Clarification on classes needed in undergrad

[HangUp]

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Haven't posted on here yet but would really appreciate some feedback from some of you.

I am 1 year into undergrad. I got all As, one B and one C. I was unsure if I wanted to pursue pre-pharmacy at the time and so left school for a year to work and help family with some unexpected issues.

I'm starting up again January 10th. I do want to be a pharmacist. Had everything sort of mapped out and just found out I am 5 months pregnant. My new concern is having time to make grades, work/volunteer, do research if needed, and raise a child.

What steps do I need to take in undergrad to be competetive for a grad school program? I'm in Michigan, would love to get into U of Ms program. I printed off their requirements for their program. Can I just focus on taking each class listed and passing with -hopefully- As? Or will I need to have extracirriculars as well? I wanted to focus on my art interests on the side but as I am now preparing to be a new mom, if it is unnecessary to have a bunch of other classes to get into a pharmacy program, then that would make life a tad easier for me. I'm willing to do the work required though. I just would like to know if I should have other classes besides the bare prereqs to be a good potential candidate.

Also, do I need to be doing research? Do I need to be working/volunteering with a pharmacist for experience?

I'd really appreciate if someone could help point me in the right direction. I am unsure of what I need to be doing and am a bit frazzled with the new direction my life will be taking.

Thank you!

 

[pharm B]

I'd say you need to worry mainly about keeping a full class load and doing well in those classes. If you're doing just the pre-reqs, make sure you're still taking ~15 hours a semester.

From their site
http://pharmacy.umich.edu/pharmacy/admission_criteria

They list numerous traits desirable in a candidate, but this one stands out:

"Whether you maintained a grade of B (3.0) or better while carrying a full (14-16 credit hour) undergraduate course load"

I think that if you can do that and do well on your PCAT, you're on good footing with the school.

They want extracurricular involvement, but being a parent is an extra factor in your life. Check out what else they say:

"We also weigh other factors, such as: Life and work experiences"

If you can pull good grades while being a parent, you're showing them that you can definitely manage your time, and it looks like they're aware of that.

 

[HangUp]

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

I am at 16 credits right now, hoping to add another class before I'm due as it'd be after the semester ends and I'll be much busier later on. I will be sticking with a minimum of 16 credits as I have a support system at home to allow me to go full time with a baby.

Should I be doing research? I know in pre-med it is necessary. Is it for pre-pharmacy?

And will I need to have experience working at a pharmacy while in undergrad or is that something I can work on when the baby is a bit older and in daycare and I am in a pharmacy program? I see from the website that they will look at experience, but if I find that I am having major difficulty getting in a ton of hours, or holding down a ft job with school and the baby, would just one day a week or a few weekly hours suffice for experience?

 

[Project2015]

Do research only if you are interested in research.

For admission purposes, it is helpful to have experience prior to applying (i.e., undergrad). A full time job is not expected; a few hours each week for a steady amount of time should suffice. Some students have no pharmacy experience prior to pharmacy school. The purpose of getting pharmacy experience is to demonstrate that one could perform well academically while still being involved with other activities, understands the profession, and has the motivation to pursue the field. Of course, these objectives can also be achieved without pharmacy experience...

 

[lp224]

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

I am at 16 credits right now, hoping to add another class before I'm due as it'd be after the semester ends and I'll be much busier later on. I will be sticking with a minimum of 16 credits as I have a support system at home to allow me to go full time with a baby.

Should I be doing research? I know in pre-med it is necessary. Is it for pre-pharmacy?

And will I need to have experience working at a pharmacy while in undergrad or is that something I can work on when the baby is a bit older and in daycare and I am in a pharmacy program? I see from the website that they will look at experience, but if I find that I am having major difficulty getting in a ton of hours, or holding down a ft job with school and the baby, would just one day a week or a few weekly hours suffice for experience?

Research can definitely help but it is not required. I did research part-time during the summer when I'm not taking classes. You can also talk to a professor you want to do research for and discuss options if you are interested in getting the experience or even getting school credit. I would definitely highly recommend getting the pharmacy experience. I intern with a pharmacist once a week for 2 hours over a period of 2 years. The hours definitely start to add up. However, concentrate on your classes and getting a high GPA because that is what makes you highly competitive. Research and pharmacy experience can definitely add in making you a strong candidate. Good luck with everything 🙂.

 

[pharm B]

I didn't do research, but I had worked in a pharmacy for about a year when I was interviewing for admission. Candidates with actual pharmacy experience really stand out, and I can only assume the experience is considered a positive by the AdCom. I'm still surprised by the number of people accepted (that we read about here) who have never really set foot in a pharmacy.

I like what the above posters said about just working a few hours on a routine basis. Since you have a support system in place, you might see about participating in your school's pre-health club. Being an officer besides president might not have too much of a time requirement, and it's another good bullet on your application!

 

[HangUp]

Thank you all so much!

I have a much clearer idea on what I need to do and how I can do it. I appreciate all of your responses 🙂