Completing Prereqs

[GetSexyRightNow]

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Before I ask my question, please excuse my ignorance. I have just started looking into pharmacy as a career choice.

I understand that each school has a set of courses you need to complete before matriculating. They all include chemistry, calculus, organic, etc. But usually they have some other things like Econ or Psychology or Biochem, etc. How does one go about taking these extra classes when they don't know where they're applying? I mean I guess you could take the classes after you apply, but I think I read somewhere that schools give preference to people who have already finished all their prereqs before applying. Is it a good idea just to do the basic classes before applying and then once you get in to finish the few extra classes like econ or psych once you know what the school you are going to attend to wants?

 

[phathead]

Before I ask my question, please excuse my ignorance. I have just started looking into pharmacy as a career choice.

I understand that each school has a set of courses you need to complete before matriculating. They all include chemistry, calculus, organic, etc. But usually they have some other things like Econ or Psychology or Biochem, etc. How does one go about taking these extra classes when they don't know where they're applying? I mean I guess you could take the classes after you apply, but I think I read somewhere that schools give preference to people who have already finished all their prereqs before applying. Is it a good idea just to do the basic classes before applying and then once you get in to finish the few extra classes like econ or psych once you know what the school you are going to attend to wants?

Econ and Psych are pre-reqs to pretty much all schools. The thing about applying and being accepted is that you can find out if you're accepted in March and start class in August. That doesn't leave much time to take required classes. There really isn't a ton of variation in core science classes as a whole.

Plus it is better to have these classes completed as it makes you more well prepared.

Good rule of thumb is to take the following in addition to the basic classes:

* Econ (Usually micro)
* Genetics
* Microbiology
* Stats w/lab
* Biochem (even if it's not required, it's still a good idea)
* Psych

 

[GetSexyRightNow]

Thanks for the reply. Do schools generally accept AP credit for any classes? I have AP credit for Econ...

 

[delano2000]

Econ and Psych are pre-reqs to pretty much all schools. The thing about applying and being accepted is that you can find out if you're accepted in March and start class in August. That doesn't leave much time to take required classes. There really isn't a ton of variation in core science classes as a whole.

Plus it is better to have these classes completed as it makes you more well prepared.

Good rule of thumb is to take the following in addition to the basic classes:

* Econ (Usually micro)
* Genetics
* Microbiology
* Stats w/lab
* Biochem (even if it's not required, it's still a good idea)
* Psych

I have noticed a lot of schools requiring macroeconomics instead.

I would also add:

Speech
Literature
History
Government
Philosophy

Pretty much all the core requirements for most degrees.

 

[busyizzy]

I have noticed a lot of schools requiring macroeconomics instead.

I would also add:

Speech
Literature
History
Government
Philosophy

Pretty much all the core requirements for most degrees.

Government, history, philosophy? You might as well throw in art and design or something, or tell people they have to take a class in every subject offered at their school. Those are not usual prereqs at the schools - none of the schools I looked into even mentioned any of those except philosophy, which was a substitute for psychology.

In my opinion, you're covered if you have a year in each of the sciences + lab (chem, o chem, bio, physics), along with physiology and calculus in terms of science and math. Additionally is usually semester or two of lit/writing courses, a semester of speech, a semester of econ, and a semester of psych/social science. I think that covered all the prereqs at most of the schools, at least the ones I've been looking at. If you just pull the prereqs at 2-3 schools you know for sure you're interested in, you'll find they almost always overlap completely, and so if you follow those requirements, you'll be set for the prereqs at most schools. Worst comes to worst, you can always take one or two additional classes in the spring/summer.

 

[phathead]

Government, history, philosophy? You might as well throw in art and design or something, or tell people they have to take a class in every subject offered at their school. Those are not usual prereqs at the schools - none of the schools I looked into even mentioned any of those except philosophy, which was a substitute for psychology.

In my opinion, you're covered if you have a year in each of the sciences + lab (chem, o chem, bio, physics), along with physiology and calculus in terms of science and math. Additionally is usually semester or two of lit/writing courses, a semester of speech, a semester of econ, and a semester of psych/social science. I think that covered all the prereqs at most of the schools, at least the ones I've been looking at. If you just pull the prereqs at 2-3 schools you know for sure you're interested in, you'll find they almost always overlap completely, and so if you follow those requirements, you'll be set for the prereqs at most schools. Worst comes to worst, you can always take one or two additional classes in the spring/summer.

Those are the classes required for my degree and every school I'm applying to requires them.

 

[pharm B]

Government, history, philosophy? You might as well throw in art and design or something, or tell people they have to take a class in every subject offered at their school. Those are not usual prereqs at the schools - none of the schools I looked into even mentioned any of those except philosophy, which was a substitute for psychology.

In my opinion, you're covered if you have a year in each of the sciences + lab (chem, o chem, bio, physics), along with physiology and calculus in terms of science and math. Additionally is usually semester or two of lit/writing courses, a semester of speech, a semester of econ, and a semester of psych/social science. I think that covered all the prereqs at most of the schools, at least the ones I've been looking at. If you just pull the prereqs at 2-3 schools you know for sure you're interested in, you'll find they almost always overlap completely, and so if you follow those requirements, you'll be set for the prereqs at most schools. Worst comes to worst, you can always take one or two additional classes in the spring/summer.

All of the schools I'm applying to require about 70 hours of courses as pre-reqs, including government, history, and the rest.

To the OP: I think the best thing someone can do if they're interested is research schools, figure out where they want to apply, and then look up the pre-reqs.

For example, two of my state schools require the exact same pre-req courses. But the third requires Macroeconomics in addition.

As a result, I'm taking a random Macroeconomics course right now. I hate economics, but I gotta take it.

 

[delano2000]

Government, history, philosophy? You might as well throw in art and design or something, or tell people they have to take a class in every subject offered at their school. Those are not usual prereqs at the schools - none of the schools I looked into even mentioned any of those except philosophy, which was a substitute for psychology.

In my opinion, you're covered if you have a year in each of the sciences + lab (chem, o chem, bio, physics), along with physiology and calculus in terms of science and math. Additionally is usually semester or two of lit/writing courses, a semester of speech, a semester of econ, and a semester of psych/social science. I think that covered all the prereqs at most of the schools, at least the ones I've been looking at. If you just pull the prereqs at 2-3 schools you know for sure you're interested in, you'll find they almost always overlap completely, and so if you follow those requirements, you'll be set for the prereqs at most schools. Worst comes to worst, you can always take one or two additional classes in the spring/summer.

Are you freakin' serious? I guess it various by location because these are the pre-reqs at most if not all of the TX pharmacy schools for admissions, including fine arts 🙂rolleyes🙂.

Trust, if I didnt have to take these courses I would definitely think twice about adding them to my schedule each semester.

I think Pharm B will agree with me on this.

 

[sunflower85]

When I started looking into going back to school for pharmacy prereqs, I had no clue where I would end up applying. So, I looked up 15 or so schools and compiled a "worse case scenario" list, ie, meeting the requirements for all of them. There aren't too many variations. Although, for example, some require 2 semesters of physics, some don't. So, shoot for two, or plan on not applying to schools which require it. Cell bio is required at some, not others, etc.

Make the list, then decide what you are willing to do. Hope that helps.