Application Questions

[WestCoastPharmD]

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Hey all,

I am possibly/likely going to be receiving a full ride through pharmacy school through the pharmacy I am getting my pre-pharm experience with. Will that make me more competitive? I am also taking all my prerequisites except for Organic Chem, Anatomy, and Microbiology from a CC. These will be at a 4 year university. I will also be applying one year before I get my undergrad complete. Will the CC and no Undergrad hurt? Thoughts?

Stats:
GPA: 3.75 (Expected GPA 3.7-3.8 when applying)
Volunteer experience: 272 hrs
Pharm experience: Technician (over 150 hrs)
EXTRA: Scholarships, Honors Society Membership, School Club Team Leader

 

[sdn1977]

No - not unless they want to endow a chair in the school of pharmacy.

 

[WestCoastPharmD]

No - not unless they want to endow a chair in the school of pharmacy.

I don't get it? I think you mean that having a full ride doesn't make you more competitive. Or do you mean that not having a undergrad and attending CC the first two years won't hurt.

What is "endow a chair?"

I'm so confused!😕

Thanks for the reply though!

 

[WestCoastPharmD]

I think it will look good that a pharmacy wants to pay for my schooling and hire me on after graduation. I'm just not sure how much weight it would hold. Maybe none?

I am also thinking that CC courses are not as competitive, and I'm considering waiting a year to apply to pharmacy school until I finish my undergrad so I have more upper division course work to show them. I'm honestly struggling with this because I have a lot of momentum built up for applying this year, but this factor has got me wondering if I should wait.

I threw the stats in just to give you an idea of what I had to work with.

I guess what I'm looking for is should I wait or should I apply??

Thanks!!

 

[sdn1977]

Nope - they don't care how you pay for it - they just know you will. Loans, grants, parents, scholarships....whatever....the school will accept you on your merits alone - not on who is paying your bill (trust me - I'm paying a bucketload for a medical school for my daughter who didn't even get a first look at my own alumnus (alumni???)).

Anyway...if your pharmacy wants to give enough money to the school - as in the millions of dollars (ie the Longs School of Pharmacy (UOP), Pfizer School of Pharmacy (University of Buffalo), the Keck School of Medicine (USC), etc....which provides a continuing endowment for a chairperson - faculty person)...then that individual might be given special consideration.

It actually happened at UC Irvine when a medical student applied for a Rads residency (I think) & was not as qualified as other students & was given a spot because his family actually endowed a chair within the dept. Quite a scandal & I'm not sure of the acutal outcome.

Professionally, the guy will have a tough time since his spot was essentially "bought" not earned.

See the difference???

 

[sdn1977]

I think it will look good that a pharmacy wants to pay for my schooling and hire me on after graduation. I'm just not sure how much weight it would hold. Maybe none?

I am also thinking that CC courses are not as competitive, and I'm considering waiting a year to apply to pharmacy school until I finish my undergrad so I have more upper division course work to show them. I'm honestly struggling with this because I have a lot of momentum built up for applying this year, but this factor has got me wondering if I should wait.

I threw the stats in just to give you an idea of what I had to work with.

I guess what I'm looking for is should I wait or should I apply??

Thanks!!

Are you sure you want to be a pharmacist or do you want to be their employee?

There are lots of pharmacy paths to follow & you might not get the chance to follow them if you're tied to this purse string.

What if, during your undergraduate work, you decide you like biochemistry & would love to be a biochemist? Or a dentist or an optomitrist or any of the myriad of other professions out there which would or could be fun & exciting.

Don't be lured by a carrot which is easily replaced by something else, unless that's what you really, really want!

 

[WestCoastPharmD]

Thank you for the advice!

I don't really want to be an employee of some store manager somewhere. I don't think that would be fun. It is a good point that I may be limited in my options if I have to work the pharmacy that pays for my schooling. I think the program I am looking at only requires two years of employment and one of those years can be a residency, but I will look more into it!

Right now I'm volunteering in an inpatient pharmacy at a major hospital, and I love it! If I get accepted into pharmacy school, I will likely work in a hospital. I know they often do not pay as much, but I feel accomplished when I am there to help somebody.

I also volunteer with a foundation that helps the special needs children of my community. There is so much medication that these kids need to take that it would be very helpful if we had a pharmacist on staff to monitor 🙄 (volunteer pharmacist of course).

I am also in love with chemistry and biology, and I have the most excellent instructors this year!😀

Thank you for the opinion on if a full ride would help. I think you had a really good point, and I won't be relying on that factor to get me in!!! 🙂

Any advice on whether I should wait on applying until I finish my undergrad, or will my extra work in school activities and volunteer work carry me?

Thank you!!

 

[acetyl]

I say apply now. Don't be scared, but if you're not ready, wait until you are. Life has a funny way of working things out.

But I say suck it up and go for it.

 

[WestCoastPharmD]

I say apply now. Don't be scared, but if you're not ready, wait until you are. Life has a funny way of working things out.

But I say suck it up and go for it.

Sounds great!! Thanks for the advice!!

 

[sdn1977]

If you know for certain pharmacy is what you want....yeah - you could apply as soon as your pre-requisites are completed.

However, if you feel you want more time to consider other career paths...wait untill you've completed your undergrad. That might give you time to think about & look into other careers.

I don't mean to discourage you - just be really sure of what you want.

 

[T&T]

Your stats are great. You don't need to have a bachelor degree in order to apply pharmacy schools. However, it would be more competitive if you had a bachelor degree.