Considering Pre-Pharmacy

[TheLittleMermaid]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Hi,
I'm a 17 year old college freshmen and currently a Respiratory Care major. Long story short, I originally was a Chemistry major and on the track for Pre-Pharmacy, but after seeing the course work and becoming intimidated, I changed my major and my degree plan to Respiratory Care. It is only the middle of the semester and I am regretting changing my major. Yes, Respiratory Care is interesting and I can see myself graduating with a BSRC, but I really want to become a pharmacist. I have an appointment with an academic advisor on Friday about changing my major back to Pre-Pharmacy, but I am getting scared that I won't be able to get good grades in these rigorous classes. I'm getting stressed, and frustrated because I don't know what to do! Should I just complete the Pre-Reqs in 2 years, take the PCAT and apply to Pharmacy school, or should I just complete my BSRC, take extra classes and then apply? I really want to go as soon as possible, but then again I really scared to go into a Biochemistry major and getting a low GPA. HELP! 🙁

Thanks...

 

[futureisnear]

You don't have to major in Biochemistry. It might help, but you can take the pre-reqs on the side.

I graduated with an English degree in May and trying to finish my pre-reqs. Soo.. the choice is yours.

Plus your telling yourself already you can't do it, you can.

 

[Pojman]

Well... At one point, I was also very intimidated by the difficult coursework of the pre-pharmacy track.

My only advice would be this... Think of all of the things that you enjoy doing and write them down. Then draw a great big red X through all of those activities and realize that for the next 7 years you will have to sacrifice all of these activities to make time to keep up with everything.

The time that you create by sacrificing everything that you enjoy as a recreational activity should give you enough time to study and make good grades. From here on out, you will have to carefully structure any recreational activity which might distract you from your studies.

That is at least what I had to do...

 

[TheLittleMermaid]

And I was wondering. Should I go ahead and get my BSRC or should I just complete my pre-reqs. I feel like I should get a back up Bachelor's Degree just in case I don't get into Pharmacy school, but I'm somebody who wants to get to where they're going and quick. I would love to be in Pharmacy school in 2-3 years, but is it worth sacrificing a Bachelor's over. I am so confused and frustrated. 😕

 

[Pojman]

I got myself into pharmacy school without a bachelors, but I maintained a high GPA, good work history, etc..

I would suggest to anyone to go for just the prerequisite courses first, apply to pharmacy schools, and then consider working toward a bachelors if you do not get into pharmacy school.

 

[RN2RPh]

I think you should get your BSRC first, then you can complete pre-pharm coursework while working as an RT. Just like you said, you should have a back-up plan in case you can't get in any pharmacy school. Besides, you clinical experience as an RT will definitely strengthen your pharmacy apps.

 

[TheLittleMermaid]

Thank you, all! I'm not so frustrated anymore. I think I will go ahead and get my BSRC, because the entire subject is just interesting to me, and just get my prereqs during the summer semesters. 🙂 However, I will be studying for the PTCB exam sometime next year so I can be a certified Pharmacy Tech. Much appreciated! 😀

 

[pharm B]

If you know for sure you want pharmacy as a career, then I don't know if I'd pursue the respiratory coursework. Pharmacy school admission is competitive, but if you have a solid GPA, good extracurriculars, and apply broadly, you'll get in somewhere.

If you spend two or so extra years on the front end pursuing a degree you'll never use after pharmacy school, then you're not only investing that money (for tuition), but you're also losing those two or so years of pharmacist salary.

Just food for thought.

 

[TheLittleMermaid]

And that's what I'm contemplating. I don't know whether or not to complete my BSRC gain some advantage over applicants who only complete the pre-reqs or to go into Pharmacy as soon as possible, yet have no degree for a back up plan. I'm really striving for Pharmacy and I think I was too intimidated at first and tried to take the easy way out instead of actually trying. I meet with an advisor on Friday to change my major to Pre-Pharmacy again, but I don't know whether to go to Pharm school right away or complege a BSRC. Which on will look better on applications?

 

[pharm B]

If you're worried about being uber-competitive, why not participate in a research project, or get a unique pharmacy experience (like going through a compounding course for technicians)? You can do both in under a year, all while working on pre-req coursework. No time lost, but you've got a unique item on your application to pharmacy school.

 

[RN2RPh]

First, Pre-Pharm is not a real major (there is no Bachelor of Science in Pre-Pharm). So as a Pre-Pharm student, you probably major in Bio, BioChem, or Chem. If you think that you can graduate in one of those majors with a GPA of at least 3.5 and score 90+ for PCAT then I say you definitely should go for Pre-Pharm.

However, if you think that the above option is not possible then getting a BSRC and work as a RT first maybe a better option for you. Imagine you are climbing a mountain. There is a short way to the top but it's very "rough", and there are also other longer ways but they are less "rough".

Take the Gen Bio, A&P and Gen Chem courses. If you get straight A then Pre-Pharm is probably the right option. If you struggle in those courses then BSRC maybe the better choice. You obviously don't want to graduate Pre-Pharm with 2.x GPA . Doing post-bacc coursework to raise your GPA is much harder than working as an RT and doing Pre-Pharm.

 

[TheLittleMermaid]

I think I'm going to take Gen. Chemistry next semester. I don't know how I'll do in these courses because I've never taken any 'rigorous' courses. Another worry is that I only have 2 classes that go towards a pre-req; neither are science classes. If I start taking pre-reqs next semester, will I be able to complete everything in a matter of two years including if I take classes in the Summer and Winter mini-mesters?

 

[RN2RPh]

If I start taking pre-reqs next semester, will I be able to complete everything in a matter of two years including if I take classes in the Summer and Winter mini-mesters?

Theoretically, Yes you can finish all pre-reqs in 2 years. However, it totally depends on what schools you plan to apply to. Some pharmacy schools specifically require 300 level courses and thus it may take you more than 2 years.

However, the main question you have to ask yourself is "are you really a competitive applicant with just the pre-reqs coursework?" It is true that a lot of pharmacy schools don't require a Bachelor degree, but most of them STRONGLY recommend that you have one, and some even specify that you have to complete your Bachelor coursework before they award you the PharmD. Besides, are you a minority? Are you the first generation in college? Are you from under served area and you have a solid plan to go back to serve your area? Are you exceptionally talented with high quality extra-curriculum activities? If you can't answer Yes to all of these above questions then it's very likely that you need a Bachelor degree to go pharmacy school.

 

[bw6]

If you can't handle Biochemistry then pharmacy school is a big NoNo for you. I got my BS in biochem and am currently a pharmacy student and I can tell you that while the material in my 400 level biochemistry and molecular biology classes was difficult, the work load is nothing compared to pharm school. Pharm school may not be conceptually super challenging (i'd put it on par with 300-400 level biochem) but the work load is a b*tch