Buffalo vs Albany?

[thisoldman]

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Hey y'all,
I was just accepted at both the UB and the Albany College of Pharmacy Vermont Campus for the fall of 2009. I am feeling really torn between the two programs b/c they are so different from one another and each school would probably offer very different experiences.

Anyway! I am here pleading for some form of insight. Does anybody have any strong opinions regarding either program and/or school?

Thanks for any and all feedback!🙂

 

[bluesickle]

If I knew nothing of either programs ....

Reasons to go to UB over Albany:
1. Cheaper tuition
2. On average, Colchester is slightly colder than Buffalo
3. Colchester is out in nowhere
4. "Ranking," if you believe in it

 

[deleted259089]

Hey I'm currently a student at ACP and I am going to the vermont campus.

First off, Colchester is NOT out in the middle of nowhere. Yes, it is in Vermont, but it's 5 minutes from Burlington and the building is absolutely beautiful (lake views from pharmacy practice lab anyone?). There's a lot of ski areas within an hour of Colchester (Killington, Stowe and some other big names too).

I don't know anything about UB, and I refuse to slam a school I am not familiar with, but I'm happy to answer any other thoughts you're having about ACP! Just ask 😳)

 

[bwsalvas]

Hey y'all,
I was just accepted at both the UB and the Albany College of Pharmacy Vermont Campus for the fall of 2009. I am feeling really torn between the two programs b/c they are so different from one another and each school would probably offer very different experiences.

Anyway! I am here pleading for some form of insight. Does anybody have any strong opinions regarding either program and/or school?

Thanks for any and all feedback!🙂

That is up to you and you only, man.

What are you looking for in a school? You're dealing with a 30,000 person university in a 1.3million person city in Buffalo. Do you like research? Plan to go on residency? Have opinions on class sizes, teaching styles, anything at all?

I don't regret coming to UB at all over the smaller schools that I could have gone to- both for undergrad and for graduate school now.

Its a win-win situation regardless of final choice. I don't think that there is a wrong answer in choosing a school when you're deadlocked like you seem to be.

I'm here because I feel my experiences at UB are going to give me an edge. That is something that I value.

 

[alenadoma]

I vote Albany😉

 

[thisoldman]

Thanks for the variety of feedback, everyone. I have thoroughly weighed the pros and cons of each, it is indeed a tricky decision.

My two qualms with Albany are that it is the first year on the new campus and I'm not sure I feel comfortable with being a "guinea pig" of sorts. My second concern is that the accreditation of ACP was on probation last year. I realize the probation was lifted, but am concerned it could be re-instituted during my years there. I'm not sure if this is a valid concern, but it's on my mind, regardless.

I really hope you get into UB, alena! I been reading about your trials and tribulations with UB. Good luck!

 

[thisoldman]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/member.php?u=180173Bwsalvas, what kind of edge do you feel UB gives you? I'm just curious and looking for any helpful deciding factor. Thanks!

 

[bluesickle]

I vote Albany😉

Haha, evil!

Fine, for your sake, I'll vote Albany too.

 

[alenadoma]

Haha, evil!

Fine, for your sake, I'll vote Albany too.

I like it!!👍

 

[Kirbypuff]

I like it!!👍

lol <333

I vote Albany as well 🙂

 

[bwsalvas]

What it comes down to is options. Period.

I want options- I want them open, attainable and transparent.

UB has joint degrees, vast research opportunities, vast alternative practice environments with preceptors here in Buffalo, residencies, a cancer research hospital to round in, a mother and children's hospital to round in... the list is endless.

These are options- and at UB they are yours.

 

[thisoldman]

thanks for the information!
how big are the classes typically at UB? did you ever find the large size of the school overwhelming?

 

[alenadoma]

thanks for the information!
how big are the classes typically at UB? did you ever find the large size of the school overwhelming?

yeah, the classes are huge. some classes can get up to 400 students and it can get really overwhelming.

 

[bwsalvas]

I prefer the bigger classes- I'm a solo kind of student. I need to figure something out myself to understand it. There are big and small and there are drawbacks to both.

At the end of the day it comes down to you- not which school you choose.

 

[Hosstheboss]

I don't know if it's too late to offer an opinion on the subject but here we go. Like bwsalvas said your choice should be based on what your looking for in a school. I don't know much about ACP but I do know UB. The program is very clinically based. So if you want to work in a hospital setting it would be very well suited for you. Also UB's research is extremely well respected and could offer you a lot of opportunities there. As for the class size it's about 120 students, and you see the same people everyday. The classes that over 400 people are biochemistry, physiology and microbiology. Too be honest they are not overwhelming for the reason that these lectures, for the most part, are recorded and posted on the internet, so if you don't like being in a class room with 300 kids you can watch the lectures in the comfort of your own room.

In the end, like someone said before, if you have been accepted into a pharmacy school, life is good. Now you can pick the school that fits you best. To say that I don't regret going to UB would be understatement, it was probably the best decision I have ever made. That being said I have friends who go to ACP who say the same thing. Good luck with your decision.

 

[thisoldman]

not too late at all! i am about 85% sure that i am set on going to UB. It just seems to make more sense. Thanks for your opinions and feedback. It's been invaluable!