does it really matter what school?

[uniden02]

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Hi, i'm glad i found this forum. Everybody seems so helpful. Here is the question that i have. I received acceptance letters to washington State and Nevada College of Pharmacy but i'm unclear of what school i should go to. The thing is that Nevada is easier to fly home (Hawaii) whereas it is hard to fly to WSU since it is in the boonies. However, i like WSU since it is a more established school and is more well-known. So, i'm wondering does it really matter what school you graduated from when trying to get a job as a pharmacist? The head boss at my pharmacy where i volunteer at says that he does not care and only looks at the license and people skills, but i wonder if that is true for all supervisors?

I also am in favor of Nevada because it is a 3 year program. BTW, Nevada is fully accredited. BUt, it all comes down to is that will i have problems finding jobs if i attend Nevada? What do you guys think? THANKS!

 

[GravyRPH]

No, it does not matter.

 

[Superflyjsc]

yea it doesnt matter where u go to school for your pharmD. A pharmD is a pharmD. The choice of schools is just a matter of your own personal preference.

 

[uniden02]

Thanks for your opinions! Anybody else? Maybe go into a little detail? 😀

 

[OSURxgirl]

I think your school does matter, just not in the sense you may be implying it does. I don't think it will have an effect on you finding a job following graduation. But you need to think about where you'd be happiest and learn best the next 3 or 4 years. Talk to students from both schools. Who seems the happiest and most satisfied with their education? Which school has a higher percentage of students passing the boards the first time? Other things you may want to consider are availability of elective courses and extracurricular activities. I know proximity to home is a factor for you, but should it be the most important factor? Hawaii is far away from both Washington and Nevada. I know with the 3 year program you finish a year earlier, but is it worth potential burnout? The person in charge of rotations at my pharmacy school (Ohio State) asks every graduating student if, If they had to do the program over, would they choose to finish the program a year earlier (no summers off), or would they do it in four years? The director told me in all his years, he's only had 2 people answer that they'd do it in 3 instead. It highly depends on the individual though. I just wanted to give you some other things to think about in making your decision.

 

[BMBiology]

I also think it does matter. You need to ask the following questions: Is the curriculum innovative and different from other pharmacy schools? When can u start to take your electives? How many electives does the school offer? Where can you do your rotation? Does the school offer classes like compounding? Does the school emphasize on research or patient care? How many students enrolled per year and how many of those students graduate? Those are just some of the important questions that you need to ask. This may be one of the most important decisions you will ever make, so take your time and think it through.

 

[jdpharmd?]

I know with the 3 year program you finish a year earlier, but is it worth potential burnout? The person in charge of rotations at my pharmacy school (Ohio State) asks every graduating student if, If they had to do the program over, would they choose to finish the program a year earlier (no summers off), or would they do it in four years? The director told me in all his years, he's only had 2 people answer that they'd do it in 3 instead. It highly depends on the individual though.

I can just about promise you that anyone from our (3-year) program would be freaking out if they had to go to school for another year. Even from the start, it somehow seems a little more reasonable. I'm just finishing my first year, and already I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'll graduate in 2 years and a handful of days. In January, I can say that I graduate "next year" and mean it! (2006). I would love my summers off, but for me, it just didn't justify another year of class.

I would pick whatever location and length of program best suits you, in your opinion. Keep in mind that it's probably best to go to school somewhere where you MIGHT consider staying. You'll be graduating in that state, learing the laws of that state in class, and most likely taking the board exams for that state. Wouldn't it be nice to stay there? It would also be nice to know the local pharmacists, in case you're looking for that un-advertised dream job. It's a tough choice between NVCP and WSU, but it's one that you have to make. Keep in mind that flying anywhere is about the same. If you have to go all the way to Hawaii, then is it really that differnet from WA vs NV?

 

[uniden02]

Well Nevada is closer in a sense that there are many flights from Honolulu to Las Vegas.There are many specials for trips to Vegas. Example, around $300 will get you a round trip airfare plus hotel. Pullman is where WSU is located and the trip is a lot longer. I would need to fly to Seattle then take a small propeller airplane to Pullman which takes 1-2 hours.

I know where you guys are coming from when talking about what school suits me more. But i just want to know...will i get the same job opportunities from both school? Thanks!

 

[28657]

I know where you guys are coming from when talking about what school suits me more. But i just want to know...will i get the same job opportunities from both school? Thanks!

Yes. In my opinion the job opportunities you will be afforded depend on you and not your school. It's what you put into your pharmacy education, i.e. the internships you acquire, the electives you take, the organizations you join, if you seek a residency option or further your education with an MBA, PHD, etc.

Good luck with choosing. And something other people may not have mentioned - in my opinion, there's a lot more fun to be had in Vegas than in Pullman! 🙂

 

[GravyRPH]

I've always told prospective students to pick the cheapest school. 😳 As long as you are a dedicated student, you are going to get a good education. It's your abilities, experience, interview that are going to get you a job, not where you got your pharmD.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

I've always told prospective students to pick the cheapest school.

Seconded. The best schools in the country are state schools.

 

[gdk420]

It depends on your goal in life. If all you want to do is a community job, than no, it doesn't matter where you go to school. However, if you want to become a clinical pharmacist or go on to do research, than my suggestion would be to go to a school that fits those needs. Like one of the people who posted a comment about ucsf in the interview session, UCSF is 20 years ahead of everyone else (my opinion but let the flaming begin 😀 ). Every school has their weakness and their strong points. Rutgers for instance has strong ties to pharmacuetical companies and Northeastern brags about their Co-op. Some schools are more clinically oriented while others offer a stronger research area and still some are community oriented. But I would have to agree with the others, in the end, it is really up to you. No school in the end can make up for the student desire to learn and the ability to critically think.

 

[LVPharm]

Hey uniden02, I think I might have asked you before, but I don't remember: what is your career goal for pharmacy...retail, hospital staff pharmacist, clinical, industry, etc?

I'd have to agree with most of the people posting in this thread. Asides from tuition (which I think I brought up to you as a possible "pro" for going to WSU), in most situations, a PharmD is a PharmD and it does not matter where you get it from. People are graduating from our program with multiple offers, just like any other pharmacy program because of the pharmacist shortage. There may be other academic offerings for PharmD students at other schools that my school (NVCP) doesn't offer, and I'm unfamiliar with WSU's program, so bear that in mind.

 

[uniden02]

Me, i would like to be a community pharmacist, working at Longs Drugs, Walmart, Walgreens. I have no other intention. Thanks. BTW, LVPharm, what year are you in? It's good to hear that graduates are getting multiple offers.

 

[LVPharm]

I'm a P2 starting my P3 year. (Darn, now Katrinka might figure out who I am 😉). If you're goal is to work in community, rest assured that it really doesn't matter where you go for that PharmD. What matters is that degree, passing the board, and the impression you leave on your interviewer when you finally go for that job. You can cross that concern off your list...now you might want to consider the other variables involved.

 

[pmkinzero]

I also had to choose from Washington State and NVCP (also MCPHS) and my decision was to go to NVCP. I am from Washington State and have always dreamed of going to WSU, but when going to the interviews, NVCP just stood out from the others, and the faculty seemed excited about pharmacy and their new school. They seemed more motivated and "ready" for the upcoming year. WSU seemed to be just going through the motions and I had the feeling that you wouldnt start learning actual pharmacy and steer away from college style chemistry classes untill the 3rd and 4th year, whereas at NVCP you start working in a pharmacy from the beginning, and the courses seemed to be more pharmacy related. Also, I have worked full time at a pharmacy while going to school since I began college, and WSU basically said it would be very difficult to work in a pharmacy in Pullman or surrounding areas, whereas NVCP sounded excited that I wanted to work and offered some assistance in finding a pharmacy to intern at. But the truth is, the final nail biting decsion was primarily based on the 3 YEARS, instead of 4, I think I would be kicking myself that 4th year at WSU knowing I could have been done the year before. I am very excited about this upcoming year, and actually looking for some roomates in Nevada, so if anyone is interested please email me. Thanks