Can someone tell me the advantage/disadvantage of the web-based program at Creighton? I don't know if I should apply to the web-based program or the campus-based. Apparently, you can't apply to both.
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- Thread starter goheel
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There's a Pharmacy program online?
Ya, at Creighton. I think there are 3 more schools that have web-based program too.
All that I can say is that I would NEVER attend a web-based program. It's an insult to the profession, and I truly hope that AACP starts banning them. Can you go to med school online? (I didn't think so) There's a reason for that. I'm pretty sure that Creighton is the ONLY full-online program. The others are mostly non-trad programs for BS pharms to get the PharmD. I wonder what the NAPLEX pass rate is...
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no offense to others who go to Creighton's web based program. I have to admit JD's post is right on. i dont understand their point of view of starting the web based program. my understanding was that those are available for those who has BSPharm want to convert to PharmD which i understand. but full web based pharmD program come on now. what about labs? what about teacher interactions? it is really hard for me to believe that this really do exist.
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kwakster928 said:
According to the Creighton website, labs are condensed and combined into three weeks during the summers. From what I gather, a person could do the coursework throughout the year anywhere in the country that he/she may currently live, and then he/she'd have to fly to Omaha every summer for three weeks.
That being said, I agree with jd. I feel that this cheapens the quality of education and the profession itself. Goheel, if you are planning to apply to Creighton, I'd check out their campus-based program and research it thoroughly.
I agree with what the others have said. Also, bear in mind that Creighton's a private, and thus its tuition is not cheap. If it were my money, I'd rather spend the $18K per year on a program where I'd actually interact face-to-face with my teachers than a program where I'd just sit in front of the computer. Just my $0.02.
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FutureRxGal said:
i just do not want to see pharmacy shcool curriculum being offered at university of pheonix online and etc (and soon or later it will be everywhere). you know how low MBA has become due to excessive offering via online. that degree is practically meaningless unless you graduate from top business schools.
You can get your Phd's on line now. Soon they'll offer MD's on line too. 😀
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Do you think it is a ploy to keep people on out of state tuition? 😀
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Their students seem to able to pass the NAPLEX and become employed or acquire residencies. This program is not some fly by night clandestine ploy to steal your money. It is run by the Pharmacy School that has already been in place. The courses mirror that of the campus based people. Same same books, same tests (in a way). It is not like Creighton is some no name University either. For some people that can do it, it is a convenient option. Many great schools out there offer distant degrees. Just because you are not on campus does not make it any easier. At the med school I attend some students might as well be classified as Distance Students, they only show up for exams and required student practical sessions b/c we receive scribe notes for every lecture that is given.
What's the difference between Creighton's vs. Nova's web-based programs? Nova has a high reputation also. I think if they [web-based program student] can pass the boards then their degree is worthy. I think it's superficial to think PharmD degrees online aren't as good compared to a traditional program. Say you have two people, one who aced the web-based PharmD program and another who went to UCSF and passed with the philosophy "C's get PharmDs" and they both pass the boards. Who is better then? Obiously the first is more qualified since they tried hard to educate themselves. I think if you put in your fair share of hardwork, it doesn't matter where your degree came from. PharmDs are not trivial degrees and are not earned without merit.
Once you pass the boards I think you've learned enough, as far as earning a PharmD is concerned. My reasoning is because after this you will now work and gain the more valuable part of education: experience.
If U of Pheonix began to offer PharmD's I'd rejoice--less worries about getting into Pharmacy School! If the market gets flooded with pharmacists and salaries cease or decrease I won't be affected. My reason for pharmacy is not the $$ but rather the profession and helping people.
Once you pass the boards I think you've learned enough, as far as earning a PharmD is concerned. My reasoning is because after this you will now work and gain the more valuable part of education: experience.
If U of Pheonix began to offer PharmD's I'd rejoice--less worries about getting into Pharmacy School! If the market gets flooded with pharmacists and salaries cease or decrease I won't be affected. My reason for pharmacy is not the $$ but rather the profession and helping people.
Ok, how about the one who barely passed the web-based program? 🙄JD_USD said:
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JD_USD said:
You're being facetious....right? While, yes, money shouldn't be the most important reason for choosing pharmacy school it still is important. The high rate of pay keeps a level of professionalism and a large applicant pool (wanting the $$), allowing for the best of the best to be chosen.
And what I always like to remind people who say they're only in it for helping people - "We have a large Native American population over here in AZ and I think they'd just love to have you as their pharmacist." Don't take this the wrong way - but it really irks me when people go around acting "holier than thou" if they aren't going to back it up. If you're going to represent yourself as altruistic then it's important to begin thinking about the possibilities of working at a non-profit or with the Indian Reservations.
I'm placing high hopes on the Creighton web based program for my wife. She has the right stuff to get in and complete any program out there, but she suffers from panic attacks associated with driving which are severe enough to keep it from happening for her. The web based program would be ideal for her while we work on the other challenge. Now all we have to do is figure out how to finance it 🙁
jdpharmd? said:
They would suck too. 😀 My point is that it doesn't matter which type of program they came from but rather what type of student they are!
AmandaRxs said:
Whoa! Somebody needs a Mr. Happy Suppository. From the looks of all your latest posts you seem to be a negative or at least always take an opposite view of whoever posts something. Are you trying a "I'm better than everyone else" approach?
Anways....Money does not "keeps a level of professionalism ". It makes even more go getters for the Green come out for pharmacy. And if you think I'm " acting "holier than thou" you're such a HATER!
When I'm done with pharmacy school I plan on settling where my family, my wife?s family, and we are now, in San Diego,CA. I would like to work with a new medical missions group called Project Compassion (PC) in San Diego. Every month, they go down to Mexico and hold a 1-day medical clinic in the poorest areas of Tijuana.
Oh yeah, and if you REALLY want to help out Native Americans, educate their kids to become lawyers--they really are getting screwed by the Government still!
baggywrinkle said:
And good luck to your wife baggywrinkle!
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Civility is part of professionalism. Now is a good time to start practicing.JD_USD said:
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Ok yes, I do have a little bit of an antagonistical view for some posts on SDN. Advice and comments should be from both ends of the "nicety" spectrum though. If all anyone on this board ever heard were positive comments (when they weren't warranted 😛 ) it wouldn't help them at all. Kind of like the "Dr. Phil" approach.JD_USD said:
Good luck with Project Compassions, it sounds like it will be a valuable time spent. 👍
bananaface said:
What was uncivilized? I thought the comment was warranted. 😛
AmandaRxs said:Ok yes, I do have a little bit of an antagonistical view for some posts on SDN. Advice and comments should be from both ends of the "nicety" spectrum though. If all anyone on this board ever heard were positive comments (when they weren't warranted 😛 ) it wouldn't help them at all. Kind of like the "Dr. Phil" approach.
This is true. So I guess you and I can be like the Yin and Yang of this forum
<~~ Now official "Yin-Yang Face"(get it, smiles and then switches to angry face!)
JD_USD said:
I attend NOVA's distance site in West Palm Beach. Unlike Creighton's program, it is not web-based. At West Palm, we have an admissions office, many classrooms, a lab, and a small number of on-site faculty.
We watch the lectures (most of which come from the main campus in Ft Lauderdale) live on a videoconference. Attendance at all lectures is mandatory for every site (FTL, WPB and Puerto Rico). There are additional distance sites at NOVA, which offer the post-bac Pharm D only. Currently, the entry level Pharm D is offered in Lauderdale, West Palm, and Puerto Rico.
There is a microphone on the desks between every two students at all the campuses. When a student needs to speak, he/she first presses the button to turn the mic on, and the other campuses will hear the question over the speakers. When a student begins to speak, the video cameras automatically show the room where the person is speaking. The cameras automatically switch back to the professor when he/she starts to speak again.
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You have to realize though, with a distance program, you are missing a certain level of education. You'll have minimal contact with faculty, which will make it difficult to get letters of recommendation for residency, fellowships, scholarships, etc. There will be fewer to no opportunities for research and extracurricular activities as well. Also, you'll lack contact with your classmates and miss the chance to make friends and get to know future colleagues. Plus, you'll miss out on the chance to build your teamwork skills by working in groups with your classmates. Don't fool yourself into thinking an online degree is the "same". It is, by nature, different. If you are willing to sacrifice some of the things I listed above, then go for it.
OSURxgirl said:
You're right OSURxgirl. I think the things lacking of what you have mentioned about web-based education would put a serious damp on one's experience.
Maybe the hybrid approach that NSU2008 mentioned that Nova does can be successful and integrating web-based and traditional learning.
NSU2008,
I'm curious to learn more about nova but I'll PM you since this thread is suppose to be for Creighton.
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Years ago when I was pursuing my undergrad a few small colleges and universities started offering web based courses. Many of the big schools laughed at it and called it a joke. Many believed that the web based programs were a cheap trick and not worthy of being in the same category as their course..this attitude changed a few years later.
Many students that went to these larger universities started taking web based courses. A few reasons were the fact that large university classes usually filled quick and if you did get into one of these classes you were in a lecture hall with about 70-80 students. I can vouch for this because many of my classes were in lecture halls and were taught by TA(teachers aides). Taking a web based class limits the amount of contact I have with teachers, but the lecture hall classes limited my interactions with the teachers also.
Many larger colleges started to notice the number of new students that were taking these course and also noticed the money they were making from these web based programs and they started taking them. If you look, you will have a hard time finding any college or university that doesnt offer either a web based class or program. Will other pharmacy schools start copying Creighton...you bet your a$$.
Money rules the world and it also rules most colleges and universities. The demand for pharmacist will continue to increase and all schools are trying their best to increase the size of their programs and attract more students. Even the University of Florida is paying to advertise their sudo web based program. I think the UF program is great..and I think they are in the business of training pharmacist and making money.
The Creigton program suits me and maybe some older/mature students, or those that just live too damn far from a school that offers Pharmacy. I already have a BS and Masters degree so I am not as interested in going to Rush, Spring break or homecoming. I have taken and even designed web based programs so I am familiar with them. As long as the student is disciplen enough to keep up with their assignments then they should do good. Also if they are able to pass boards, then that is great. Going to a campus based program will not increase your chances of passing boards, only your dedication and determination will increase your chances.
Dont discredit web based programs yet. There is a lot of things to consider before you write them off.
Many students that went to these larger universities started taking web based courses. A few reasons were the fact that large university classes usually filled quick and if you did get into one of these classes you were in a lecture hall with about 70-80 students. I can vouch for this because many of my classes were in lecture halls and were taught by TA(teachers aides). Taking a web based class limits the amount of contact I have with teachers, but the lecture hall classes limited my interactions with the teachers also.
Many larger colleges started to notice the number of new students that were taking these course and also noticed the money they were making from these web based programs and they started taking them. If you look, you will have a hard time finding any college or university that doesnt offer either a web based class or program. Will other pharmacy schools start copying Creighton...you bet your a$$.
Money rules the world and it also rules most colleges and universities. The demand for pharmacist will continue to increase and all schools are trying their best to increase the size of their programs and attract more students. Even the University of Florida is paying to advertise their sudo web based program. I think the UF program is great..and I think they are in the business of training pharmacist and making money.
The Creigton program suits me and maybe some older/mature students, or those that just live too damn far from a school that offers Pharmacy. I already have a BS and Masters degree so I am not as interested in going to Rush, Spring break or homecoming. I have taken and even designed web based programs so I am familiar with them. As long as the student is disciplen enough to keep up with their assignments then they should do good. Also if they are able to pass boards, then that is great. Going to a campus based program will not increase your chances of passing boards, only your dedication and determination will increase your chances.
Dont discredit web based programs yet. There is a lot of things to consider before you write them off.
NSU2008 said:
Sounds similar to a class I took about 8 years ago at Northern Arizona. They had satellites in a few smaller/rural towns. I don't remember microphones and the cameras wer a bit shaky then...🙂
JD_USD said:
I taught at a school for 3 years that was just off of a large, profitable (= casino) reservation and from what I saw they do not get a bad deal. (Although this may seem politically incorrect). They have so many resources at their disposal...clinic, diabetes education, housing, fitness center, free after school tutoring, etc. However, many don't take advantage of these resources, don't involve themselves in their child's education, etc. I got the impression that a large portion are content with their "situation." They don't place importance on education and either leaving the reservation or living there and giving back to the community. I could go on and on about the poor attendance and the excuses, the not doing homework, etc, etc.
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off2skl-
Off topic but what the hey...
There are well off tribes who make money from casinos or waterfront property and there are poor ones. The reservation you are referring to sounds as if they are quite well off from a financial standpoint.
Most Native Americans place an enormous value on learning and passing on the cultural skills and traditions so deeply tied to their identity. Tribal members who learn and pass on traditions are very respected and knowledgeable community members even though they may not be educated according to our standard.
baggy-
Does your wife have panic attacks riding too? There is an express bus from Tacoma to UW. There is no need to drive.
Off topic but what the hey...
There are well off tribes who make money from casinos or waterfront property and there are poor ones. The reservation you are referring to sounds as if they are quite well off from a financial standpoint.
Most Native Americans place an enormous value on learning and passing on the cultural skills and traditions so deeply tied to their identity. Tribal members who learn and pass on traditions are very respected and knowledgeable community members even though they may not be educated according to our standard.
baggy-
Does your wife have panic attacks riding too? There is an express bus from Tacoma to UW. There is no need to drive.
Obviously I can only speak from my own experiences which is why I prefaced my original statement the way I did. I agree that Native Americans place a large emphasis on preserving their culture and traditions. That is not what my comments were in reference to. And although they as you said, "may not be educated according to our standards," unfortunately according to the No Child Left Behind Act all students must meet "our standards," despite their culture or socieconomic background.
off2skl said:
Off topic but....the No Child Left Behind Act is garbage. It corners our young, impressionable (where impressionable increases directly with poverty) children to be recruited into death squads (a.k.a army/marine frontlines).
http://www.motherjones.com/news/outfront/2002/11/ma_153_01.html
On a different note, I think out of respect for the original author, we should return to the primary subject of the thread: Creighton's web-based program.
JD_USD said:
I totally agree! Bush got a 4 page letter from me about that! In theory the idea is a good one. I mean, who doesn't want all children to succeed, but it took us back 50 years in educational theory.
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off2skl-
Many older tribal members have already lost the opportunity to get the standard pre-18 education. These are the respected tribal members I was referring to, not the kids. What I am saying is that education is valued greatly, but the concept of education is broader than the traditional school subjects you and I are exposed to. Teaching and learning cultural traditions are more valuble than book learning, since the fabric of tribal society depends upon it.
Anyhoo, back to the Creighton discussion....
Many older tribal members have already lost the opportunity to get the standard pre-18 education. These are the respected tribal members I was referring to, not the kids. What I am saying is that education is valued greatly, but the concept of education is broader than the traditional school subjects you and I are exposed to. Teaching and learning cultural traditions are more valuble than book learning, since the fabric of tribal society depends upon it.
Anyhoo, back to the Creighton discussion....
Let's just say I have really strong feelings on this topic and it is very close to my heart after the dear, dear president of USC tried to pull a distance learning stunt on us. I'm just going to say ditto to everything jd said - it's an absolute insult to the profession. DL has it's place - and that place is very limited, especially in a professional program.
Maybe true for undergrad, but NOT true for professional school. I had classes of 600+ in undergrad. I had classes taught by TAs in undergrad. In pharmacy school, my largest classes are about 127 and my smallest are around 8-15 students. A 1st-year undergrad history class and a 3rd-year graduate-level medicinal chemistry or therapeutics c;ass are totally different animals, and for good reason. If you honestly think they are the same, would you feel comfortable having your family doctor come from an online-only program? How about your first child's pediatrician? dentist? surgeon? Didn't think so...BlackBeansRice said:
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jdpharmd? said:
Lets get real. My kids pediatrician is a wonderful doctor that went to med school in Cuba. His school had old books from the soviet union (some not even in Spanish) they alos had crappy labs and hospitals and had to deal with broken devices and shortages. When he came to the US many other doctors said that you had to be crazy to send your kid to him. He passed his boards studied hard, constantly read on the latest topics in the medical industry and not only became a US doctor, but a GREAT doctor. The same US doctors that called him a joke refer patients to him. What made him a great doctor is the fact that he was determined and dedicated to his profession. Lets be honest, if someone gets into a Pharmacy program at USC or any other big school, they can C their way through the program. Does their degree look any different that the one who had straight A's...think not.If you are doing a half ass job at a on campus program then you will be any better than your counterpart. Also please tell me when was the last time you went to a doctor and ask for their college transcripts ?? If you are not dedicated to your profession and just in it for the money , then it will show. Who cares how they got their degree. If they are able to pass their boards and are dedicated enough to the profession then more power to them.
BlackBeansRice said:
Hear, hear! 👍
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The fact to face patient and peer contact is what I see missing from web based programs. Alot of the profession is gaining skills in intrapersonal relationships. It can make or break a practitioner.
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BlackBeansRice - First off let me say that it's great that you have had such a positive experience with your child's pediatrician. It's quite impressive. 👍
But I think what everyone is concerned with is that if the accredidation committee lessens their standards by reducing the amount of required in-class time, then additional lower standards are sure to come. It's ironic that as applicants we are expected to be well rounded (grades, clubs/activities, interviewing/speaking skills) but a student at Creighton won't be allowed the same opportunities to uphold the well roundeded expectation. A lot of posters keep saying "as long as you pass your boards then you're a worthy pharmacist". Passing the boards isn't the holy grail - for example, many of you know that "passing" the PCAT doesn't mean you're necessarily qualified for pharmacy school. It's the well-roundedness of our education and personalities that make us assets to pharmacy school, and it's this well-roundedness that is more apt to be lacking in a complete web based program like Creighton.
But I think what everyone is concerned with is that if the accredidation committee lessens their standards by reducing the amount of required in-class time, then additional lower standards are sure to come. It's ironic that as applicants we are expected to be well rounded (grades, clubs/activities, interviewing/speaking skills) but a student at Creighton won't be allowed the same opportunities to uphold the well roundeded expectation. A lot of posters keep saying "as long as you pass your boards then you're a worthy pharmacist". Passing the boards isn't the holy grail - for example, many of you know that "passing" the PCAT doesn't mean you're necessarily qualified for pharmacy school. It's the well-roundedness of our education and personalities that make us assets to pharmacy school, and it's this well-roundedness that is more apt to be lacking in a complete web based program like Creighton.
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Creighton was awarded full acredidation in 1999. The ACPE grants a 6 year accredidation, therefore, they will be up for review again in 2005. The web based program began in 2003. Does anyone know if the school or its students are worried about maintaining their accredidation status, since this will be the first full review of the web based program?
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I think people should experience a web-based program before trashing it. There is little to no difference between my program at the St. Pete campus and those in Gainesville. We have classrooms, students and professors all at our local campus. Lectures are watched on-line, everything else is done on campus. Faculty members travel to the distance sites to meet with students, they do not just stay in Gainesville. They want to meet and have involvement with all the students. We schedule live teleconferencing for exam reviews, when the instructor can't make it out to our campus. All campuses have the same assignments, take exams at the same time, etc. There is no difference between grades amongst the 4 campuses. Some students from our campus, drive to Gainesville to watch lectures every once in a while. They didn't make any better grades.
UF addressed the pharmacy shortage in Florida by using distance education. Only 150 students are accepted into the distance program. They could have just crammed more students in the classrooms, but they felt that distance learning was a better option.
I don't know anything about Creighton's program, but I'm sure they've figured out to have interaction between people. I thought you had to spend summers at their campus or something like that.
UF addressed the pharmacy shortage in Florida by using distance education. Only 150 students are accepted into the distance program. They could have just crammed more students in the classrooms, but they felt that distance learning was a better option.
I don't know anything about Creighton's program, but I'm sure they've figured out to have interaction between people. I thought you had to spend summers at their campus or something like that.
The three week condensed lab would be a concern for me. Does anyone know how the online Creighton program works its rotations? I'm sure you would still have to do shadowing, clerkships and the like where you live. So, they would be gettting the same experiences in that regard.
I have taken online classes, and much like regular classes there are the good and bad.
I have taken online classes, and much like regular classes there are the good and bad.
It doesn't sound like their distance students are required to stay on campus very long. From their website: On-campus laboratory sessions usually last for about 1-3 weeks each summer (currently it appears to be about 1-2 weeks).dgroulx said:
I suppose Creighton has a good program and everything, but as I said before, it's awfully expensive. The distance program costs $9106 per semester, and that's before you factor in books or fees. Personally, I don't think it's worth ~$20K per year to enroll in a program where you only see professors for one or two weeks in the summer. Were I interested in distance learning, I'd rather go to UF - it sounds like you guys get lots more face time with profs and since UF is a state school, tuition's cheaper.
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My wife is in the web-based PharmD program for various reasons. I am in med school so she needs to work, so it works for her. She earned her Master's in Pharm Chem and it was almost all distant from a semi-prestigious east coast school (Lehigh University) and loved it.
There are many people in med school that only go to class to take tests and for student practicums, so it might as well be home study (due to scribe notes)
It is expensive, but the Pharm company she works for is footing the entire bill. If she was to attend a school in the Philly area it would run roughly the same cost. Granted it is not for everyone, but for the few it is a great way to get a PharmD.
There are many people in med school that only go to class to take tests and for student practicums, so it might as well be home study (due to scribe notes)
She keeps in contact with her profs and peers electronically and once a year for the summer.
You can arrange your 4th year at Creighton, my wife will probably go to Jefferson (Einstein in Philly) for clerkships. The summers are jam packed from 8AM til 10PM for classes in Nebraska. The distant classes are taken in almost the same sequence as the campus-based students. Same profs, same tests.
It is expensive, but the Pharm company she works for is footing the entire bill. If she was to attend a school in the Philly area it would run roughly the same cost. Granted it is not for everyone, but for the few it is a great way to get a PharmD.
Does anyone currently attend Creighton? If so, where do you live for the 2-3 weeks in the summer and how was the pass rate for boards with the first graduating class?
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My wife stayed in the Dorms. Next summer she might share a hotel room with another girl in the program. Creighton offers packages for single or double rooms and meal tickets for the brief stay.
Not sure about pass rate for the boards.
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Hi, I'm currently in the Creighton web-based program (P1). The program is absolutely wonderful, especially for the majority of my classmates, who are already married with kids and jobs. I know there's been a lot of criticism directed toward the web-based program, but like some people have said, the level of success and professionalism depends on the determination and dedication of the student.
I met my classmates during a week of orientation over the summer. We had multiple sessions explaining the program, introducing us to our professors and the class material, and allowing us to ask questions. The evenings were free to spend time exploring Omaha, NE and getting to know each other. The first two weeks were incredibly hard for everyone adjusting to the focus required to learn well in the web-based program.
We adapted quickly and started using all of the message/discussion boards available on the course websites. We communicate with profs mostly through e-mail and occasionally over the phone. We also have weekly online review sessions with profs (chatroom style). Whenever we need to study for pharm. calculations or biochem, we send out an e-mail about an on-line study session either on IM conferencing, or the professional conferencing service available to us through the university. If we have any problems, we have advisors and class liasons and tons of different people to e-mail. Additionally, we have our very own toll-free tech. help service just for the health sciences at Creighton.
I check my e-mail every day, and it's always filled with messages from classmates and profs. The professors are excellent about getting back to students quickly. As a class, we're determined to help each other out; classmates are always e-mailing study guides and tips about newly posted course information to the entire class. The other classes also send us tips and links to old exams to review.
My classmates are also highly involved. Many have jobs that they are working while going to school (some full-time), and they're involved in community organizations and family activities, etc. A lot of classmates work in pharmacies as technicians, like me. On-line or campus-based, we still have people-interaction 🙂 All in all, we're a hard-working, very focused bunch. (dare I say it... maybe even more so than the on-campus class)
The summer lab session is 2-3 weeks long, and it involves very loooong days in the labs. Additionally, the web-based program is *year-round,* so there's a fall, spring and summer semester. The lab session falls in the middle of the summer semester. Just like all the other pharmacy programs, we do rotations at various places during P4 year.
The hardest things about the web-based program are focusing, finding a proctor for on-line exams, and missing your classmates. After the first two weeks, I was able to focus on schoolwork and ignore the other household distractions, but if you aren't a very focused person, the web-based program isn't the best idea. Also, finding a proctor for the on-line exams was difficult. The pharm. school needs to approve a proctor of your choice, but they're very strict about references and how well the proctor knows you, etc. Finally, I really miss my web classmates. It's amazing how quickly you can become friends with people when you're thrown together into on-line pharm. school (with a weeklong orientation!). I have some close friends in the program, and we share family pictures and news and e-mail and IM each other often.
Even though the web program is incredible, I'm thinking of transferring to the on-campus Creighton program. For anyone who's going to pharm. school straight from college without a spouse, full-time job and/or kids, the on-campus program is the way to go. I'm still college-age, and I don't have a spouse or family or full-time job, so I miss the campus life a lot. (I also live out in the country in the middle of nowhere, so I miss town/city life). For most of my classmates, though, and anyone who has a family or full-time job, this program is amazing. I'd highly recommend it to people who aren't able to live the campus life.
I met my classmates during a week of orientation over the summer. We had multiple sessions explaining the program, introducing us to our professors and the class material, and allowing us to ask questions. The evenings were free to spend time exploring Omaha, NE and getting to know each other. The first two weeks were incredibly hard for everyone adjusting to the focus required to learn well in the web-based program.
We adapted quickly and started using all of the message/discussion boards available on the course websites. We communicate with profs mostly through e-mail and occasionally over the phone. We also have weekly online review sessions with profs (chatroom style). Whenever we need to study for pharm. calculations or biochem, we send out an e-mail about an on-line study session either on IM conferencing, or the professional conferencing service available to us through the university. If we have any problems, we have advisors and class liasons and tons of different people to e-mail. Additionally, we have our very own toll-free tech. help service just for the health sciences at Creighton.
I check my e-mail every day, and it's always filled with messages from classmates and profs. The professors are excellent about getting back to students quickly. As a class, we're determined to help each other out; classmates are always e-mailing study guides and tips about newly posted course information to the entire class. The other classes also send us tips and links to old exams to review.
My classmates are also highly involved. Many have jobs that they are working while going to school (some full-time), and they're involved in community organizations and family activities, etc. A lot of classmates work in pharmacies as technicians, like me. On-line or campus-based, we still have people-interaction 🙂 All in all, we're a hard-working, very focused bunch. (dare I say it... maybe even more so than the on-campus class)
The summer lab session is 2-3 weeks long, and it involves very loooong days in the labs. Additionally, the web-based program is *year-round,* so there's a fall, spring and summer semester. The lab session falls in the middle of the summer semester. Just like all the other pharmacy programs, we do rotations at various places during P4 year.
The hardest things about the web-based program are focusing, finding a proctor for on-line exams, and missing your classmates. After the first two weeks, I was able to focus on schoolwork and ignore the other household distractions, but if you aren't a very focused person, the web-based program isn't the best idea. Also, finding a proctor for the on-line exams was difficult. The pharm. school needs to approve a proctor of your choice, but they're very strict about references and how well the proctor knows you, etc. Finally, I really miss my web classmates. It's amazing how quickly you can become friends with people when you're thrown together into on-line pharm. school (with a weeklong orientation!). I have some close friends in the program, and we share family pictures and news and e-mail and IM each other often.
Even though the web program is incredible, I'm thinking of transferring to the on-campus Creighton program. For anyone who's going to pharm. school straight from college without a spouse, full-time job and/or kids, the on-campus program is the way to go. I'm still college-age, and I don't have a spouse or family or full-time job, so I miss the campus life a lot. (I also live out in the country in the middle of nowhere, so I miss town/city life). For most of my classmates, though, and anyone who has a family or full-time job, this program is amazing. I'd highly recommend it to people who aren't able to live the campus life.
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Oh, and we don't know the pass rate for boards yet, because this year will be the first graduating web-based class! 🙂 Creighton is expecting it to be as good or better than the campus-based pass rate, based on the performance of the web-based students in their courses and prof. comments. (Web-based students performed slightly better in courses with the same on-campus professors and curriculum).
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Thank you, unicornsinger, for posting this. It puts a slightly different light on the program. 🙂 😉
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FutureRxGal said:
👍 👍 👍
unicornsinger said:
Unicornsinger, THANKS!!!! Your response is full of the answers to many of the questions I've had but short of the time(studying, attending PCAT review, taking prereq's and working) needed to call Creighton and ask.
Creighton's Web-based program sounds GREAT
, and I plan on applying next year. You mentioned that during the fourth year, rotation can be various places? Does that mean in Omaha NE or in the state you are a resident? Also did you have to interview?Similar threads
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