good step back into it, and the instructor was very thorough - he didn't simplify or talk down to the students. YMMV.

I'm not taking Intro to Chem this semester because I registered too late, but taking intro to chem in the spring. So, if I finish all chemistry courses before applying, I would be spending 3 years in the community college.. Is there any other option? I don't know if my college will offer chemistry course during Summer.

A lot of CCs offer Gen Chem over the summer. It would probably be pretty intense, but I think Gen Chem I is doable, bonus points if you start familiarizing yourself before the class starts. Summer classes + working an 8-5 didn't work well for me (even though I was taking a non-science course) just because the schedule was hectic.

Keep in mind, you will probably need 3-4 semesters of biology series, so you should probably start that concurrent to your chem series. I saw several that required Gen Bio I, A&P I & II, and another biology class (either Micro, Gen Bio II, Cell Bio, something). I made a chart of how I'd get through the prereqs for MWU-CPG if I was doing it again for efficiency - if you PM me your e-mail address, I'll send it along. Prereqs do vary somewhat between COPs, so mapping out your courses now will not be time wasted.

Scheduling-wise, take a look at the classes offered in Spring & Fall - use this past semester if next Fall's schedule isn't out yet. Some colleges only offer certain parts of the series in a particular semester. I believe the CC I went to had more flexibility on scheduling if I took O Chem I in the Fall / O Chem II in the Spring (I think there were three classes for this timing, but only one if I took it opposite - O Chem I in Spring & O Chem II in Fall). It would be a shame to get started, then have to wait because Micro is only offered in Spring, or something like that.

Or, my other plan is, after spending a year (around 30 credits), apply as a sophomore to pre-pharmacy to schools like Purdue then transfer to the pharmacy school within the same college. But from this option, I'm worried because of my high school GPA (3.2)
Although I have an upward trend: After getting nearly straight A's through junior year, I totally flunked my senior year (staright D, although they were all AP courses). Will colleges overlook at my high school gpa? What do you recommend?

Some COPs require / strongly recommend / prioritize applicants with an undergrad degree. This seems to be where the requirements are headed. I have an Associates only, and I was accepted, but MWU-CPG's stats I saw in the interview indicate that the 2011 matriculating class had something like 17% associates degree holders. Again, highly dependent on the school.

Once you've taken college classes, your high school GPA no longer really matters, from what I understand. They look at your performance in college. If you have a specific college in mind (like Purdue), give their admissions office a call & ask them about your intended path. In my state, the CCs work with the state Unis to offer transfer paths intended to do exactly what you're proposing.

I believe the prevailing advice is to go to the cheapest undergrad you can, knock out the pharmacy prereqs, and if you decide to go for your bachelors, pick a major that interests you. You can always apply to pharma school once you've completed the prereqs / are close to finishing them and continue towards a bachelors if you don't get in first try.

Edit.
I have lots of work and volunteer experience during high school, and getting EMT-B certificate and pharmacy technician license by this June, if this helps in elaborating myself.

Great! Try to get involved while you're in college as well - many colleges have a Pre-Pharm or at least a Pre-Health club. Pick something you are interested in or feel passionate about and volunteer. Work experience absolutely "counts" as an EC - if you work as an EMT, I can only see that as a positive. See if you can get into a pharmacy for work or volunteer (you might knock out two birds with one stone). Basically, try to "round out" your future application for pharma school - you are at a serious advantage planning ahead & knowing what you want to do from the start. Network, so you'll know exactly who you want to write LoRs for you - and they'll know who you are.

 

[R2pharmD2]

I have not seen a COP that required 2 years of O Chem.

This. That has to be a mistake or a misunderstanding on your part, OP.

I'm sure the rest of her advice was sound too (it always is), but it was a bit tl;dr for me

 

[xtsukiyox]

I'm sure the rest of her advice was sound too (it always is), but it was a bit tl;dr for me

Aww. 😳

I am the tl;dr queen.