Do I really need a Bachelors Degree before Pharmacy School?

[Dzialo]

I just don't think I can do 4 years + Pharmacy School.

Is it possible to just get a Pre-Pharm/Pre-reqs and then go to Pharmacy School? I have been working as a tech to get some experience for my application.

COMMENT:

"and the material i learned while getting my BS has nothing to do with practicing pharmacy. You know what I learned? HOW PLANTS F**KING MATE!!!"

I don't feel I am lazy at times, I just do not want to learn what I do not need. I just want to learn about Pharmacy, I don't want to take obsure Biology Classes, etc. However, I do feel a strong base on Calc, Physics, Chem, Bio, is needed, but I don't want to learn it like I am getting a Ph.D in these fields.

Thanks!

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[apteryx]

There's one of the key differences between applying to med school and pharm school: you only need the pre-reqs for pharm school, no bachelor's required! You can do the pre-reqs reasonably in two years no problem.

 

[RxWildcat]

Moved to pre-pharm for you.

 

[Dzialo]

There's one of the key differences between applying to med school and pharm school: you only need the pre-reqs for pharm school, no bachelor's required! You can do the pre-reqs reasonably in two years no problem.

Yes. I think you don't need a BS for Medical School? Since I saw some schools offers Pre-Med Degrees, I would assume some people in Medical School just get their Pre-Med and then apply to Med School and go from there.

It's what I want to do, but I want another 4 years of hard core, calc, physics, chem, classes, etc. As I want to learn about my field. It's why I am learning towards more Pharamacy. I don't want to have to do like 50 amth problems to learn a new section in a chapter for 2 hours.

 

[ruth265]

you might have a chance if you have very high grades. if not you would have to get Bachelor's. most people that get get in have Bachelor's.

I just don't think I can do 4 years + Pharmacy School.

I have been thinking of 2 things to do with my life. Medical School, or Pharmacy School. However, I feel that I will do Pharmacy School. I do feel that Medical may be too much for me, and some of that stuff doesn't interest me as much as Pharmacy.

I was wondering.

Is it possible to just get a Pre-Pharm/Pre-reqs and then go to Pharmacy School? I have been working as a tech to get some experiance for my application.

Another things is, I really don't care where I go, so I would assume this would help me getting into a school? I am located in Michigan, and would perfer that I go here, but I really don't mind as long as I can get into a school.

Thanks!

 

[jyw003]

Yes. I think you don't need a BS for Medical School? Since I saw some schools offers Pre-Med Degrees, I would assume some people in Medical School just get their Pre-Med and then apply to Med School and go from there.

It's what I want to do, but I want another 4 years of hard core, calc, physics, chem, classes, etc. As I want to learn about my field. It's why I am learning towards more Pharamacy. I don't want to have to do like 50 amth problems to learn a new section in a chapter for 2 hours.

i think if you need to do 2 hrs of math hw each night to get into pharm school and you really wanted to go to pharm school, nothing should stop you. and most schools require you to take physics and math (calculus)...so i don't know if you can escape from those classes...and you do need chem...definitely need chem...and english writing and some electives as well...

most colleges feel it is a good transition from 4-year university to pharm school...you'll also gain most of you study skills while studying for the classes required for a bachelors...

and remember...pharm school isn't a walk in the park...

 

[confettiflyer]

Medical school: You don't necessarily NEED a B.S., but 98% of the class will have one. Those other 2%? They're geniuses and probably won a Nobel prize or something equivalent before matriculation

Pharmacy school: You don't necessarily NEED a B.S. either, BUT a huge majority of matriculated students will have one. This % will be higher at more competitive institutions.

 

[pharmaz88]

Calling our entry-level degree "Doctor of Pharmacy" is already a joke.

...the fact that someone can earn this degree after merely completing 2 years of community college pre-req's only adds to the comedy.

 

[medicalCPA]

So if I understand you correctly, what you are looking for is which of the two requires the least intellectual effort. That's why you've written off medical school and are wondering whether you need a bachelor's degree for pharmacy. If we were to answer "yes," would you write off pharmacy school as well?

The answer to your original question is "No, you do not need a bachelor's degree for pharmacy school." But if you are looking for the path of least (intellectual) resistance now, prepare to be shocked when you finally get accepted to pharmacy school.

 

[inquirer89]

An undergrad degree is not required for medical school? I didn't know that, I thought pharmacy school was the only one that does not require a degree.

 

[FarscapeGirl]

So, just my two cents, but I think you're much better off getting a bachelor's degree. What if you decide that you hate pharmacy two years into the program? By having completed a bachelor's degree, you'll have many more options.

I love science and am in the process of getting my PhD in molecular biology. But I figured out pretty early on that research was not for me and am now planning on attending pharmacy school. It's not that uncommon to change your mind about your career.

And you really shouldn't choose between pharmacy school and med school by which is easier. They're both difficult. Looking at the courses for both, you'll see you need to know a lot more chemistry for pharmacy school than for med school.

 

[RNtoPharmD]

Yes. But I think pharmacy school should be shortened to 3 years. 8 years is too much.

 

[nimitz25]

The answer to your question is nope, you dont need a bs
ex someone i know took most prereqs at community colleges and got accepted to ucsf without a bs

 

[Ross434]

a large percentage of people admitted to pharmacy schools do not have their bachelors degrees. I'd say it's around 50-60%

 

[confettiflyer]

a large percentage of people admitted to pharmacy schools do not have their bachelors degrees. I'd say it's around 50-60%

what school do you go to? My class is about 80%+ B.S degrees or higher.

 

[ruth265]

haha. good sense of humor

Calling our entry-level degree "Doctor of Pharmacy" is already a joke.

...the fact that someone can earn this degree after merely completing 2 years of community college pre-req's only adds to the comedy.

 

[mustang sally]

So if I understand you correctly, what you are looking for is which of the two requires the least intellectual effort. That's why you've written off medical school and are wondering whether you need a bachelor's degree for pharmacy. If we were to answer "yes," would you write off pharmacy school as well?

The answer to your original question is "No, you do not need a bachelor's degree for pharmacy school." But if you are looking for the path of least (intellectual) resistance now, prepare to be shocked when you finally get accepted to pharmacy school.

Ha, ha, agree with medicalpa. I'm sure medical school is much harder than pharmacy school but I only know pharmacy school. And it is not exactly a walk in the park.

 

[confettiflyer]

Ha, ha, agree with medicalpa. I'm sure medical school is much harder than pharmacy school but I only know pharmacy school. And it is not exactly a walk in the park.

I have a walk in the park for a curriculum compared to the med students I work with. So glad I can get a doctorate and have a mildly active social life!

 

[inquirer89]

I have a walk in the park for a curriculum compared to the med students I work with. So glad I can get a doctorate and have a mildly active social life!

Wait a minute, can pharmacists be called doctors?!

(lol)

 

[apteryx]

I don't know, but I was damn sure to refer to the pharmacist for my pharmcas LOR as Dr. xxx xxxxxx, if for nothing more than not wanting to potentially offend the one who has a direct impact on me getting accepted.

 

[alenadoma]

I don't know, but I was damn sure to refer to the pharmacist for my pharmcas LOR as Dr. xxx xxxxxx, if for nothing more than not wanting to potentially offend the one who has a direct impact on me getting accepted.

Really? All of the pharmacists i've worked with are R.Phs, not Pharm.Ds. Are yours Pharm.Ds??

 

[iBeast]

If you are like older than 21, you should skip the bachelor's and go straight for pharmacy.

I wouldn't though...I'll go the full mile to get there...

 

[Farmercyst]

Really? All of the pharmacists i've worked with are R.Phs, not Pharm.Ds. Are yours Pharm.Ds??

The two are not mutually exclusive.

 

[Farmercyst]

I don't know, but I was damn sure to refer to the pharmacist for my pharmcas LOR as Dr. xxx xxxxxx, if for nothing more than not wanting to potentially offend the one who has a direct impact on me getting accepted.

Probably best to double check first. BPharm would not be doctors. Few people would probably bother making the correction publicly, but it would be technically incorrect.

 

[sguiliana]

Some schools offer a joint program where you can obtain your CP in 5 years

 

[bkiskadd]

Actually it depends on what school you're applying to. Ohio State now requires that you have a degree, so check the schools you want to apply to.

 

[confettiflyer]

The two are not mutually exclusive.

haha, glad to see you down here doing some "community service."



An FYI for everyone... RPh is a LICENSE bestowed by the state you are working in (kind of like RN, or hell registered plumber), a PharmD is a DEGREE bestowed upon you by the university you attend (kind of like a BSN, MD, PharmD, MSN, etc...)

So, you can be a PharmD but not an RPh -- Graduated school, but not yet passed NAPLEX and attained state licensure.

You can be an RPh but not a PharmD -- Graduated with a BPharm and are licensed.

You can be an RPh and a PharmD -- Graduated with a PharmD and are licensed.

Are we all together now? Can I ask a I, II, I and III, III and IV, none of the above question now? haha

 

[Antimony]

In a few years you will be required to have a bachelors; I see the ACPE heading that way. Pharmacy is becoming just as competitive as Dental, and DO. I would still say MD is more competitive.

 

[confettiflyer]

In a few years you will be required to have a bachelors; I see the ACPE heading that way. Pharmacy is becoming just as competitive as Dental, and DO. I would still say MD is more competitive.

I agree about the MD thing, it'll always be more competitive. But I DO think that the disparity between the other health professions won't be as pronounced in the coming years. As physicians are being squeezed on all sides with respect to reimbursement...flashing an MD won't be as attractive to certain segments of the student population.

This is my opinion though, check out the discussion in the MD/DO practitioners section, lots of good stuff in there about where this is going.

 

[Jdario86]

this is a ******ed question.

look at it this way, if you were a patient, would you prefer going to a pharmacist who has a more extensive educational background (a B.A. & Pharm D) or a pharmacist who just holds a B.S. in pharmacy?

alot of pharmacists who holds a BS in pharm or holds a pharmD with no bachelors usually practices retail. alot of pharmacists are going back to school just so they can pursue other fields like pharmaceutical research or pharmacy law.

this question is not a matter of lack in intellectual effort.
it's just laziness.

 

[medicalCPA]

this is a ******ed question.

look at it this way, if you were a patient, would you prefer going to a pharmacist who has a more extensive educational background (a B.A. & Pharm D) or a pharmacist who just holds a B.S. in pharmacy?

alot of pharmacists who holds a BS in pharm or holds a pharmD with no bachelors usually practices retail. alot of pharmacists are going back to school just so they can pursue other fields like pharmaceutical research or pharmacy law.

this question is not a matter a lack of intellectual effort.
it's just laziness.

Sadly, same with your response. The PharmD did not become a requirement for pharmacy practice until 2004. There are very many competent pharmacists that only have a BS Pharm, and *gasp* they even practice in hospitals and teach in pharmacy schools!

It does not matter the number of degrees a pharmacist has. What matters is his knowledge base and his ability to translate that knowledge into a tangible benefit for his patient. It's what I would look for in any competent healthcare professional. And such ability does not miraculously come to a pharmacist just because he has a PharmD.

 

[confettiflyer]

Sadly, same with your response. The PharmD did not become a requirement for pharmacy practice until 2004. There are very many competent pharmacists that only have a BS Pharm, and *gasp* they even practice in hospitals and teach in pharmacy schools!

It does not matter the number of degrees a pharmacist has. What matters is his knowledge base and his ability to translate that knowledge into a tangible benefit for his patient. It's what I would look for in any competent healthcare professional. And such ability does not miraculously come to a pharmacist just because he has a PharmD.

Exactly. It's like when the LLB was converted to a JD. It didn't make the lawyer any better. In fact, the curriculum was the SAME!

Granted, the entry-level PharmD vs. the BPharm has one extra year of clinical rotations....I'd go consult the practicing pharmacist w/ 20 years experience over the freshly minted PharmD any day of the week.

 

[ruth265]

why do you say that most people without BS practice retail? Do you think that they don't have enough science background to do clinicals or residency? or BS is required for residency?

this is a ******ed question.

look at it this way, if you were a patient, would you prefer going to a pharmacist who has a more extensive educational background (a B.A. & Pharm D) or a pharmacist who just holds a B.S. in pharmacy?

alot of pharmacists who holds a BS in pharm or holds a pharmD with no bachelors usually practices retail. alot of pharmacists are going back to school just so they can pursue other fields like pharmaceutical research or pharmacy law.

this question is not a matter of lack in intellectual effort.
it's just laziness.

 

[confettiflyer]

People do retail because, in general:

1) It's easier* than working at a hospital

2) The hours are more flexible (lots of pharmacists hungry for hours in your district can cover for you, generally).

3) They pay is great. With overtime, the pay is even better.

4) If you've got the skills/mind/will, you can climb the corporate ladder or differentiate into training/auditing/etc...now we're talking business.

5) Some people just aren't interested in straight clinical practice (ie they're more into #4 or the business side of things in general)

6) Despite the # of *******s you encounter, they generally enjoy interacting with the public.


I hate when people bag on retail. Sure, it sucks if you can't handle it...but lots of people thrive in these situations. Respect them, if for no other reason, because they won't be competing against you for residency/clinical positions (should you go that route).


*easier = depends who you talk to.

 

[flillia]

Since you're in Michigan, I recommend you look into Ferris State - they don't give preference to people with Bachelors and in fact I think only 16 people out of the P1 class (of 150) have one

 

[confettiflyer]

i think i just answered an entirely different question in my above post.

But having a BS or not does NOT matter at all. I have a few classmates who were <1yr away from a BS but chose to skip it due to a p-school admission.

Only a ****** would stay behind and finish their BS when presented with a DOCTORATE opportunity. Dumb dumb dumb.

and the material i learned while getting my BS has nothing to do with practicing pharmacy. You know what I learned? HOW PLANTS F**KING MATE!!!

But of course, for jdario86...me learning how trees f*ck makes me a better pharmacist in 10 years.

 

[laimyours]

I would recommend a Bachelors. I don't know what state you are going to apply to but in CA you need to have one. Even though most schools don't say it is a requirement, a majority of applicants have them. You can try without and see what happens.

As for RPh, there are no programs in the United States for this anymore. It's all PharmD. Depending on where you live you might see more RPh's or PharmD's. The schools in CA have always offered PharmD. They get paid the same. I know you have to be a PharmD to do clinical, and ambulatory.

 

[medicalCPA]

and the material i learned while getting my BS has nothing to do with practicing pharmacy. You know what I learned? HOW PLANTS F**KING MATE!!!

What???!!!??!?

What have schools turned into, that they're teaching plant pornography now?

 

[confettiflyer]

What???!!!??!?

What have schools turned into, that they're teaching plant pornography now?

Okay that was entirely my fault, I hold a concentration in plant biology with my degree...specifically Mediterranean ecosystems. haha. Wish I took botany though, didn't find the time.


yay for plant porn!

 

[Dzialo]

Since you're in Michigan, I recommend you look into Ferris State - they don't give preference to people with Bachelors and in fact I think only 16 people out of the P1 class (of 150) have one

Yes, I am looking into this college.

My Pharmacist said they were more of an easier school, and she did not go there just because she said it was located in corn fields.

 

[rosestar]

I would recommend a Bachelors. I don't know what state you are going to apply to but in CA you need to have one. Even though most schools don't say it is a requirement, a majority of applicants have them. You can try without and see what happens.

As for RPh, there are no programs in the United States for this anymore. It's all PharmD. Depending on where you live you might see more RPh's or PharmD's. The schools in CA have always offered PharmD. They get paid the same. I know you have to be a PharmD to do clinical, and ambulatory.

Every licensed pharmacist in the US is an RPh. I think you meant that schools in the US no longer offer a Bachelor's in Pharmacy.
Also, there are hospitals where you can do clinical and ambulatory with a BPharm, but yes, you are correct, a lot of hospitals are moving towards the PharmD requirement.
I know plenty of PharmD students without a bachelor's; but most that I know are doing the 3+4 program, etc. so that they can have their bachelor's for other reasons (additional graduate degrees, etc). I personally have my BS, and do not regret it at all. It has definitely helped me during my first year.

 

[hipp0campus]

and the material i learned while getting my BS has nothing to do with practicing pharmacy. You know what I learned? HOW PLANTS F**KING MATE!!!

LOL i just had a midterm about alternation of generations!
seeing this made me laugh

 

[SHC1984]

A lot of medical and dental schools don't require BS/BA either. But it helps as most people have their BS/BA. (for example Columbia Dental requires 90 hours only, no BS required. UNC requires 96 hours only again NO BS required.) I am sure its the same way for pharmacy. The ONLY thing good about being a MD/DDS vs PharmD is the "presitage" other then that Pharmacy is the way to go! Trust me, I have been there done that. 😉

 

[SHC1984]

I just don't think I can do 4 years + Pharmacy School.

Is it possible to just get a Pre-Pharm/Pre-reqs and then go to Pharmacy School? I have been working as a tech to get some experience for my application.

COMMENT:

"and the material i learned while getting my BS has nothing to do with practicing pharmacy. You know what I learned? HOW PLANTS F**KING MATE!!!"

I don't feel I am lazy at times, I just do not want to learn what I do not need. I just want to learn about Pharmacy, I don't want to take obsure Biology Classes, etc. However, I do feel a strong base on Calc, Physics, Chem, Bio, is needed, but I don't want to learn it like I am getting a Ph.D in these fields.

Thanks!

You should have applied to UoP's 2+3 year program. Thats 5 years TOTAL. You would be a pharmacist at age 23.
I should have done that too...but its too late now.

 

[alenadoma]

A lot of medical and dental schools don't require BS/BA either. But it helps as most people have their BS/BA. (for example Columbia Dental requires 90 hours only, no BS required. UNC requires 96 hours only again NO BS required.) I am sure its the same way for pharmacy. The ONLY thing good about being a MD/DDS vs PharmD is the "presitage" other then that Pharmacy is the way to go! Trust me, I have been there done that. 😉

I think there is an equal amount of "prestige" in being a pharmacist as there is in being md/dds.

 

[medicalCPA]

I think there is an equal amount of "prestige" in being a pharmacist as there is in being md/dds.

Really? So why do MD's/DO's/DDS's look down on pharmacists?

I don't really care for said "prestige." My ego is sufficient for me, and doesn't require stroking by others.

 

[tschu8482]

As stated in the above, you can complete the requirements to be admitted into the 4 year pharmd program in 2 years for most schools. I myself am taking three years, not only to allow more time for the required classes, but to be more prepared for the admissions process. You have to remember that in applying to the program isn't as simple as completing the required classes. Preparing for the pcat, applying early, and maintaining full-time employment were my deciding factors.


In taking three years to apply for the pharmd program you can take extra classes and be more prepared as a student. If you don't get in, you only have one more year to complete your bs, and then re-apply. There are plenty of good resources on the whole process in these forums. You can also refer to
http://www.pharmcas.org/collegesschools/start.htm for any requirement questions or statistics.

 

[alenadoma]

Really? So why do MD's/DO's/DDS's look down on pharmacists?

I don't really care for said "prestige." My ego is sufficient for me, and doesn't require stroking by others.

For the same reason that pharmacists don't like doctors: everyone thinks they are smarter than the other.

 

[Sparda29]

It'll definitely help for you to have your Bachelor's degree. In a few years, Bachelor's degrees will be required.

If anything, the prerequisites are too simple. Microbiology/Immunology/Biochemistry should be prerequisites for all schools. It helps for people to know the basics of these topics. You're going to be thrown into the fire in Pharmacy school. If you don't know these subjects, it is gonna be really hard.

 

[confettiflyer]

You should have applied to UoP's 2+3 year program. Thats 5 years TOTAL. You would be a pharmacist at age 23.
I should have done that too...but its too late now.

If I had followed what I wanted to do in HS, I would have gone into IT or something.

I'm kind of glad that tech bubble popped...haha.