Another newb thread

[s2dat]

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I wouldn’t open up a thread but I have a unique dilemma which I m facing.
Bit of a background: I am actually a graduate with bachelors of commerce from Australia. Since its based on a british system I have not completed any of the pre-requisites for pharmacy. After doing some diligent research, I went ahead accepted an offer at UMBC fortheir 3 year pre-pharm program for spring 2010. My enrolled courses are (1) chem 1 (2) bio 1 (3) Calc 1 (4) Calculus 1 and possibly psychology.
From my understand its not mandatory to have a relevant science bachelors so I was initially focusing on the pre-reqs. However would it be recommended being that my current bachelors is foreign to declare a major and complete a degree.
Also does anyone have experience on working part-time work (20 hrs) and maintain a respectable gpa (3.6) with a fulltime course load. I currently employed in the banking sector and would avoid leaving my job.

 

[Passion4Sci]

If you can help it, at this juncture, always get a degree. The only exception, I'd say, is if you're in a pre-pharm. program that has an option to lead into the professional Pharm.D program (ex: X number of students from their pre-pharm program are 'drafted' into the Pharm.D)? However, you do have a bachelor's degree already, and I don't know how foreign degrees work in regards to all schools.

If I were you, I'd do whatever I could to get a relevant bachelor's degree, just to firm your chances up. As far as 20hrs/week and a 3.6, if you have no problem managing your TIME (I.e., too much time on leisure, etc) then that's do-able. Throughout most of my UG I worked 18-25 hours and it was never a problem.

 

[docss26]

Since you have a bachelors I would suggest completing only the pre-requisites. Obtaining a degree will take you much longer. At this point you must be sure you want to pursue pharmacy right? Tons of students are entering pharmacy school without a bachelors degree. Even if your degree is from another country, I think you have the maturity to apply to professional school. Get those pre-requisites done and apply. If you don't get in then obtaining a degree may be the next option.

Maintaining stellar grades while working is all a function of your time management skills. Like passion said, it all depends on how you handle what your given. You may need to sacrifice your social life in order to maintain your grades.

 

[s2dat]

You are correct it seems its more advisable to get a degree and look into overloading certain semesters.

The problem comes with my part time employment. Being a new student I really didn't have much choice as far as choosing suitable classes in consideration of my job. And I really wanted to keep the option to overload open.