Does having no greencard affect acceptance to pharmacy college

[chiko]

Hello,
I have a dependent visa.I'am in the process of completing my pre-reqs for pharmacy program(fall 2008).I'am also in the process of getting green card(i 140 stage).
Do you guys think my chance of getting accepted to pharmacy college will be affected becoz I don't have a green card.Any answer would be appreciated.
I really don't want to study so hard and endup not getting into pharmacy college.Thank you😕

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[Dr.Biassi]

It doesn't hurt your chances of getting into pharmacy school. There are a lot of schools that accept international students. In your case you are a legal resident. You are considered as equal as a US citizen

 

[sdn1977]

I don't know about acceptance, but it might make it hard to do your rotations....so it might be a stipulation which you'd have to satisfy before you could proceed.

The only reason I say that is I have spent time placing pharm-tech students in rotations. If they were not citizens, they had to have a valid green card to be placed in a workplace setting.

I've only been on the preceptor end of pharmacy students & have never had to be the coordinator at that level.

Have you tried to call & get information from the school(s) you're interested in?

 

[chiko]

Hello Sdn1977,
I haven't spoke to any college so far,maybe I'll talk to them.How about international students....Do they go on clinical rotations?I'am in a H4 visa.......I 'am just asking hasn't there been any student doing pharmacy without a green card.If that's the case I think I got to wait some more years.Thanks for your reply.

 

[sdn1977]

Hello Sdn1977,
I haven't spoke to any college so far,maybe I'll talk to them.How about international students....Do they go on clinical rotations?I'am in a H4 visa.......I 'am just asking hasn't there been any student doing pharmacy without a green card.If that's the case I think I got to wait some more years.Thanks for your reply.

Any student in pharmacy school - international or otherwise will need to go on rotations. I honestly don't know if the school requires a green card for that. I just know, that for my pharmacy tech students, a green card was required.

I have precepted pharmacy students who are not yet residents yet, but I've never been in the position of needing to ask for their documentation. That has all been done by the rotation coordinator at the university they attend.

Sorry I can't help more.

 

[pharmacy2007]

Hi I am on H4 visa too.They told me that you have to switch your visa to F1 after getting accepted.I think they will consider our application but priority is with US citizens and permanet residents which is reasonable.

 

[chiko]

Hello Pharmacy2007,
I'am on a H4 visa and in the process of getting green card.Can I change to F1 visa after I get accepted to pharmacy program?Have you taken the PCAT and have you applied to pharmacy college?If so,did you receive any interviews ?Thank you.

 

[cdpiano27]

Chiko, which country are you from? Could be Japan, perhaps? I meet a lot of Chinese students in the US but very few Japanese students.

I think you can get in as int'l student, especially to a school like Nova, which even has a campus in Puerto Rico. However, the trick will be trying to pay for it with avoiding high-interest private loans.

I think that a private school would not care, but it costs a lot to go there.

The Pharmcas website details all of the programs and which ones require green card or not. I know that Midwestern-Glendale DOES NOT REQUIRE US PERMANENT RESIDENCY OR CITIZENSHIP accoridng to the pharmcas profile WITH specific instructions for int'l students about what courses they have to take.

 

[cdpiano27]

Good luck!! I am quite familiar with the different types of visas many int'l friends that I see in class every day (mostly from China or Korea).

 

[wnnr1119]

I am international student and in the process of getting a green card. In Florida, the university of Florida requires an applicant who is the U.S citizen or at least has a green card on their web. If I finish my pre-reqs, I will apply to UF at Jacksonville. But, if I don't get a green card until I apply to the school, I will be in a very serious situation. There are many obstacles for int'l students or others who are not the native Americans. Basically, even though you are accepted a pharm school, you will pay a lot of school tuition. How can you deal with financial matter? Int'l or other students who want to go to pharms should have a stellar GPA and high PCAT than Americans like dental schools. Sorry not to help you but be realistic what you can do in your situation. "You should gather all infos which school you will apply to and call school commits." Many of students around me who came in the U.S and applied to a professional school (they couldn't apply to medical school) had a hard time because of statu.. Just my opinion. Don't seriously consider my reply and I hope you have the best of luck.

 

[wnnr1119]

Well, I am international student and in the process of getting a green card. In Florida, the university of Florida requires an applicant who is the U.S citizen or at least has a green card on their web. If I finish my pre-reqs, I will apply to UF at Jacksonville. But, if I don't get a green card until I apply to a school, I will be in a very serious situation. There are many obstacles for int'l students or others who are not the native Americans. Basically, even though you are accepted a pharm school, you will pay a lot of school tuition. How can you deal with financial matter? Int's or others students who want to go to pharms should have a stellar GPA and high PCAT than Americans like dental schools. Sorry not to help you but be careful what you can do in your situation. You should gather all infos which school you will apply and call school commits. Many of students who come in the U.S and apply to a professional school (they don't apply to medical school) have a hard time because of statu.. Just my opinion. Don't seriously consider my reply and I hope you have the best of luck.

 

[chiko]

Hello,
Actually a dependent visa(H4) is that I'am dependent on my husband's visa(H1).I can stay in US but cannot work.I really don't know what to do...... Maybe I'll take PCAT and then wait for Green card.I'll have to wait and see.....if maybe I get accepted to NOVA then i'll try changing my status to F1 (student visa) if possible.........Anyways thanks for all your reply.

 

[yeeseng]

hi chiko,
sounds like you are in the same situation as my fiance, he is here for college and has applied to medical schools here. he is also an international student. i think you should still apply for pharm school, but do keep in mind that as an international student, you must outperform americans and obtain a much higher score than the average recorded for the individual pharmacy schools. also, most pharmacy schools do accept international students, but you must be able to pay for the tuition because very little is offered for students such as fiancial aids if you are international. my fiance has to pay about 90000 upfront before he is even able to begin medical school, which is two years worth of tuitions. they are afriad you won't be able to finish med school if you don't hand over the money now. for other schools you have to prove that you have enough us currency in your foreign bank with a bank statement for all 4 years. but it is definatly not impossible. best of luck

 

[cdpiano27]

Yes, dependent visa is just for someone to bring over their husband/wife. It is not getting a green card or a student visa. F-1 is the student visa.

H-1B is the work visa, K-1 is the fiancee visa.

Green card is being a permanent resident. With a green card, you can get the Stafford loans that anyone else can get. WIthout it, you will either have to come up with large amount of money for the tuition, which is almost impossible for three years (assuming you get into an accelearted program), or you will have a private loan with very high interest.

Because of finances, I do not think it is feasible until you get green card. But of course, it is always worth it to try.

Some of my friends in the PhD program, studied medicine and one even dentistry at the Beijing Medical Center, but they could not apply to med school, because of the admissions being much harder and trying to come up with the money.

For pharmacy school, the admission and PCAT are much easier than medical school, but I think the greatest barrier is the money. I think that it is scary for American students with the tuition at some of the private schools myself, such as Western, USC, Touro, etc.

Good luck to all the int'l students!!!

 

[2bpharmD]

Hello,
Actually a dependent visa(H4) is that I'am dependent on my husband's visa(H1).I can stay in US but cannot work.I really don't know what to do...... Maybe I'll take PCAT and then wait for Green card.I'll have to wait and see.....if maybe I get accepted to NOVA then i'll try changing my status to F1 (student visa) if possible.........Anyways thanks for all your reply.

chiko
I think you just apply to Pharm schools without worrying about the whole status thing. Just do what you can do first and then think about the status later on.👍

 

[pkpd]

as far as i know....
it depends on the pharmacy school u are applying to. some schools accept international students and some dont.
and i know for sure that you do not need a green card to do clinical rotations. all you need is your intern permit. unless u are looking for an internship position or working experience (AND getting paid by the employer)
goodluck

 

[Ray1234]

Working 20 hours in a week inside or outside the school is within the normal limits for international students. Only school approval will work. you do not even need the work permit from INS. if you are planning to work more than 20 hrs. then thats not a big deal either. School will allow you to work with CPT (curricular practical training something like that). But, be aware that some school will not allow international student to apply like Wasthington State University, Univesity of Applachia (dont know how to spell it), LECOM, and several several more.
Another barrier is that school assumes all the international students have green card (ignorance) and when you try to explain the legal procedure they seem to back off (thats my perception).
When i seem to explain it during the interview in couple of places they were like "what the hell are you talking about?" or "seems like you are a trouble" lol.
Financial part is another burden. you have to rely on the private loan and you definately need a cosigner with excellent credit hx (history) otherwise i dont see any other hope.
I hope it will help.
(note: plz do not worry about work permit for rotation. check INS's website or type CPT (curricular practical training) or OPT (optional practical training) in google you will know all the detail.) But. about the loan part, it is absolutely clear if you can not get it, it is not worth trying pharm school. Lets put our feet on grounds).
I would appreciate if any international student in pharm school will post their struggle to get the loan so that we will have a clear picture of it.
thank you very much in advance.

 

[chiko]

Hello Ray1234,
I totally agree with you.I just think that when I try to explain my visa type the college is surely going to back off.For now I'am just planning to take my PCAT and then see what happens.Regarding the loan I have no idea..........but I'am sure it is going to be difficult.Anyways,are you a present pharmacy student or are you planning to join pharmacy college in the future?
Thanks for your reply.

 

[lvp0021]

HI... any international students currently in pharmacy school having experiences with loans, please share your experiences and how to start those. I am about to start doing that but I don't know where to start. Please hlep. THanks in advance!

 

[runkin]

hi Chiko,
am an international student (F1) and rejected/denied twice.i am serious thinking of a back up plan.
also a registered pharm tech with no job.go figure!
all the best in your PCAT preparations.

 

[lvp0021]

Working 20 hours in a week inside or outside the school is within the normal limits for international students. Only school approval will work. you do not even need the work permit from INS. if you are planning to work more than 20 hrs. then thats not a big deal either. School will allow you to work with CPT (curricular practical training something like that). But, be aware that some school will not allow international student to apply like Wasthington State University, Univesity of Applachia (dont know how to spell it), LECOM, and several several more.
Another barrier is that school assumes all the international students have green card (ignorance) and when you try to explain the legal procedure they seem to back off (thats my perception).
When i seem to explain it during the interview in couple of places they were like "what the hell are you talking about?" or "seems like you are a trouble" lol.
Financial part is another burden. you have to rely on the private loan and you definately need a cosigner with excellent credit hx (history) otherwise i dont see any other hope.
I hope it will help.
(note: plz do not worry about work permit for rotation. check INS's website or type CPT (curricular practical training) or OPT (optional practical training) in google you will know all the detail.) But. about the loan part, it is absolutely clear if you can not get it, it is not worth trying pharm school. Lets put our feet on grounds).
I would appreciate if any international student in pharm school will post their struggle to get the loan so that we will have a clear picture of it.
thank you very much in advance.

Hi Ray, are you an international student in pharm school? Or an applicant? IF you have any experiences with the loans issues, please share. I'd truely appreciate it a lot... (I can't PM you though, your screen name doesn't allow me)

 

[chiko]

Hello runkin,
Sorry to hear that you were rejected.Did they tell you the reason why you were rejected?If you don't mind what is your gpa and PCAT score? what type of visa do you have?Thank you.

 

[runkin]

i was never told why i was rejected despite my asking.my PCAT score are not yet ready.i took it on Jan 20 this year.
gpa: 3.45
visa:F-1

 

[chiko]

Hello runkin,
I totally understand your situation.I really hope you get into pharmacy college this time.Good Luck.👍

 

[melonld]

Hi, I am glad that there are some international students talking about all those realistic issues eventually. I am a F1 student (on my OPT now) and I have just got admitted this year (trying to make up for some prerequisites before school starts). I know two other international students already in the pharmD program. So, there are plenty of schools which don't require green cards. I do agree that as international students, We should have better stats than average US students to increase competency since we have language barrier (I feel I can never speak English as well as citizens). As to financial problem, most pharmacy colleges I have applied don't require financial proof (bank statement etc.) but some do (i.e., you need to show that you have ~130,000$). One of the international students I know has been working fulltime in the university while attending pharmD and she got tuition benefits as an employee. This is a very unconventional case (it is too hard to find a nice boss like hers). She also got green card during the pharmD study. That's how she financed her pharmD. The other one I know got most of her financial support from her family. She used CPT to work part time. I am actually thinking of getting a loan. One of my friends (international) is going to dental school and she has some information about private loans. She already found a cosigner. You do need a citizen or green card holder as your cosigner. I will ask her about the details and post later.

 

[lvp0021]

Thanks for the posting of loan issues, that's be very helpful as I need to start doing the loan thing now already. IT's true that if you have high stat and what it takes to be a pharmacist, school will consider you.

 

[chiko]

Hi MelonId,
First of all, CONGRATULATIONS on your acceptance👍....Way to go..Can you please tell us the names of the schools that you applied and what are your GPA and PCAT scores? I do know that it is hard to get loans........but maybe sometimes it does click and we get it.As International student I do request other international students who are currently pursuing their PharmD degree to post their personal experiences regarding acceptance and loan experiences.I'am sure it would help many future students.Thank you.

 

[lfc-2086]

Being an international student is not easy, but it is not impossible to get into pharm skool. I am scheduled for 2 interviews so far (and I hope I will get in), but most banks do offer student loans with a cosigner who has good credit ratings. The loan you get is usually at a higher interest rate as well. One of my friends is a P3 and managed to get a loan. I would apply to private schools and schools that actually accept or consider international applications. Also apply to a few more schools. My stats are mediocre but here they are:

GPA: 3.9
PCAT: 79
Pharm experience: shadowed and currently shadowing a pharmacist (can't even get a job as international student).

That's about it. Future posters please post your stats so we can compare our stats.