Another school decision post (TJU or UMB)

[beatsbeetsbeats]

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(Been thinking myself in circles over this one...)

Hi everyone, I'd appreciate any input you might have for TJU or UMB. I liked Center City/Philadelphia better than Baltimore, location-wise. However, UMB is such an established program (but its NAPLEX pass rates seem to be fairly low in comparison to other schools? Is there a reason for this?) and while I know that TJU also has a very good med school + other health professions programs, its COP is still fairly new -- which can also be a good thing in some ways! Nothing seems to be tipping the balances one way or the other. I'm planning on going the residency/clinical route, if that makes any difference.

I've read through pretty much all the threads re: these two schools, but I just wanted to see if anyone had anything to add. Thanks!

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Where are you getting your data on NAPLEX pass rates?

 

[beatsbeetsbeats]

Where are you getting your data on NAPLEX pass rates?

The PDF linked here:

http://www.nabp.net/programs/examination/naplex/school-pass-rate/

 

[deleted205891]

Philly is crazy saturated, with it being hard to get an internship here nowadays, and even harder to get a pharmacist job. Don't know how Baltimore is saturationwise.

Also, some companies don't want to hire students from newer schools, as they can predict what students from established schools will be like.

 

[DrDrugs2012]

I am not trying to sway you in one direction or another... so I encourage someone from TJU to post their counterpoint.

Maryland offers all of the following:

1) An absurdly high placement in postgraduate residencies and fellowships (about 30% of their class - thats almost 50 people!)
2) A location which other schools simply cannot provide - Maryland has proximity to the government offices (FDA, NIH, DoD, etc), the offices of the professional pharmacy organizations (APhA, etc), regulatory & advocacy organizations (Congress, lobbyists etc).
3) Access to federal financial aid (don't know if its relevant to you). Unaccredited schools like TJU are ineligible to offer government loans (private loans only!)
4) Numerous dual degree programs. You can couple your PharmD degree with MPH, JD, MBA or PhD.

I encourage students NOT to look at NAPLEX rates unless the rates are excessively low. The accreditation body (ACPE) requires a standardized curriculum and the NAPLEX is based on this. So every school "prepares" you for the NAPLEX. This is why without even looking at the pass/fail rates, I would wager better than 90% of total students pass. The pass/fail rate is entirely based on the students attending the school. I do know that Maryland's rotations in your 4th year do not end until just before graduation (a lot of other schools end earlier) and this gives less time to prepare for the NAPLEX. But I don't know if this is the reason for a lower NAPLEX rate.

 

[confettiflyer]

either one i think you're fine...as for philly being saturated, it depends who you know. we just went on an intern hiring binge (we hired like 5) and a good chunk of our class is employed (retail, hospital, etc...) we just got our rotation sites for P4 and are quite happy, and i know of 2 sites that are going to increase the # of JSP students in the IPE/APE portion of the curriculum (at the expense of another philly area school).

and a good bunch of our faculty/administrators/coordinators are PCP alums, we utilize their established contacts as our own (came in handy looking for rotation sites).

as long as you're doing your research, pick the one that suits you best.

 

[confettiflyer]

3) Access to federal financial aid (don't know if its relevant to you). Unaccredited schools like TJU are ineligible to offer government loans (private loans only!)

Jesus Christ on a bicycle popping wheelies this is 100% wrong, do your f*#g research. I'm up to my eyeballs in government backed debt.

 

[Filler]

either one i think you're fine...as for philly being saturated, it depends who you know. we just went on an intern hiring binge (we hired like 5) and a good chunk of our class is employed (retail, hospital, etc...) we just got our rotation sites for P4 and are quite happy, and i know of 2 sites that are going to increase the # of JSP students in the IPE/APE portion of the curriculum (at the expense of another philly area school).

Which two sites?

 

[DrDrugs2012]

Jesus Christ on a bicycle popping wheelies this is 100% wrong, do your f*#g research. I'm up to my eyeballs in government backed debt.

Relax. No need to get rude. That's what the TJU admissions told me personally when I spoke with them a few years back and they tried to soothe my fears by assuring me that there would be financial aid available. If its not true, then its not true.

 

[confettiflyer]

Which two sites?

you got PM

 

[deleted205891]

either one i think you're fine...as for philly being saturated, it depends who you know. we just went on an intern hiring binge (we hired like 5) and a good chunk of our class is employed (retail, hospital, etc...) we just got our rotation sites for P4 and are quite happy, and i know of 2 sites that are going to increase the # of JSP students in the IPE/APE portion of the curriculum (at the expense of another philly area school).

and a good bunch of our faculty/administrators/coordinators are PCP alums, we utilize their established contacts as our own (came in handy looking for rotation sites).

as long as you're doing your research, pick the one that suits you best.

Grrr taking our sites. Wrath shall be unleashed if all my rotations will be at small community hospitals that don't have residency programs. You guys better not take Christiana all to yourselves, as that is right now the main source of rotations for USP students living in Delaware.

 

[confettiflyer]

Relax. No need to get rude. That's what the TJU admissions told me personally when I spoke with them a few years back and they tried to soothe my fears by assuring me that there would be financial aid available. If its not true, then its not true.

lol, you thought that was rude? you clearly haven't been around too long mr. 48 post count. i run the internetz around here.

 

[confettiflyer]

You guys better not take Christiana

oops 🙂

but eh i wouldn't worry if i were you, i would imagine increasing the honorariums/reimbursements/payments to hospitals to take on students will help maintain sites.

 

[All4MyDaughter]

Relax. No need to get rude. That's what the TJU admissions told me personally when I spoke with them a few years back and they tried to soothe my fears by assuring me that there would be financial aid available. If its not true, then its not true.

Jefferson told you they didn't have federal loans? Or they assured you that they did?

 

[Filler]

Jesus Christ on a generic ATV popping wheelies this is 100% wrong, do your f*#g research. I'm up to my eyeballs in government backed debt.

 

[hanhuang]

either one i think you're fine...as for philly being saturated, it depends who you know. we just went on an intern hiring binge (we hired like 5) and a good chunk of our class is employed (retail, hospital, etc...) we just got our rotation sites for P4 and are quite happy, and i know of 2 sites that are going to increase the # of JSP students in the IPE/APE portion of the curriculum (at the expense of another philly area school).

and a good bunch of our faculty/administrators/coordinators are PCP alums, we utilize their established contacts as our own (came in handy looking for rotation sites).

as long as you're doing your research, pick the one that suits you best.

can you PM me the two sites u are talking abut.. thank you 🙂

 

[hanhuang]

(Been thinking myself in circles over this one...)

Hi everyone, I'd appreciate any input you might have for TJU or UMB. I liked Center City/Philadelphia better than Baltimore, location-wise. However, UMB is such an established program (but its NAPLEX pass rates seem to be fairly low in comparison to other schools? Is there a reason for this?) and while I know that TJU also has a very good med school + other health professions programs, its COP is still fairly new -- which can also be a good thing in some ways! Nothing seems to be tipping the balances one way or the other. I'm planning on going the residency/clinical route, if that makes any difference.

I've read through pretty much all the threads re: these two schools, but I just wanted to see if anyone had anything to add. Thanks!

I think the reason NAPLEX pass rates are low because they are known as a party school. Many of students from UMB spend great amount of time on social activities.

I also heard that they have different teachers to teach one class. I am not sure if this is would be a good thing...

 

[DrDrugs2012]

lol, you thought that was rude? you clearly haven't been around too long mr. 48 post count. i run the internetz around here.

No, I just believe in the fact that pharmacy is a small world... which means that one should conduct themselves professionally online as well as in real life. You never know who is watching and whether you are going to need those contacts later in life.

You should also not assume that I am new here. I make a new screenname every academic year.

Jefferson told you they didn't have federal loans? Or they assured you that they did?

At the time when I spoke with them 3 years ago, they told me that because they were not accredited yet, applicants are ineligible to apply for federal student loans (e.g. through FAFSA) and that their students would need to take private loans. But they also assured me that they would have scholarships/financial aid through the school in the early years because they didn't want students burdened with too many high interest private loans. I took what they said at face value.

But apparently, according to confettiflyer, this is not true... *shrug*

 

[DrDrugs2012]

I think the reason NAPLEX pass rates are low because they are known as a party school. Many of students from UMB spend great amount of time on social activities.

I also heard that they have different teachers to teach one class. I am not sure if this is would be a good thing...

They may party a lot... but for whatever reason, their students are far better prepared for the science knowledge aspect of rotations! So apparently they are learning something valuable.

I don't know about other schools, but there is no standard "NAPLEX" help available at Maryland. I know some schools have a "prep for NAPLEX" class. At Maryland, they go over what the test covers, but expects the students to study for it and pass on their own. Perhaps that might be the difference?

I really doubt its because of social life...