Anyone have questions?

[Samoa]

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OK, well, I guess it's time to fess up. I have a PharmD. So if any of you out there want info or advice, I'd be happy to share what I know (which is not everything by any means).

I've sat on a pharmacy admissions committee, and I've worked in both hospital and retail, and had interesting experiences in both settings. I do happen to be applying to medical school. However, I think pharmacy is a fine profession, with a lot to offer. I just happen to like responsibility, and stress, and long hours, and all that stuff people usually choose pharmacy over medicine to avoid. 🙂

So ask away!

 

[EarlyEditionDude]

Samoa,

Does one have to work in a pharmacy setting in order to be considered for pharmacy school (e.g. working as a pharmacy technician)?

 

[Samoa]

No, but sometimes it helps. What they look for is evidence that you know about the field and what pharmacists do.

There are actually some conflicting points of view on working as a pharmacy technician before applying to pharmacy school, as well as during school. Some people think it gives prospective students a look at the wrong things. Pharmacy is a changing profession, and most of its leaders don't want it to remain like it currently is in most retail pharmacies, i.e. with the pharmacist checking prescriptions all day like a robot. And by the time these students graduate, the profession they will enter will be different. And they don't particularly want students who like it the way it is.

Others think that working in a pharmacy is the only way you can truly understand what pharmacists do. The profession isn't changing that quickly, and applicants need to have a realistic view of what awaits them. The profession will always need pharmacists to count, pour, lick and stick. In general, pharmacy schools approve of working as a tech during school, to a limited degree. They don't usually approve of it being a true part-time or full time job, because that takes time away from learning to be a pharmacist rather than a pharmacy tech.

I personally think it was the most valuable experience I had prior to entering the profession. It made the transition from student to professional much smoother for me, although it was an adjustment for the career techs who used to tell ME what to do.

 

[Altani]

I'd like to know if you know the salary compensation for someone who has a PharmD/MBA or the opportunities that a person with such degree would obtain.

In addition, would a pharm school frown if you tell them you are choosing to obtain a MBA degree as well?

Lastly, is the job market for Pharmacists good or bad and is the pay / hours okay?

thanks

 

[Blitzkrieg]

how does one get into pharm school?


Does one need a 4 year to get in, or do they need a 2 year?

What is the admissions test?

How long is the pharmacy school training? 4 years? Is there a "residency" comparable to med school?


Any other help concerning pharmacy school admissions would be appreciated.

 

[LSUMED2006]

Blitzkreig,

All pharmacy schools are different, so you should check everything out w/ individual schools, but I can give you generalized information.

>how does one get into pharm school?
Apply to the individual pharmacy school 🙂 . Where I used to attend pharmacy school, the GPA cuttoff for interviews was something around 3.3. Two interviews and then a couple of essays were required.

>Does one need a 4 year to get in, or do they need a 2 year?
There are some pharmD programs that are more research oriented (more like a PhD) than others. These programs may require a 4 year degree or comparable. However, these programs are the exception. Most programs require certain pre-recs that take 2-3 years to finish.


>What is the admissions test?
The PCAT is the pharmacy admissions test. It is not required at every school. I have never seen one, so you may want to ask around on this one. It is not too terribly bad from what I have heard.


>How long is the pharmacy school training? 4 years? Is there a "residency" comparable to med school?
Pharmacy school lasts 4 years. Of these, 3 are classroom years. The final year consists of 8-10 rotations (each 4 weeks long) in various pharmacy areas. Additionally, throughout your pharmacy schooling, you must work a certain number of hours in a pharmacy. Here in LA I believe it was 1500 hours. That may sound like a lot, but it is very easy to do over 4 years. There are year long fellowships you can do if you choose to specialize after you graduate, but these are NOT required. The clinical year and year long fellowships are not comparable to medical residencies. (Medical residencies w/ or without a fellowship can run 3-7+ years and require well over 100hours a week of work. THe clinical rotations in pharmacy school generally required less than 40-50 hours per week).

>Any other help concerning pharmacy school admissions would be appreciated.
Grades are very important, being able to communicate is too. Know WHY you want to be a pharmacist. It is easy for a recent graduate to start out at $80,000 +, but be sure the job is for you. I quit pharmacy school to go to med school (that's another story for another time). That being said, pharmacy is a great and really interesting profession.

If I can help you out any more, please let me know.
Jason

 

[Blitzkrieg]

thanks for the reply!

If I have any more ?'s, I will be sure to ask.

 

[Samoa]

I'd like to add to LSUMED's answers...

1) Getting into pharmacy school

At my school, the GPA cutoffs were different depending on what kind of school you were coming from. In general, out of state and junior college students needed a 3.8 or higher. Four year college students needed a 3.5, and students from in-state flagship universities needed above a 2.8 for consideration.

2) Prerequisites

I don't know of any pharmacy schools that require a bachelor's degree. The basic requirements can be satisfied in 2 years of undergraduate work. HOWEVER, at my school, there were many students for whom it was a postbaccalaureate degree.

3) Admissions test

I have taken the PCAT. It's based on freshman courses. So if you've taken the MCAT and done well, you have nothing at all to fear.

4) How long/what kind of training

4 years from entry, so a minimum of 6 total for the degree. The last year is spent on rotations. Not all schools have 4 week rotations. Mine had eight 6 week rotations, with no breaks except 2 weeks in december. It was pretty grueling. Likewise, the number of hours you spend on them varies with the rotation and the preceptor. I had one preceptor who made us take call q3d with the residents. I was seriously sleep-deprived, but I would have loved that rotation had the preceptor not been such a jerk.

Each state has a minimum number of internship hours you must complete for licensure. But states can differ dramatically in the manner in which you are required to obtain them. A good school will ensure that you have your hours by the time you graduate.

Residency is optional at this point in time. It lasts 1-2 years, depending on whether you opt to specialize in an area or not. Residents--the good ones anyway--spend around 10-12 hours/day on the job. There is a huge disparity at the moment in the quality of training, both in school and in residency at various places. Growing pains, I think. At some point in the future, a year-long general residency will probably become a requirement. Even now, it's impossible for new grads to get the good, interesting jobs without one. Almost all pharmacist jobs pay well, so that's not necessarily the biggest priority in the job search.

Anyway, that's all I wanted to add.

 

[Samoa]

1) I'd like to know if you know the salary compensation for someone who has a PharmD/MBA or the opportunities that a person with such degree would obtain?

Compensation for a PharmD/MBA is no different than for a PharmD. The MBA will allow faster promotion, but not automatically. It provides useful tools to manage, once you're in management, but it will be your competence as a pharmacist that gets you there, not the additional letters after your name. It is probably worth more in industry, but I have limited experience in that area.

2) Would a pharm school frown if you tell them you are choosing to obtain a MBA degree as well?

Many pharmacy schools would strongly encourage you to get a Master's in Pharmacy Administration instead. This degree is not helpful in industry, but is well respected in retail and hospital pharmacy.

3) Is the job market for Pharmacists good or bad and is the pay / hours okay?

The job market is excellent, and should be good for at least the next 10 years or so. The pay is excellent, but the hours are not always hospitable. Not that pharmacists are required to work large amounts of overtime--they are not. However, SOMEONE has to cover the hours when a position goes unfilled, and many pharmacists choose to work extra as a result. But it's mainly the schedule that's not enjoyable. There is a great deal of shift work these days, 3pm-11pm and 11pm-7am roughly, that has to be covered. So many pharmacists do not have the nice 9-5, M-F existence the rest of the world leads.

Pharmacists are usually the most well-compensated staff-level employees in both hospital and retail settings. So it's hard to complain about the schedule, when all the other hospital and store employees are subject to it as well, and for less pay.

All in all, it's a good living.

 

[tlh908]

Originally posted by Blitzkrieg
how does one get into pharm school?


Does one need a 4 year to get in, or do they need a 2 year?

What is the admissions test?

How long is the pharmacy school training? 4 years? Is there a "residency" comparable to med school?


Any other help concerning pharmacy school admissions would be appreciated.

If you don't mind going to school over the summer and taking a heavy load, there are pharmacy schools that offer a three year program. I happen to go to such a school and really enjoy it.

As mentioned, the needed undergrad work can be done it 2 years, but I would really recommend 4. I have close to a biology a degree and find the extra courses very helpful. Some of the students who take only the minimum 64 credits to get in have a tough time staying up with the material.

 

[TPJ]

Samoa -

you commented that the pay is excellent. You put it in the proper context (i.e., better than RNs, and other non physician roles), but I would not call it excellent.

I'm not a PharmD, but my wife and many friends are RPh's. The sad part I hear is that salaries are indexed to the new hire rate. Thus RPH salaries peak after a few years on the job and are somewhat wholly depedent on supply. 20 year veterans are making roughly the same as rookies. You are viewed as a commodity.

Do you see the same resentment on the salary issue within the profession?

 

[r_salis]

Originally posted by Samoa
OK, well, I guess it's time to fess up. I have a PharmD. So if any of you out there want info or advice, I'd be happy to share what I know (which is not everything by any means).
...
I've sat on a pharmacy admissions committee, and I've worked in both hospital and retail, and had interesting experiences in both settings.
...

Non-trads rock! 😀

 

[Kovox]

Correct me if I am wrong but if someone gets a PharmD/MBA,
they don't do the pharm stuff...don't most of those students go work at pharmaceutical companies to do administrative stuff?

I would think that working in the administrative side of pharmacy would earn more than just doing the pharmacy stuff.

 

[Samoa]

TPJ--

You're right that salaries are indexed to the new hire rate. This is because pharmacists are scarce as it is, and the conversion to all-PharmD degrees has stretched the resources of many colleges, so that they are admitting fewer students yearly. So for the next few years there will be even fewer new grads, while the avg. number of prescriptions per person is rising, and the number of new drugs increases by >50/year. So new grads are basically driving the compensation of the entire profession. At some point this will stop, and the pay scale will normalize to some extent.

Things are worse in retail than in hospital. Most retail chains pay ALL their pharmacists roughly the same wage. In hospitals, there is more of a graded scale, which generally differs by about $15/hr between the highest and lowest paid staff pharmacists. But the bottom line is, pharmacy is one of those professions where the compensation has an upper limit. If you want more money, you can go into management.

I haven't seen much resentment, except in retail. And honestly, there's not much difference in skill or knowledge between a pharmacist with a year of retail experience, and one with 20 years experience. If anything, most new grads are MORE knowledgeable than the veterans. It's a little different in hospitals, where the learning curve is a bit steeper.

Kovox--

Unless they choose to go to industry, PharmD/MBAs do the same stuff as the rest of us. I've known two, both of whom worked in a hospital pharmacy. One was a manager/clinician, and the other was staff.

 

[fallenangel76]

Dear Samoa,
First of all, I want to thank you for responding to my questions. Basically, I'm interested in Pharmacy as a profession now. However, I'm afraid that my acedemic history will prevent me from getting into any Pharmacy school. I started off college as a Bio major with medical school as my goal. However, I was immature and naive and ended up doing very bad in many of my science courses. My science GPA ended up being a 2.3, before I switched out of Bio into Sociology to salvage my horrendous GPA. I got As and Bs for the rest of my college career and was able to get my overall GPA to 2.9. Now, I know that if I go back to a JC to take/retake my pre-reqs, I will get As and Bs. I have been out of school for a few years now, and I am more determined and mature now about my life. But, before I commit myself to 2 years of JC, I want to know if Pharmacy is out of reach for me. I thought about going through the pharm tech route first so I can make money part time while I continue my pre-req courses, then applying to Pharmacy school. Do you think it's hopeless? Your comments are greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
fallenangel76

 

[LSUMED2006]

I'm not samoa, but I might be able to help you somewhat. The short answer, NO it's definitely not hopeless! There are always non-traditional students in every class. First, be sure that the pharmacy school you want to attend will recognize the pre-recs you take at a JC. This seems obvious, but I would certainly sit down with an advisor in the pharmacy school to assure that you are taking the correct classes and everything will carry over.

Every pharmacy school is different, but at mine, if you were to retake a class, the second grade is the ONLY thing the pharmacy school looked at. For example, you take Bio and make a 2.0, and then retake it and make a 4.0. The college saw your GPA as a 3.0, but for pharmacy school consideration, you were viewed as having an A in bio! Obviously, you should check with your respective school.

My advice to you, if you want to do this, DON'T wait. It would be great if you could have a part time job as a tech while doing approved pre-recs provided it does not damage your grades. I personally would not recommend taking some time off to work as a pharmacy tech and then going back to school. More often than not, once people take time off, they find one reason or another not to go back to school.

Again, talk with the pharmacy school about the prerecs and retakes, but your chances of entering school are certainlly NOT shot.

Jason

 

[Samoa]

LSUMED's advice is excellent. At my school as well, only the last grade was counted, and only pre-req grades were looked at, usually. JC grades counted, but had to be A's or A-'s in order to be competitive with applicants with A's and B's in prereqs from 4-year colleges.

So again, agreeing with LSUMED, only work if it will not interfere with your grades, and don't take time off. Just slog through and get it done, apply and get your life going in the direction you want. My school had a lot of students returning for their 2nd degree. We had students with business degrees, nursing degrees, a masters degree in psychology--even one with a PhD in biology already. And there was quite a bit of empathy for students who had not done well in their early college years, but who had turned themselves around. Or were in the process of doing so.

That was the situation I was in, and my grades weren't much better than yours. In fact, they may have been worse. I've blocked it out. 😀 Anyway, I know that in my case, the committee's primary concern was not whether I would be a good pharmacist, but rather whether I would make it through school to become a pharmacist at all. I know this because that's what they told me when I went to ask why I didn't get in the first time I applied. And once I got in, I almost didn't finish. However, I think it had more to do with their concern than with my capability--kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy on their part. But I graduated, and went on to have one of the steeper career trajectories in my class.

So, really, don't doubt yourself. It can be done, and you are probably in good company. But speak to someone at the school, and get your questions answered there--they can give you much more specific information about their school's admissions than I can.

 

[hxi080771]

Hi:
1#I am preparing for the Jan. PCAT by studing Kaplan and Archo materials. will that be a sufficient preparation , if not. what are some good resources to study for the PCAT.
2#are there any websites that provide free verbal practice.
3#I applied to the pharmD last year and I didn't get in. I am really motivated to get into the program and finish it in three years.Which schools do offer the program in the accelrated way.I am close to get a degree in Biology.
advices will be grealty appreciated
MI

 

[hawkes]

I?m not debating whether medicine or pharmacy is better. ultimately, it is a personal choice. here?s my story, the short version. four years ago was accepted to pharm school, didn?t go because did not realize that other options in pharm besides retail. last year, applied to both med and pharm schools, didn?t get in. this year am applying to pharm again but still thinking about medicine. retail pharm is not for me and neither is research work.

what exactly does a clinical pharmacist do? a one year residency is required? Is there any patient interaction and does it depend on the speciality you choose? Is the work interesting? How many hrs/wk in residency and as a practicing clinical pharmacist? Who do you work with? Do you fill any prescriptions?

Are there others who have gone from pharm to med, what were your reasons since medicine has longer hrs, more stress, more debt, malpractice insurance and not much time for other interests. How do you stay motivated and deal with above aspects?

Also, are there others who have gone from med to pharm, what were your reasons?

thanks!
😛

 

[Samoa]

To HXI,

For the PCAT, I think those are pretty much the only books out there. When I took it, there were no books at all, only the little study guide published in the test bulletin.

I know you're in a hurry to finish, but I'd be wary of accelerated progams if I were in your shoes. I think some of them only qualify you to become licensed in that state. So you want to be sure your school is accredited by ACPE, or you will never be able to move to another state and transfer your license.

The other reason to be wary is that school reputation is big in pharmacy, and you don't want to go somewhere that's perceived as a fly-by-night school, or it will be difficult for you to get a good job. Oh, don't worry, you'll find a job, and a well-paying one at that. There are lots of high-paying but crappy jobs in pharmacy, but not so many great jobs at any salary level.

So know your goal ahead of time and avoid the route that's less likely to get you there, even if it looks faster or easier. Which is good advice in general.

To Hawkes,

Clinical pharmacy is truly a fun job. I can't believe they pay me to do it.

That's not to say it's an easy job, or that the path here was easy either. It can be exhausting and frustrating, and the bottom line is you're just a lobbyist for evidence-based medicine, and another perspective when it comes to solving difficult patient-care problems. You have no real power, only influence based on your perceived expertise.

Clinical pharmacist jobs vary based on the following: perceptions of the hospital administration and the medical staff as to their value, type of hospital or health care system, availability of highly-trained clinicians (both pharmacists and other health professionals) in the area, and the clinical assertiveness of the person who went before you.

Some jobs are just quality assurance positions--you create guidelines for drug use at the institution, monitor and educate about that usage, and report back to various groups about how well they're doing. They may be assigned to a service, but they rarely round. Very little direct patient care, but great management training.

Other jobs, like the one I have, are much closer to the action. I am assigned to one of the medical services, and I see patients with that team daily. It usually requires that I spend some time in the morning gathering information about the patients, so that I recognize when a piece of info discovered on rounds makes a difference in the drugs we are giving. The more complete the interns' patient presentations, and the more focused my attention, the less preparation I have to do. I like to think of it as being an outfielder on a baseball team. You don't know if the batter's going to hit the ball, or which way it's going to go if he does, so you have to be kind of loose and ready to go any direction at a moment's notice. The amount of practice that goes into that is much greater than it appears.

Anyway, so part of my job is basically to make sure that the medication orders get written in a way that decreases the need for clarification by the pharmacy staff. So I need to have a good understanding of how the pharmacy runs and what's likely to hold up an order. If there's (in my opinion) dumb paperwork to be done, I do it to save the interns' time.

Another part of my job is to make sure that everything important to treat is being treated with appropriate drugs in appropriate doses for the individual patient. That involves some hanging around with the team, so that I can be there when the new piece of information arrives and they're deciding what to do.

And then, the other part of my job is to be a reference for obscure drug facts (which I suck at), and to provide an opinion on controversial treatment decisions. While I can't assume liability for what they decide, I like to think my presence on the team gives them a little more protection than they'd have otherwise.

So that's what I do. On a good week, I might spend 45 hours on the job. But I'm very efficient. On a heavy week, it can be up 60. Coming in on weekends and holidays is optional, and I generally opt not to (I'll be doing enough of this a few years down the road--no need to knock myself out now). Not too bad, I'd say. To get this kind of job in the future, you will have to do a residency of at least a year. Residents tend to spend more time at the hospital, although they're not required to do so. It's just that they have so many projects on top of their clinical duties.

Whew! That was long. But I hope it answered your questions.

 

[Nocsag56]

Hi.

What do you think about the dual PharmD/PhD programs?

I love lab work and doing research. Will this dual degree allow me to pursue this in the future? Or will I be confined to a desk/paperwork job?

Thanks.
-nocsag56

 

[LSUMED2006]

>What do you think about the dual PharmD/PhD programs?
I love lab work and doing research. Will this dual degree allow me to pursue this in the future? Or will I be confined to a desk/paperwork job?

Assuming you get your phd in a scientific oriented field (OMC, pharmacology, pharmaceutics, etc.) rather than a business oriented on (eg pharmacy administration), you most certainly would end up doing research in a lab and/or teaching (if you so desire). There is no way someone with a phd in say OMC would be stuck behind a desk, unless they chose this route.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

 

[nagasaki78]

Fallenangel,

Do not despair. You are not alone in your doubt. I have experienced much of what you're going through and I want to tell you that IT IS possible.

I had a 2.9 overall GPA and applied to pharmacy schools for Fall 2002. I wasn't quite sure what to expect - as I knew my GPA fell on the lower end (but I also had over 2 yrs of pharm work experience under my belt).

Well, surprisingly - the results were fair. I actually got interviews at a handful of schools - and was even granted admission to 4 of them!

So, the answer to your question: Is it hopeless for you? No. definitely not. But I will tell you that your range of schools would be limited.
************
Some advice if you're considering taking additional courses:

-Follow LSUMED's advice: get in contact with a couselor at the schools you are interested in. Have them spell out EXACTLY the things you need to do in order to be eligible (some pharm schools don't tell you upfront - but some prgms DO have GPA cutoffs for getting an interview).

-Follow Samoa's advice: there's no slack when you're retaking courses for better grades. you're there to redeem yourself - not to "hopefully do better than you had initially". Bear it for the time being and get it done.

-Get some pharmacy work experience. Believe it or not - a lot of people that get into pharm school have never even worked in a pharmacy. Get ahead - work in retail for even 6 mos. That'll show for something. You can write about that in application essays or share when you interview.

Much luck to you.
-nagasaki78

Originally posted by fallenangel76
Dear Samoa,
First of all, I want to thank you for responding to my questions. Basically, I'm interested in Pharmacy as a profession now. However, I'm afraid that my acedemic history will prevent me from getting into any Pharmacy school. I started off college as a Bio major with medical school as my goal. However, I was immature and naive and ended up doing very bad in many of my science courses. My science GPA ended up being a 2.3, before I switched out of Bio into Sociology to salvage my horrendous GPA. I got As and Bs for the rest of my college career and was able to get my overall GPA to 2.9. Now, I know that if I go back to a JC to take/retake my pre-reqs, I will get As and Bs. I have been out of school for a few years now, and I am more determined and mature now about my life. But, before I commit myself to 2 years of JC, I want to know if Pharmacy is out of reach for me. I thought about going through the pharm tech route first so I can make money part time while I continue my pre-req courses, then applying to Pharmacy school. Do you think it's hopeless? Your comments are greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
fallenangel76

 

[mulan]

I am going to be a senior undergrad student majoring in biochemistry at the univ. of colo at boulder. My grades aren't as appealing as many others becuz like "fallen angel," i wasn't very serious about my grades during my first year and a half or so. I'm trying to get some experience before applying to pharmacy school this upcoming december but I'm not really sure where to look. Does anyone have any ideas on how I could go about getting a internship of some sort??? I could really use some advice... thanks!!!

 

[ButlerPharm.D.]

Dear Mulan,
Internships are usually reserved for students who are entering their P2 or second professional year of pharmacy school. In some cases students entering their P1 or first professional year of course work are eligible for an internship. However, if you live in a highly populated urban or suburban area it is generally accepted that only students who are entering of have finished their P2 year are accepted.

Having said that, there are numerous options available to you if you wish to gain pharmacy experience. I would check with your State Board of Pharmacy about what their requirements are to work as a Pharmacy Technician. The main job of the technician is to assist the Pharmacist with all of the day to day functions of the Pharmacy. After a quick search of Colorado's State Board of Pharmacy webpage, http://www.dora.state.co.us/Pharmacy/, I discovered the Colorado does not license technicians. My guess is that each individual site, meaning hospital, retail pharmacy etc, would be required to provide training for its employees before they take the PTCB examination. If Colorado does not allow each site to train new employees, my second guess would be that they require you to attend classes at a vocational school in order to prepare you for the PTCB examination. If you have any questions or anything I have written doesn't seem clear, please feel free to e-mail me with any questions at [email protected]

 

[panadacoke]

Hey Samoa, I'm pretty sure I want to work as a Clinical Pharmacist. I don't have any volunteer experience in hospital. But my mom was a member of administrative board of a hospital in Hong Kong and that's how I get insterested in it. Should I mention that in my personal statement then? Also, have you interviewed any non-native speaker so far? I'm worried to be less competitive as I'm a non-native speaker.

 

[SomeGuy]

Do you predict any changes in the admissions process? Recent studies show a very poor correlation between pre-pharmacy GPA and pharmacy school GPA as well as clerkship scores.

Do you think pharmacy schools will move to a more psychology-based or critical-skills-based admissions process in the future?

Journal Link

We confirmed previous reports but demonstrated intriguing results in predicting practice-based skills. Critical thinking skills predict practice-based course success. Also, the CCTST and PCAT scores (Pearson correlation [pc]=0.448, p<0.001) were closely related in our students. The strongest predictors of practice-related courses and clerkship success were PCAT (pc=0.237, p<0.001) and CCTST (pc=0.201, p<0.001).

 

[cdpiano27]

This question is directed at Samoa.

I have questions about pursuing a PharmD/PhD in another thread and about my background. Since you were on an admissions committee you might be able to provide some good input to my questions.

My name is cdpiano27.
Since, I am not going to recopy everything from before,
the thread is called Chances at PharmD and perhaps PhD later and my questions are posted there.

I am the student with statistics background who posted first.

What do you think? What advice would you give if I wanted to pursue this track in the near future? Would you give me advice about when to pursue the PhD since I would only come in with the prerequisites? And to go into industry is pharmaceutics PhD the best track or is something else such as medicinal chemistry (lots of organic!), pharmacy practice, or pharmacodynamics better? (These are the PhD's offered at UF).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[nikkai]

Seeing that samoa cookie made me start drooling.

I think I'll go on my lunch break now. =)

 

[pv214]

where am I standing if my GPA is only 3.0 and I have about 180 credit hours....I have one F, two D, and the rest are A's and B's and couple C's....most of my upper level in my senior of college I did well....all the classes that I take at unior college or tele-course and that I don't bother to drop that is why I ended up with a few bad grades....... and I plan on doing extremely well on the PCAT....I honestly thinking that If I can't score in the 90% on the PCAT then I might as well not thinking about going to any pharmacy school.....I don't have any pharmacy experiences....I've been working in IT...Im gonna take Biochem and Genetic this semester hopefully I will get to know the instructor well enuff that they will be willing to write me a letter.....

I've asked my boss to write me a letter and he promises me a good letter of recommendation, I plan on doing some volunteer work at the hospital this summer, it won't be specifically in pharmcy....but at least I can say I'm involved with community works, and get myself somewhat familliar with the medical environment.......hopefully get the director of volunteer department to write me a letter, and what do you think if my bf of two years who is also a first year radiology resident at UIC to write me a letter...actually he was doing research at a medical center where I did some volunteer before that was how we met........would that be good enough?.....

Where am I standing if I can accomplish all of these above......? What do the committee look at beside GPA?......I plan on applying to school in chicago, and surrounding areas...and It'll be all out of state for me because Im from the state of texas......any advice/feed back is greatly appreciated

Seeing that samoa cookie made me start drooling.

I think I'll go on my lunch break now. =)

 

[amitks2005]

OK, well, I guess it's time to fess up. I have a PharmD. So if any of you out there want info or advice, I'd be happy to share what I know (which is not everything by any means).

I've sat on a pharmacy admissions committee, and I've worked in both hospital and retail, and had interesting experiences in both settings. I do happen to be applying to medical school. However, I think pharmacy is a fine profession, with a lot to offer. I just happen to like responsibility, and stress, and long hours, and all that stuff people usually choose pharmacy over medicine to avoid. 🙂

So ask away!

Do you know how many board licensed pharmacists there are in the U.S. and also how many prescription drugs are there in the market?
also i have an over the phone interview with temple university..are there any tips i can get to help me for my interview
thank you

 

[funnyshoes84]

Hi, thanks Samoa and LSUMed for answering all our questions. I had some things on my mind like:
1.) Is where you prefer to work in the future affected by what pharmacy school you go to? What I mean is, is the curriculum generally the same so that if I attended a pharmacy school in TX would I have a chance to become a pharmacist in CA? (assuming I pass the state examination)
2.) I am interested in clinical pharmacy b/c right now I work in a retail chain, and although I dont' hate it it's not the most enticing of careers. However, I don't have any research experience so when I go to the interviews, should I mention that I am interested in the clinical aspect although it seems that I have nothing to back it up except my own curiousity?
3.) Are public schools more competitive than private schools b/c it is so much less expensive?

THANK YOU!!

 

[ButlerPharm.D.]

Dear PV214,
Since you've said the you currently work in IT were the F and two D's related to your IT course work or classes such as Organic, Anatomy, Physio etc? Have you taken all of the necessary pre-reqs?
Although a 3.0 isn't mad, keep in mind that admission to PS is quite competitive and that there are many things you can do to give yourself a competitive edge. Although I'm not quite sure, I do believe that PharmCAS averages out grades so that if you were to retake the class that you received an F in and you end up with an A, then the average would be a C.
Volunteering in a hospital or at any other institution looks quite good on an application. Additionally I would recommend that you get some type of pharmacy experience because sometimes that is the one thing that separates you from another candidate.
I would stay away from having your b/f write you a letter of recommendation because he would only be able to tell them about you personally where as your boss or the volunteer coordinator would be able to tell the adcom about your attitude at work and your abilities etc.
Best of luck.

 

[Setor]

I have a question. I am really interested in doing some sort of research or doing clinical pharmacy. I just finished my MPH - Epidemiology. I was wondering do you thing that working in the field would be beneficial before going to pharmacy school? Also, I know that a schools reputation is extremely important - even if you are placed in good internships throughout the program? Basically my dilema is that I've been accepted into pharmacy school for the fall, but it is in another state, and I am kind of hesitant about moving, so I was considering working for a year and then try to get into school in my hometown. From your experiences in school what would you do?
Thanks

 

[pv214]

Dear Butler,

Thank you for much for your feed-back...no those grades are not related to sciences...matter of fact...I got A's and B's in Orgo, Anatomy and chemistry or bio....so i guess i'm safe on that........well, wish me luck...I will be taking the pcat pretty soon....any advice on those?

I'm okay on bio
chemistry
for math....I try to learn more calculus problems....
I use kaplan and pcatprofessor
yeah I just hope that I'll at least get pass the evuation process and get an interview.....but thats not what i should worry now, I just need to ace the pcat and hopefully someone will give me a chance......thanks alot

pv.

 

[kayjay]

I have a question. I am really interested in doing some sort of research or doing clinical pharmacy. I just finished my MPH - Epidemiology. I was wondering do you thing that working in the field would be beneficial before going to pharmacy school? Also, I know that a schools reputation is extremely important - even if you are placed in good internships throughout the program? Basically my dilema is that I've been accepted into pharmacy school for the fall, but it is in another state, and I am kind of hesitant about moving, so I was considering working for a year and then try to get into school in my hometown. From your experiences in school what would you do?
Thanks

I would just go to pharmacy school out of state. I would not wait another year.

 

[MayaRx]

Alright, this is my third time applying. I made progress this year, I actually got some interviews (3). I wouldn t count my first time because I really had no chance, so you could say its my second. I am really feeling discouraged though. I really want to do this, I have talked to the DEAN at one school numerous times, infact the school knows me very well when i always call. Im on the Waiting list for two schools. Here are my stats, my math science is around 2.9 nto 3.0 but it changes because I took a couple of classes over, so at one school they say its aorund a 3.2-3.3. I went to two differnt schools, at the new school I have kept my gpa above a 3.5, but when it averages with my other school gpa my overall is a 3.2. I know not so high, but I have progressed at my new school, i hope they look at that. I scored in the 90's on the PCATS. So I have my bachelor's soon, after this semester, and thats it, I am working in a pharmacy and have been for the past 2 years. Since you have been on the commitee, I mean what would you say to me, I mean I know I wasn't as good of an applicant, because I was put on the waiting list, and now it is June so I think it might stay the same. I am having a crisis, in the sense that I don't know if anything that I do now, will get me in. I mean the competition is so stiff, I cant go for a fourth round, i could of completed pharmacy school by now. Do I need a reality check, should I look into something else? You have been on the commitee, cause I really hate when I call and they flower it up year after year, and than they take all your hopes away. What would be your advice? I've done this for 3 years put everything into it, but I really dont have the guts to do it again and again, to me its a cycle, and I feel like its time to forget about it.

 

[trishias]

Alright, this is my third time applying. I made progress this year, I actually got some interviews (3). I wouldn t count my first time because I really had no chance, so you could say its my second. I am really feeling discouraged though. I really want to do this, I have talked to the DEAN at one school numerous times, infact the school knows me very well when i always call. Im on the Waiting list for two schools. Here are my stats, my math science is around 2.9 nto 3.0 but it changes because I took a couple of classes over, so at one school they say its aorund a 3.2-3.3. I went to two differnt schools, at the new school I have kept my gpa above a 3.5, but when it averages with my other school gpa my overall is a 3.2. I know not so high, but I have progressed at my new school, i hope they look at that. I scored in the 90's on the PCATS. So I have my bachelor's soon, after this semester, and thats it, I am working in a pharmacy and have been for the past 2 years. Since you have been on the commitee, I mean what would you say to me, I mean I know I wasn't as good of an applicant, because I was put on the waiting list, and now it is June so I think it might stay the same. I am having a crisis, in the sense that I don't know if anything that I do now, will get me in. I mean the competition is so stiff, I cant go for a fourth round, i could of completed pharmacy school by now. Do I need a reality check, should I look into something else? You have been on the commitee, cause I really hate when I call and they flower it up year after year, and than they take all your hopes away. What would be your advice? I've done this for 3 years put everything into it, but I really dont have the guts to do it again and again, to me its a cycle, and I feel like its time to forget about it.

where are u applying? you might want to broaden the schools u are applying to in order to increase your chances of getting in. your stats sound similar to mine and I got in on the second time. Good luck!

 

[UTstdnt]

Just wanted to point out that SAMOA has not posted on this thread since 2002.

 

[infernobutterfl]

firstly... wow.. thx you guys so much for being so willing to answer questions.. 🙂

errr.. i have two questions.. mostly for admission into pharm schools..
my GPA at UCLA is only a 3.1 😱 .. and it might go down my last quarter of senior year.. 😱 😱 .
should i start looking for another career choice alrdy?.. i mean.. ppl here kept on saying 3.4 this, and 3.5 that to be competitive.. errr.. my GPA is no where near that... and you mention GPA cut off.. so.. it kinda means they wont even look at my application?.. 🙁 ...

secondly... if you interview someone.. what are the odds of getting in then.?.. like the ratio of the people you interview v.s. the ones you actually acept. I like the ratio of applicants to acceptance is low, but what about interviews?..

thx for ur time..

 

[ButlerPharm.D.]

Dear infernobutterfl,
Although I can not answer your second question I will try to answer the first. My advice to you is that there is more to life and your success in RX school than a cumulative GPA. I would suggest making the most out of your personal statement and if you don't have pharmacy experience get some. I've heard of people with grades similar or worse than yours getting into RX school simply because they have experience in pharmacy. So, try to get the GPA up and look for or continue to work in a Pharmacy, this experience can separate you from someone who has a better GPA but has no idea what pharmacy is all about.

Best of luck.

 

[MayaRx]

some midwestern states, mercer, musc, all florida schools, VA, about 11. Thats it though. What schools did you apply to? Did you do anything extra? I did one major volunteer activity last semester, but i couldnt do more i took a full load and worked . RIght now im just takinga class and working full tiem almost. Should i do some more volunteer things?

 

[pH06]

Somoa, I appreciate it very much if you could share your wisdom on some questions and concerns for an older adult career changer.

I'm in my 30's and planning to apply for fall 2006 PharmD. I plan to apply to as many schools as possible to improve my chance of being accepted into a PharmD program.

I took my pre-requisite classes (particularly math/science) about 10 or so years ago (B.S degree). I have around a B or B+ average in math/science. I've also been working in the laboratory for several years at biotech and pharmaceutical companies (applying techniques and methods in chemistry, organic, biochem, microbiology, immunology, molecular and cell biology, genomic; I have lots of work experience with protein and antibodies characterization, and bioanalytical testing of FDA approved biologics).

My quandries:

1) Do pharmacy schools require that I repeat these math/science classes (keping in mind the areas of science I've been working with at biotech/pharma companies)?

Ultimately, I want to be accepted into a pharmacy school. However, I don't want to overkill and think I need to repeat all of these courses with the limited time I have left to apply for Fall 2006. I'm already enrolling in a junior college for the fall 2005 to take organic chem and cell biology.

2) If I need to retake courses as refreshers, which math/science do you recommend?

3) Do you think my paid work experience at biotech/pharma companies will improve my chance of being admitted?

4) The majority of schools require letters of recommendations from professors. Do you think that recommendations from my previous biotech supervisors would also have the same weight as recommendations from professors?

5) Do pharmacy schools really give an applicant lower points for taking pre-requisite courses at junior colleges compared to 4-years universities?

Thank you for volunteering your time to address our quandries about the PharmD application process. Your comments and advice to others in this forum have been very helpful to me and most likely for others as well.

 

[SomeGuy]

1. Depends on the school. Retake it if they want you to and you want to apply to that school.
2. Whichever are recommended by the school. There is rarely much leeway here.
3. Probably quite a bit.
4. If they require the letters to be from a professor, why would you ask if you can get a letter from someone else?
5. Some do, some don't. Many have gotten in after taking courses at a community college.

 

[faizal]

Hi Samoa!

I am applying to UT-Austin, Texas. I am curious to know why they would want to know if a person has applied to their pharm school before. What is the significance of them wanting that information? What if a person does not want to disclose that information, is there a way they would find out if he or she applied there 10 years ago?

 

[AmericanDesi]

I think the school will know if you are applying for the second time because I'm sure each school keeps a file on the person, & matches it up by their SSN..maybe I'm wrong ?
If you are applying to UT for the 2nd time, you can tell them how much you have improved your app...

So what are you trying to hide?